Liu Xiuxiang gives a class at the Experimental High School in Wangmo County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Jan. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Minghong)
GUIYANG, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xingwang, a freshman at Guizhou Minzu University, treasures every minute he spends in college.
Nearly a year ago, then a senior at the Experimental High School in Wangmo County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Yang made the painful decision to drop out of school, giving up the opportunity to pursue a college education.
Yang's decision was out of the financial difficulties of his family: His mother died, and his father was too old to work.
"My youngest sister fares pretty well at school, so I wanted to save the limited resources of my family for her future study," Yang said to his teacher.
Liu Xiuxiang, the deputy principal of Yang's school, immediately contacted him after learning about his difficulties. After speaking to Liu on the phone for hours, he finally talked Yang into continuing his study and focusing his efforts on preparing for the upcoming college entrance examination.
To alleviate the financial burden of Yang's family, Liu helped secure a 3,600 yuan (about 548 U.S. dollars) sponsorship for the remainder of Yang's high school study.
After Yang was admitted to the university, Liu helped him again by securing 53,000 yuan that would finance him through four years at college.
Liu Xiuxiang sorts student profiles during a class meeting at the Experimental High School in Wangmo County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Sept. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Minghong)
Liu, 34, has been widely known in Wangmo as a savior of school dropouts. Over the past eight years, he and his colleagues have jointly brought 48 high-school dropouts back to class, 39 of which were poor students.
Liu has helped 101 poor college freshmen get financial assistance this year.
"I have learned from my past experience that only studying can provide kids with a better future. It is the best choice in life for children growing up in less developed regions," Liu said.
Liu's father died young, and his mother suffered mentally from the immense sorrow of losing her husband. After his sister and brother left home to work, Liu had to shoulder all the burdens of the family on his own.
However, despite all the difficulties, he never gave up studying. While taking care of his mother, he completed his studies from primary school all the way to university.
After graduating from college in 2012, Liu declined job offers from several companies and became a history teacher in his hometown Wangmo. Six years later, he was appointed the deputy principal of the newly founded Experimental High School.
Liu Xiuxiang talks with students during a class meeting at the Experimental High School in Wangmo County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Sept. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Minghong)
Over the years, Liu found that poverty is the main reason that high school students drop out of school, as some parents live under the illusion that having school-age children work early could help lift the family out of poverty.
"On the contrary, the very act of discontinuing children's studies can cause poverty to be passed down from one generation to the next," said Liu. "Only through studying can a family get rid of poverty once and for all."
Wang Meikuai is another student whom Liu has brought back to school. Shortly after entering high school, Wang's mother made her go to work.
Together with Wang's former teacher and local officials, Liu finally talked Wang's mother into allowing her to continue to study.
He also successfully helped Wang apply for tuition exemption and found a sponsor who agreed to finance her 7,000 yuan annually through college.
"Registered poor students are entitled to receive government subsidies and discounts in tuition fees, boarding charges and books fees," Liu said.
Now with no financial worries, Wang is focusing on her studies to pursue her dream of going to college.
"Studying can change a lot of things. In the future, I hope I can change mine and my family's conditions and help more people like me," said Wang. ■
