Zhang Juncheng stands guard at Peking University in Beijing. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
TAIYUAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Around two decades back, Zhang Juncheng made news headlines as he rose from a security guard at China's prestigious Peking University to become a student there through grit and hard work.
His success story has inspired many security guards at the university to follow suit who have managed to change their lives through education.
Zhang became a teacher in a vocational school after graduation, and following 16 years of service as a teacher, he co-founded a vocational school in his hometown in 2015. Today, Zhang continues to pursue his education dream by empowering less privileged students as the principal of that school.
EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATION
Born in an impoverished rural family in Xiangyuan County located in the city of Changzhi, north China's Shanxi Province, Zhang could only afford patched, old clothes and torn shoes. He had to wrestle with poverty and food shortage during his childhood.
In order to relieve the burden of the family, Zhang dropped out of junior high school to work in the family cornfield at an early age.
"It was the toughest time of my life. I had to get up at 5 o'clock every day and start farming the land. I even took up another job, digging ores in the village," he recalled.
At the age of 19, he moved to Beijing to work as a security guard at the Peking University. His immense hard work soon won him the respect and recognition of the teachers and students.
However, deep down in his heart, Zhang had always wanted to pursue education and bring about changes to his life.
An incident in 1995 further augmented his zeal for education. While he was on duty, as usual, a group of foreigners tried to enter an unopened part of the campus. Unable to communicate in English, he gestured them to leave but was met with insults from the disappointed visitors.
That was when he vowed to study English. "I didn't want to be looked down upon anymore," Zhang said.
Zhang Juncheng reads during his spare time when he works in Peking University. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
The young man bought himself books the next day and seized every minute after work reading and learning. He applied for consecutive night shifts to make time for studying during the daytime and sometimes slept only three hours a day.
As a fortunate stroke of serendipity, Cao Yan, a professor of Spanish noticed the hardworking security guard when passing by the gate. Impressed by Zhang's determination, Cao encouraged him to seek a place in the university.
She helped him get lecture permits and contacted her fellow professors to provide help while encouraging him to keep learning.
With the help of more professors and his hard work, Zhang cleared the entrance exam and was admitted to the Law School of Peking University.
After graduating in 1999, Zhang chose to return to his hometown in Changzhi to work as a teacher.
GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY
In 2015, Zhang co-founded Changzhi City Science & Technology Secondary Vocational School. It enrolled many impoverished children and those who failed the high school entrance exam.
Zhang Juncheng teaches students at Changzhi City Science & Technology Secondary Vocational School. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
Many of these students came from divorced families or were left-behind children whose parents were working in cities. "They are sensitive and prone to feel abandoned, so they need extra attention and help," Zhang said.
Zhang asked the teachers of the school to try and comprehend the personalities of the students, their hobbies and interests, as well as the attitudes of their parents. He also directed each headteacher to maintain a journal for the students, recording their progress.
In order to help poor children finish schooling, Zhang set up campus posts, offering work in the cafeteria or kitchen, for the students to earn money in their leisure time. The school also arranges internships for poor students through cooperation with enterprises.
"I dropped out of school because of poverty. So I can't let them repeat my past, not on my watch," Zhang said.
Shedding light on the challenges, Zhang recalled an incident when a student who hated school skipped classes and ran away from home. His parents searched the whole town and later found him in an internet cafe.
Without knowing what to do with the child, his disappointed parents sent him to Zhang. Instead of being mad at him, Zhang bought the boy dinner and talked with him patiently over the meal.
Moved by Zhang's care and thoughtfulness, the boy never skipped classes again. Eventually, he made his way into college.
"Winners are few after all, but the rest of us still have to survive and find the meaning of our lives, we can't leave any of these kids behind," Zhang said.
The number of students in Zhang's school has grown from less than 200 to 1,300, becoming one of the largest vocational schools in the city.
The school offers more than a dozen courses including aviation service, robotics and animation design. Over the past five years, thousands of talented students have graduated to pursue degrees in universities or start a career.
These teenagers remind Zhang of his younger self. "The teachers at Peking University selflessly lent me their helping hands during my most confusing phase. I wish I could do the same for these kids," he said. ■
