I was born in a backward mountain village in Yuanyang County, Yunan. Because the economy at home was bad, my older sister went to school first even though we were both old enough to attend school. Watching my peers go off to school carrying their backpacks while I played at home by myself, I asked my father if I could go to school. However, he refused my request because my family did not have enough money to send me. Still, I could not wait so I would stand outside the school window to listen to the teacher teaching. I would often be so captivated that I wouldn’t notice that the class had ended.

As the teacher taught the class Pinyin characters and how to read, I would silently recite the lessons with them. If I didn’t understand certain words, I would go home and ask my older sister, who would then patiently teach them to me. Once while I was listening in as usual, the teacher suddenly left the classroom. Upon seeing me, she stopped, knelt down, and asked if I really wanted to learn. I nodded my head. She then took me inside the classroom and handed me some tattered, worn books without asking for the school’s tuition fee. Even though they are old books, I am really happy. After all, I now have books and have finally become a student.