China News Service, Lanzhou, August 29 (Reporter Xu Xuedingsi) In Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province, Yan Guizhen, a 40-year teacher of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School, is still active on the three-foot podium. At the age of 59, her retirement time has been delayed. Yan, students need her, and she can't do without them.
Yan Guizhen likes to bow, and when students answer the right questions in her class, she will bow.
Later, when she took to the streets to collect donations for poor students, she bowed thousands of times.
Bowing, in her opinion, is the highest etiquette of the ancient Chinese, and bending over ninety degrees is her way of expressing respect.
The picture shows Yan Guizhen giving guidance to the students.
Photo by Yao Jianping
Who is Yan Guizhen?
Nowadays, no one knows about Yan Guizhen in Jiayuguan.
She is a "National Moral Model", "National May 1st Female Model", "National March 8th Red-Banner", "Expert Enjoying State Council Allowance", "National Famous Teacher of Ten Thousand Talents Program", "China's Good People List", "National Outstanding Communist Party Member"...
She is also the "Mother Yan" of the students, the "Caring Mother" of the aided poor students, and the "Master Yan" of young teachers...
In order to help students in need, Yan Guizhen initiated a fundraiser.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
In her life, she is extremely frugal, rarely buying new clothes, riding a repaired and repaired bicycle, and still living with her family in an old house of 60 square meters.
In teaching, she often buys books and nutrition for students out of her own pocket. For decades, she has silently supported students with difficulties in their families and helped them realize their college dreams.
The "initial heart" given by a bowl of white rice
In 1962, Yan Guizhen was born in a poor mountainous area in Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County, Anshan City, Liaoning Province. Not having enough food made her childhood school more difficult, but she had stubbornness in her bones, and she believed one thing, no matter how hard she was. If you are tired, you have to keep working. This kind of personality affects Yan Guizhen's later study and work.
On the long mountain road between home and school, there was a thin figure running back and forth. The children of the same age in the same village felt too bitter and couldn't hold on, so they gave up, leaving only Yan Guizhen.
Yan Guizhen often wakes up at four or five in the morning to prepare for class, and always corrects the test paper overnight after finishing the exam.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
While studying, Yan Guizhen met two mentors who had a profound influence on her.
When she was in elementary school, she was so small that she could not see the blackboard when she was sitting. The head teacher Wang Shufang specially made a high bench for her.
When Yan Guizhen couldn’t reach the blackboard, she picked her up to answer the question...
In high school, Yan Guizhen took only one portion of polenta to school every day as usual.
When the head teacher Yu Haidong accidentally saw the gruel in her bowl, he said "Is this enough to eat?", he turned around and went out. After a while, the lunch box containing white rice and stir-fried vegetables was handed to Yan Guizhen's hand. Go on, "Eat, kid, you’ll have the energy to go to college when you’re full."
"Teacher Yu is not well-off at home, but he did not ignore a poor student." Yan Guizhen couldn't help but choke when she recalled becoming a teacher's "initial heart". This bowl of white rice gave her the strength to forge ahead, and she was determined to pass the exam. University, become a good teacher like Teacher Yu and Teacher Wang.
In 1979, Yan Guizhen was successfully admitted to the Normal University and became one of the few local college students. The neighbors in the neighbourhood and village were happy for her, and even voluntarily pooled money to support her.
"One dime, five cents...everybody collects 50 yuan every time the school starts, 30 yuan of which is used as travel expenses, and I bought all the books for the rest of the money, and I dare not spend a single cent." She said.
In 1981, Yan Guizhen graduated and took up the post of teacher. In order to repay the kindness of the villagers and teachers, she determined to be a good teacher and a good teacher who would not let any student fall behind or drop out of school.
In the early days of work, Yan Guizhen had a monthly salary of 38 yuan, of which 10 yuan was a tribute to her parents, and the rest she used to subsidize poor students to return to the villagers.
Take root in the Gobi and be the student's "Mother Yan"
In 1985, 23-year-old Yan Guizhen responded to the call of the country with a box of books and a roll of old bedding, and rushed to Jiayuguan City, more than 2,600 kilometers away, and took root in the Northwest Gobi.
