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BEIJING: It's been 31 years since China implemented its One-Child Policy.
These children were known as Little Emperors because they were thought to enjoy a more privileged life than their elders.
But now that they are entering their prime years, they're not expecting the royal treatment.
Yu Shaohu and his schoolmates were called the Little Emperors - who, as the first generation products of China's One-Child Policy, were thought to be privileged, spoilt, and emotionally weaker than the older generation.
Now in their twenties, the students of the Communication University of China have decided to tell their side of the story - on stage.
"The older generation think that we have a really good life because we didn't go through war, famine or serve in the countryside, but we face a different set of pressures. Our stress is spiritual, rather than physical," Yu Shaohu, director of "Once", said.
The two said their childhoods were filled with games, cartoons and lots of attention.
And unlike their parents, who were guaranteed jobs and a roof over the heads by the Communist Party, the Little Emperors are free to choose their jobs and pursue their dreams.
But they're also caught in the middle of China's economic transformation, and bear the brunt of many of its predicaments.
"I consider ourselves the 'generation of experiments', because we were part of the baby boom who went through many changes, like university expansion, societal transformation, and many reforms, which brought on many problems, including high property prices and difficulties in finding jobs," Mr Yu said.
These issues are presented in their production, called "Once".
They hope to dispel any misunderstandings that the older generation may have of them.
And that, they, too, are hardworking and down to earth.
"Our generation would put in everything in doing what we love, and may slack once we lose interest. Some may see that as a lack of determination, but we hope to be respected for our decisions and be given some useful advice," producer of "Once" Nie Wenhan said.
The play struck a chord with many born in the 80s.
"We didn't think we would come this far with our production, yet we did. There were difficulties, but we are really stronger than we think," "Once" playwright-director Xie Xia said.
"We are not complaining about our situation. Rather, we hope that, through our unique ways, we can garner more strength and support as we move forward in life," Mr Yu said.
The future remains unwritten for China's grown-up emperors.
But as they move forward in defining themselves, perhaps a look into the past will shed some light on their answers.
-CNA/wk
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