FOCAL POINTS

Story of a Teacher and a Student

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ESS recently received a letter from Zhang Rui, our local representative in Gansu. The letter was written by Zhang Zhijun, from the Dacheng Elementary School in Anding District, Dingxi City, in Gansu province. It tells the touching story of a student, Su Qian, and his teacher, Zhu Caiqin. ESS has started to provide financial support to the student, and will continue to support him through senior secondary school, and further on if he gains admission to college.

Following is a translation of Mr. Zhang's letter.

A Story about Ms. Zhu Caiqin, a teacher, and Su Qian, a student

by Zhang Zhijun, Feb 19, 2013

Ms. Zhu Caiqin, a Han Chinese, was born in October, 1980. After she graduated from college, she was assigned to teach in Gejiacha elementary school in Anding District, under the jurisdiction of Dingxi in Gansu Province, in March 2001.  There the condition was extremely harsh, but she kept working diligently and enthusiastically, attending to every one of her students with love and care.

On a very cold wintery day in November 2003, heavy snow covered everything on the school grounds in the mountains. The bell was ringing, and ringing … it was time to start another school day. Ms. Zhu entered her first grade classroom.  She was about to start the lesson when some of the students said, "Teacher, Su Qian has wet his pants, ha ha ha ... "  She went up to Su Qian, and found that his pants were all wet. She immediately took the child back to the office and put him next to the stove to dry out his clothing. As she took his outer pants off and laid it on the chair to dry, she was surprised to see how flimsy the pants were. She thought to herself, "My goodness!!! How come the parents dress the child so lightly in such bitter cold weather?" 

She was angry and complained to Su Qian, "What was your Mom doing, giving you so little to wear?" 

Su Qian bent down his head, and said with a hardly audible whisper, "I don't have a Mom, my Mom is dead." 

"Oh ... ," Ms. Zhu was concerned, and asked the child, "What about your father?  Couldn't he dress you up properly?" 

Tears shone on the child's innocent face as he replied, "My father is dead too." 

Ms. Zhu was stunned. How come life was so hard for this little child! She stood there looking at Su Qian in silence, with tears running down her face. From then on, attention and care for the child became a part of her life.

She learned that Su Qian's mother died of illness when he was three and his father passed away when he was six. Medical expenses for the parents had left the family burdened with debts. Su Qian and his sister were living with their aging grandparents in utter poverty, having difficulty in sustaining even a basic livelihood.

From then on, Ms. Zhu was committed to loving the child so that he could have a happy childhood. She was only 21 years of age at the time, and lived by herself. As Su Qian lived far from school and could not go home for lunch, Ms. Zhu cooked extra food and had lunch together with the child in her office.  Gradually, Su Qian became more open and happier, and he was able to maintain good grades in his studies. Ms. Zhu took up the responsibility for Su Qian's school supplies as well as clothing, so that the child had clean and neat clothes to wear just like the other children. Many children in the class was envious of Su Qian -- though he had lost his parents, he enjoyed the teacher's special care and love.

In September 2005, Ms. Zhu was transferred to Dacheng School in the county seat and became separated from Su Qian.  However, she never forgot the child and his sister, bringing them school supplies and clothing on several occasions. She continued to be deeply concerned about Su Qian's life and his studies. One day in 2006, Su Qian's grandmother died in an accident. Su Qian's sister, at her young age, had to take over all the household chores of cooking meals and washing clothes. Every spring holiday, Ms. Zhu visited the family and brought gifts for Chinese New Year. The children's grandfather was so touched that he was lost for words, telling the children to address Ms. Zhu as their "god-mother".  On every visit, Ms. Zhu encouraged the children to study hard so that they would become useful citizens in future and contribute to society.

In September 2012, Su Qian was admitted to No. 1 key high school in Dingxi, on the basis of a high score of 587 in the entrance examination.  Everyone in the family was very happy.  By this time, the grandfather was already 68 years old, and Su Qian's sister was studying in her final year in Dongfanghong High School, also in Anding District in Dingxi. The tuition fees and living expenses for the two children became a heavy burden for the family.  Ms. Zhu visited Su Qian every now and then, bringing him some fruits and other food items every time. She also gave him 200 yuan a month to subsidize his living expenses. She bought new clothes for the children every change of season. This winter, she could not help worrying about the family, and took time off to visit them, bringing two new coats for the grandfather and Chinese New Year gifts for the children. In order to be able to keep track of Su Qian's studies and living conditions on a timely basis, she spent more than 300 yuan to buy a new cell phone for him. Ms. Zhu is not affluent herself, but she does not hold back on expenditures for the children.

To other people's queries, Ms. Zhu only returns a faint smile. She harbors a deep conviction in her heart -- to love and care for every student who needs help, to bring a happy childhood to all the children who have lost the love of their dear ones.

This is Ms. Zhu, an ordinary teacher in an elementary school. Throughout the past ten years, she has devoted her attention and care to Su Qian as he advanced from primary one to high school. Her motherly love has nurtured the child, and her warmth has brought him comfort, helping him grow up in healthy conditions. In her daily tasks in school, she is also a solid and dedicated worker, educating each student with her simple language and touching every one of them with her actions in real life.

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