Jiayuguan City is a modern city built by generations of people on the Gobi Desert where "the wind blows the stones and runs away, and the ground does not grow grass".
Yan Guizhen guides students in group discussions in class.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
When Yan Guizhen arrived at Jiayuguan, it was in the early stage of urban construction and development. Living and working conditions were still very difficult. The adobe house he lived in was the vast Gobi Desert.
Even so, Yan Guizhen did not "regret". She devoted herself to education with great enthusiasm. "The more difficult the place, the more children are often eager for knowledge. When I was a child, it was too hard to study, so I understand the hardships of poor students. And will do my best to help them."
Yan Guizhen is not only excellent in Chinese teaching, but also very caring for students. In her eyes, there is no difference between good students and poor students. They are strictly required in class. After school, she rides a bicycle to visit home to understand each student’s Circumstances, silently provide money to support students from poor families.
Yan Guizhen's students call her "Mother Yan". Like a mother, she cares for every child in every possible way.
In 1996, Yan Guizhen discovered that student Wang Hong was always flushed and his hair soaked when he went to school every day.
It turns out that his home is too far away from school, and there is no money to buy a bicycle, so he can only run to school.
Yan Guizhen immediately funded Wang Hong a new bicycle, and later he was admitted to a key university.
In 1999, student Liu Zhenxing was hospitalized with an eye injury, and his parents were not around. After class, Yan Guizhen took on the responsibility of taking care of Liu Zhenxing, arranged for students to make up lessons for him, and paid for his medical expenses when he was discharged from the hospital.
For decades, Yan Guizhen has saved food and money, used his salary and bonus to support poor students, personally sponsored more than 170 students, and successively took 47 poor students home to take care of their study and life. Among them, 3 orphans She subsidized to graduate from university.
Yan Guizhen lectures in class.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
From 2001 to 2002, the students led by Yan Guizhen passed the liberal arts champion in Gansu Province for two consecutive years. She used all the 60,000 yuan awarded by Jiu Steel Group Corporation to reward and subsidize students, of which 30,000 yuan was used to support students from extremely poor families. To help them complete their studies smoothly; 20,000 yuan is used to reward students with excellent academic performance and progress, so as to encourage students to study hard and become national outstanding talents; 10,000 yuan is used to reward students who are admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University.
In 2010, Yan Guizhen won the "Baosteel Cup" National Top Ten Young and Middle-aged Outstanding Teacher Gold Award, with a bonus of 30,000 yuan. She was also used to subsidize poor students and reward students with excellent academic performance.
Yan Guizhen has been a class teacher for more than 30 years and has led 18 college entrance examination graduating classes, and has trained more than 4,000 students.
Among them, there are 3 liberal arts champions in the college entrance examination of Gansu Province, 3 second in the province, 7 top ten in the province, and more students in the top 100 in the province.
The enrollment rate of all the college entrance examination graduating classes is more than 90%, and it is 100% in seven classes.
The students taught have repeatedly won the provincial and municipal Chinese college entrance examination single subject champions, and the average score of college entrance examination language exceeds the province by more than 15 points, with a maximum of 27 points.
Take to the streets to raise funds for poor students
In September 2012, Yan Guizhen was awarded the "Special Contribution Award for the Promotion of Education in Jiayuguan City" by Jiayuguan officials, with a cash reward of 200,000 yuan. Yan Guizhen decided on the spot to use the funds to support students in need. "As a poor area of Gansu, there are still many poor families. The students need help from the state and society, but the power of one person is limited after all. I want to set up a "Yan Guizhen Love Education Foundation" to gather love from all walks of life and jointly build the dream of education and poverty alleviation to help more Of poor children complete their studies."
Yan Guizhen communicated with students.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
In order to collect 2 million yuan in registered capital, from March 3, 2013, Yan Guizhen squeezed time out of work, riding a dilapidated and faded bicycle every day, entering the building, knocking at the door, and talking at the sight of people. , Raise funds for charity.
