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'I want to make everyone happy'
By Pan Zheng |
February 7, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
I want to make all the people around me happy," says teacher Xia Lingfeng when asked about what kind of person she wants to be.
She teaches at Jiangchuan Road Primary School.
Born into a physically disadvantaged family, Xia's father is vision and hearing-impaired, while her2 mother has difficulty in walking.
Because of her parents' health problems, Xia was faced more difficulties than other young people. During college, she had to return home every time her mother fell ill because her father could not nurse her.
She studied in a normal university so that her family would only have to pay half the regular fee. After graduation, she would have been a middle school teacher.
Concerned about taking care of her parents, however, Xia chose to work in Jiangchuan Road Primary School very near her home in Minhang District.
"They need me," she said.
Children growing up in poor families have different futures, to be sure, but they are similar in one respect: They have experienced more than better-off children.
Some young people in these circumstances feel inferior and humiliated by their difficulties, while in Xia's case, her love has become stronger.
"It would have been impossible for me to get such a good job and life today without help from others," she said.
When talking about those kind people who helped her, Xia's eyes are filled with tears.
When she was in her first year of senior high school, both her parents lost their jobs and could not afford Xia's studies. A teacher helped her get funding from a charity, a 1,500-yuan (US$256) scholarship.
That may not seem like much, but for Xia it covered the fees for two semesters.
Many others helped her as well. The chairman of the trade union at her mother's factory provided a vacancy, so her mother got another job. Her neighbors always help with the family's housework. Officials of Jiangchuan Community visit her family every year.
"I'll never forget them," Xia says.
Three years after she got the scholarship, Xia relinquished it because her father started receiving a monthly 800-yuan retirement allowance and her mother got a new job. As the economic situation improved, Xia could afford her studies by doing part-time work.
"The donation should be given to poorer families," she said at the time.
Not only did she give up the scholarship, which she could have retained, but Xia also started to donate 500 yuan to the fund every year in January.
"500 yuan is not a big deal, but at least it can provide a good Spring Festival for a family," she says.
"I've saved enough money for major expenses in the next five years," Xia said. "It's pointless and never-ending to pursue more money. For me, happiness lies in contentment."
Now, Xia is an on-the-job teaching postgraduate, earning 20,000 yuan for three years, which she thinks is fair.
"After six years of teaching, I realize that I need to be more knowledgeable."
At her school, Xia is also very popular, teaching mathematics and nature science. She gives 18 classes in a week.
"Telling pupils those general principles and rules is useless. I prefer telling stories about children from poor families," she said. "I want them as happy as I am."
Is it difficult to be happy? Not for Xia. "Understand love and give love," she said. "When love is around others, love is around you."
She teaches at Jiangchuan Road Primary School.
Born into a physically disadvantaged family, Xia's father is vision and hearing-impaired, while her2 mother has difficulty in walking.
Because of her parents' health problems, Xia was faced more difficulties than other young people. During college, she had to return home every time her mother fell ill because her father could not nurse her.
She studied in a normal university so that her family would only have to pay half the regular fee. After graduation, she would have been a middle school teacher.
Concerned about taking care of her parents, however, Xia chose to work in Jiangchuan Road Primary School very near her home in Minhang District.
"They need me," she said.
Children growing up in poor families have different futures, to be sure, but they are similar in one respect: They have experienced more than better-off children.
Some young people in these circumstances feel inferior and humiliated by their difficulties, while in Xia's case, her love has become stronger.
"It would have been impossible for me to get such a good job and life today without help from others," she said.
When talking about those kind people who helped her, Xia's eyes are filled with tears.
When she was in her first year of senior high school, both her parents lost their jobs and could not afford Xia's studies. A teacher helped her get funding from a charity, a 1,500-yuan (US$256) scholarship.
That may not seem like much, but for Xia it covered the fees for two semesters.
Many others helped her as well. The chairman of the trade union at her mother's factory provided a vacancy, so her mother got another job. Her neighbors always help with the family's housework. Officials of Jiangchuan Community visit her family every year.
"I'll never forget them," Xia says.
Three years after she got the scholarship, Xia relinquished it because her father started receiving a monthly 800-yuan retirement allowance and her mother got a new job. As the economic situation improved, Xia could afford her studies by doing part-time work.
"The donation should be given to poorer families," she said at the time.
Not only did she give up the scholarship, which she could have retained, but Xia also started to donate 500 yuan to the fund every year in January.
"500 yuan is not a big deal, but at least it can provide a good Spring Festival for a family," she says.
"I've saved enough money for major expenses in the next five years," Xia said. "It's pointless and never-ending to pursue more money. For me, happiness lies in contentment."
Now, Xia is an on-the-job teaching postgraduate, earning 20,000 yuan for three years, which she thinks is fair.
"After six years of teaching, I realize that I need to be more knowledgeable."
At her school, Xia is also very popular, teaching mathematics and nature science. She gives 18 classes in a week.
"Telling pupils those general principles and rules is useless. I prefer telling stories about children from poor families," she said. "I want them as happy as I am."
Is it difficult to be happy? Not for Xia. "Understand love and give love," she said. "When love is around others, love is around you."
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