In a recent class with one of my students, he shared a Traditional Chinese story that deeply moved me: Bo Ya Breaks the Strings. This tale of friendship from ancient China speaks to the heart of what it means to connect, even across seemingly insurmountable barriers. It’s a story of understanding, trust, and companionship – and it reflects so much of what I value most about my relationships with my students here at Tim’s English Pals. Bo Ya, a master of the guqin, and Zhong Ziqi, a humble woodcutter, formed an unlikely bond based on pure understanding. As Bo Ya played his music on the mountain, Zhong Ziqi happened to pass by, and, astonishingly, he could interpret Bo Ya’s music so profoundly that it was as though he saw directly into his soul. Despite their different worlds, they connected over something as simple yet profound as music. This story has me reflecting on the friendships I build with my students (whom I consider true friends). While we may be separated by oceans, time zones, and screens, we’ve found ways to bridge the distance. Like Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi, we may come from different backgrounds, but there’s a deep understanding and shared purpose when we come together to learn and grow. My students and I share ideas, stories, and laughter, and I genuinely cherish the connection we’ve developed. As the story goes, after Zhong Ziqi’s death, Bo Ya felt there was no one else who could ever understand his music in the same way. In his grief, he broke his guqin, never to play again. This act was one of loss but also of reverence for the beauty of a true connection. To me, it’s a reminder to cherish the friendships we find in unexpected places and the connections that come from understanding each other on a level beyond words.

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