A farmer in rural China whose third and youngest child has just been admitted to one of China’s notoriously difficult to enter elite schools – the Tsinghua University – attributes their success to hard work – and 17-hour plus school days.
It’s very rare for students from rural areas in China to gain admission to elite universities, let alone Tsinghua. It is one of the two most prestigious universities in China and is placed at 14 in the QS World University Rankings 2023. “In terms of education for my three children, I only tell them to be honest and credible and never to steal, rob or be rude to others,” Shen told Jiangsu TV.“I just taught them how to be a good person. I have only a primary school education. I can’t help them with their studies. Their good academic results were achieved solely through their own hard work.”
“It was hard work for me. But thinking of the scores he achieved, I feel happy. It’s like that famous saying, ‘Sunshine comes after the rain’,” said Shen.“She deals with everything in the family. I am grateful for her contribution to our family. Without her, we couldn’t be like what we are today,” he said.