Author: Zhang Jinchuan Wu Shengweigongwen
At the age of 48, many people may be busy running a family, running around for work, or even planning for retirement.
Peng Suping from Shihezi City in Xinjiang chose to challenge herself and take the college entrance examination.
Peng Suping has gone abroad, studied abroad, worked as a Russian translator and a middle school math teacher.
At the age of 48, through her own efforts, she entered the long-awaited Minnan Normal University with a score of 479 in the 2020 college entrance examination and became a freshman in the law school of the school.
Peng Suping.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
First experience from northwest to southeast
On October 12th, Peng Suping set foot on the land of Fujian for the first time with large bags of luggage.
When she arrived in Zhangzhou, where Minnan Normal University is located, she rushed to the school gate excitedly, not wanting to be stopped by security.
The reason is simple. During the epidemic, parents sending new students are not allowed to enter the campus.
Peng Suping and his roommate Lin Pingping, who is 5 years younger than her son, are walking on campus.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
"When I learned that I was a freshman, the security guard looked surprised." Peng Suping vividly told reporters about these interesting facts about enrollment.
In the past few days, on campus, Peng Suping was regarded as "parents" almost commonplace. When walking with his roommate Lin Pingping, who was 5 years younger than her son, people more "naturally" regarded them as mothers and daughters.
Peng Suping and his roommate Lin Pingping, who is 5 years younger than her son, are walking on campus.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
The weather in Zhangzhou also caught Peng Suping off guard.
When she set off from Xinjiang, she was wearing a turtleneck sweater, and as soon as she arrived, she had a face-to-face with the "warm" weather in southern Fujian.
In autumn, Zhangzhou is still green with trees and red flowers, and the climate is comfortable. It is so different from the withered vegetation in the north, which makes her very novel.
When I came to Zhangzhou, everything was so fresh.
Peng Suping is full of praise for South Fujian snacks such as five-spice rolls and fried sea oysters and abundant seafood.
Roommate Lin Pingping told her that in Zhangzhou, there are many more delicious foods.
Peng Suping and his roommate Lin Pingping, who is 5 years younger than her son.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
When they first entered the campus, they got acquainted with the campus, arranged the dormitories, and "cooked up classes" together. She and Lin Pingping quickly got in touch.
Lin Pingping also admires this "mother-level" roommate.
In her opinion, Peng Suping is a friend, a parent, and a life mentor, which is warm and practical.
As the oldest undergraduate freshman since the founding of Minnan Normal University, Peng Suping has a hearty personality. She does not feel that there is a "generation gap" with students 30 years younger than herself.
Peng Suping talks with her roommate.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
Change the way of living 30 years later and fight for the college entrance examination
In 1989, Peng Suping took the college entrance examination after graduating from high school and studied Russian at Xinjiang Normal University. He went to Russia to study in his junior year and stayed there to do Russian translation work for 15 years.
Then she returned to Shihezi City and worked as a middle school math substitute teacher for 8 years.
The idea of taking the college entrance examination again was born in the summer of 2019.
After teaching the graduating class of junior high school, Peng Suping decided to change her way of living. She quit her job and decided to enter university again.
"Life is still very long, and there are many things you can do." Peng Suping said that many of her old classmates have retired and are living a life of "getting up early to go shopping at the vegetable market and going home around the stove", but her heart is very resistant to this state. Think it's too early.
Peng Suping (first from right) and roommates.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
Peng Suping said that her decision was supported by her parents and son, "this is very happy."
The son who works in Urumqi even offered to bear her living expenses, and friends around him cast a new look.
As everyone knows, making this decision, it has been 30 years since her first college entrance examination.
After less than a year to prepare for the exam, Peng Suping was still very nervous.
She began to step up her review.
The sudden outbreak of new coronary pneumonia caused her to stay at home and review with peace of mind.
In order to better prepare for the exam, in May, she participated in the local college entrance examination training class "I won the first place in the first mock exam in the class, which increased my confidence."
With unremitting efforts, Peng Suping finally realized her dream.
Feel the Minnan people's spirit of "winning by hard work"
Choosing to come to Zhangzhou stems from her keen interest in Chinese traditional culture, especially South Fujian culture.
Peng Suping told reporters that Shihezi, where he grew up, has people from all corners of the country. “Since I was young, I have come into contact with the culture of mixed living, and I have very little knowledge of authentic traditional culture.”
Peng Suping.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
While working as a translator abroad, Peng Suping has traveled to 15 countries. Chinese culture is frequently mentioned by Chinese and foreign guests at many important events, which makes her feel that she should absorb the essence of traditional culture.
While working in Russia, Peng Suping came into contact with many businessmen in southern Fujian, and the spirit of "winning by hard work" in them deeply attracted her.
Going to southern Fujian, experiencing the culture of southern Fujian, and getting to know the authentic Minnan people has become her wish.
Today, her dream comes true.
Peng Suping (first from right) walking on campus with his teacher and roommate.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
Work hard to complete university studies in the future
Long-term translation work has made Peng Suping well aware of the importance of law in business negotiation and cooperation.
When choosing a major, she did not hesitate to apply for a law major.
"I used to be an interpreter, I just talked into the microphone. I hope that through the systematic study of the law major, I can make my thinking more rigorous."
Starting to study systematically again, Peng Suping hopes to contribute to the popularization of legal knowledge.
At the moment, she is also preparing to enter the Legal Service Center of the School of Law during the time when the school community is newly recruited.
Peng Suping is in class.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
Peng Suping and her roommate walked out of the classroom after class.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Jinchuan
The first professional course enrolled was "History of the Rule of Law in China".
After the class, Peng Suping said: "The teacher is very humorous and finds it interesting." She also admitted that studying law is very hard, the terms and conditions are constantly changing, and lifelong learning is required.
When it comes to the future, Peng Suping feels confident and challenging, "must persist in completing four years of studies."