Fasten the first button of life correctly: The profound significance of tennis culture enlightenment

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s remarks on education and “fastening the first button of life correctly” serve as a vivid analogy for value formation in the early stages of growth. If the first button is fastened incorrectly, all following buttons will be misplaced; a wrong start leads the path of life astray. The cultural enlightenment of the first tennis lesson serves as an important vehicle for beginners to “fasten the first button of life correctly.” It is not only about understanding a sport but also about establishing the foundation of rule awareness, respect, and values.

For beginners, tennis culture enlightenment is about “fastening the first button of rule awareness.”The etiquette in tennis culture, from maintaining silence during crucial points while watching matches to voluntarily admitting out-of-bounds shots during play, essentially embodies the principle that “rules apply to everyone without exception.” As highlighted by the “lady incident” at the Shanghai Masters, lack of rule awareness eventually turns a “sports enthusiast” into a “disruptor of order.” The cultural teaching in the first tennis lesson helps beginners understand from the start that rules are not constraints but the foundation for fairness and order. This rule awareness naturally extends to life—obeying traffic lights when crossing, keeping quiet in public places, and respecting boundaries in interactions with others are all manifestations of this “rule button” in life. Fastening this button correctly ensures that the path of growth remains on a proper track.

Tennis culture enlightenment is about “fastening the first button of respect and civility.”At the core of tennis culture is “respect for the community,” including respect for opponents, spectators, and the event itself. Every detail of etiquette is a vivid practice of empathy. Shaking hands with the opponent before a match shows respect for others; refraining from loud noises during viewing respects the group; sincerely thanking others after the match, win or lose, reflects self-respect. These details plant the seed of “respect” in beginners’ hearts, helping them realize that true grace is not about posture but about considering others’ feelings. This “respect button” integrates into every moment of social interaction—being friendly with classmates, courteous to elders, and kind to strangers all demonstrate respect. Fastening this button enables one to earn recognition and trust on life’s “social playing field.”

Tennis culture enlightenment is also about “fastening the first button of values.”The tennis spirit of “not being arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat,” the honesty of “self-judgment,” and the resilience of “fighting alone” fundamentally guide what is “right.” Beginners learn through cultural enlightenment that the value of victory lies not only in the score but in winning with dignity; failure does not mean self-denial but learning to uphold one’s honor. This “value button” becomes the spiritual foundation of growth—remaining undeterred by exam failures, humble in success, and steadfast in integrity are all manifestations of values taking root in life. Just as fastening the first button correctly symbolizes, the right values guide life’s direction, helping beginners stay clear-headed and determined in future challenges.

The cultural enlightenment of the first tennis lesson is never simply “etiquette teaching,” but an important initiation to “fastening the first button of life.”It makes rule awareness a conscious behavior, integrates respect into interpersonal conduct, and lets correct values guide the growth path. From the court to life, fastening the first button properly ensures that every subsequent step is taken confidently and steadily, ultimately becoming a “decent person” with both skill and character in competition and life.

Therefore, for tennis coaches nationwide, especially those at the grassroots level, the role of a tennis coach is never just to “teach how to play,” but more importantly to “nurture new people.” Your first tennis lesson is the moment to sew the “first button of life” for your students. Please remember:Skills can be polished gradually, but cultural enlightenment cannot be delayed; movements can be corrected repeatedly, but values are shaped only once.May we use tennis culture as the needle and rules, respect, and values as the thread to help every student fasten the first button of life properly, enabling them to start from the tennis court and move toward a more confident, dignified, and determined life.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Dong Lijun)