There was wind and sand in March and April in the Gobi Desert. She couldn't ride a bicycle, so she just walked.
From the vegetable market to the government office building, she is in every street and lane.
"Teacher Yan, today's food has not been sold, I will donate 1 yuan." Yan Guizhen took the vendor's money and bowed.
When a taxi driver passing by saw Yan Guizhen walking to collect donations, “Mr. Yan, I will be your free driver if I don’t get a job today.”
Sometimes, the door was knocked open and a group of cadres inside were having an office meeting. Yan Guizhen hurriedly bowed his head to apologize. After learning of her intention, the officials took the lead in donating money, and the meeting instantly became the donation scene.
Yan Guizhen visited Tibetan schools to understand their needs.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
When facing the party and government institutions, private entrepreneurs and citizens who offered love, she felt grateful and shed tears several times. She only bowed to express her gratitude.
Yan Guizhen’s deeds have gradually become well-known to the citizens of Jiayuguan. Tens of thousands of people have voluntarily signed, and the donation raised in less than six months has reached 3.28 million. The "Jiayuguan Yan Guizhen Charity Education Association" was established in 2013, which is also Gansu Province. The first educational aid organization named after an individual.
As more and more caring people join in the activities of public welfare education, the Love Student Association continues to grow and grow. In order to achieve better development of the Love Student Association, in March 2018, under the guidance and advice of the local civil affairs department , The Love Education Association was upgraded to "Jiayuguan Yan Guizhen Love Education Foundation".
"In order to live up to the donations of every caring person, the foundation strives to be fair and transparent." Yan Guizhen also visited the poorest places in the province during his vacation.
Yan Guizhen communicated with students.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
In December 2015, the Foundation sent a batch of computers to the primary school in Xiulong Township, Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Wuwei City, which is located at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters; in August 2017, it donated 100,000 yuan in scholarships to 50 impoverished college entrance examination students in Tianshui City. ; May 2018, donated 130,000 yuan for the school built after the earthquake in Min County, Dingxi; in August 2019, distributed materials to 655 poor teachers and students in Huan County, Qingyang City, a total of 200,000 yuan; September 2020, 50 impoverished college entrance examination students in Zhuanglang County, Pingliang City provide 100,000 yuan in grants...
In October 2015, Zhao Tao, a student of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School, suffered from leukemia and his life was at stake. The foundation raised more than 600,000 yuan for bone marrow transplant surgery; in December 2017, Zhang Yujiao, a student of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School in Jiayuguan City, suddenly suffered from viral myocarditis and was dying. Yan Guizhen initiated And raised 450,000 yuan; in March 2019, Yan Guizhen learned that Zhang Wenjing, a student of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School, was suffering from cancer. In the name of the foundation, he launched a "race to life and save mother" initiative to the whole society. Within two weeks Just raised 270,000 yuan; in April 2020, Huo Jun, the father of Huo Yujia who was studying for undergraduate and master's degree at Chongqing Medical University, suffered from leukemia. The medical and surgical expenses were expensive, and the student's tuition fee was also insignificant. After Yan Guizhen learned, Funded Huo Yujia 6,000 yuan, and initiated an initiative in the name of the foundation to raise 350,000 yuan...
"When we were in trouble due to the difficulties of our livelihoods, it was Teacher Yan, the foundation and many caring people, who extended a helping hand to us. It was you who gave us sunshine and warmth to prevent this coming winter from It will be cold; it is you who gave us new hope, getting closer and closer to our dream..." said Xu Junhui, a sponsored student.
The picture shows Yan Guizhen.
(Data map) Photo courtesy of Jiugang No. 3 Middle School
Up to now, the foundation has raised 8.15 million yuan in donations, and funded more than 15,600 impoverished teachers and students.
"Love is everything to education." Yan Guizhen believes that compared to grades, she pays more attention to the education of students' morality, cultivating them to care about the country and have both ability and political integrity, so that they can become talents no matter what position they go to.
(over)