“I got this ring when I was 20. It’s a family tradition – when one of us turns 21, my mom would give us a piece of jewellery to mark adulthood.
Both my brothers received theirs when they reached 21, but there is no real reason why I got my ring early. My mom had simply taken it out of the box and did not want to forget where she put it, so she gave it to me while I was still 20. It wasn’t because I became an adult earlier!
Actually, most people think I’m in a relationship when they see the ring, but to be honest, the ring finger is the only finger where it fits!
I’m not sure why we have this tradition and I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing either. In Chinese culture, it’s usually a big deal when someone turns 21. When I have my own kids, I won’t give them this ring, because it’s the only one that I have. However, I might pass down something else of mine to keep the tradition going.”
– Humans of Kuala Lumpur
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This story was produced as part of the Storytelling Workshop with Youth Beyond Boundaries – YBB. A big thank you to @mesmarazin and @soonzhengfai for the story!
