On August 17, the summer heat in Beijing had not yet subsided. Li Qi and his father and brother said goodbye outside the gate of Tsinghua University and turned around to enter Tsinghua Garden.
He is already a freshman in the "Outstanding Physician-Scientist" program of Tsinghua University's clinical medicine class.
He walked slowly, and his steps seemed awkward.
"Progressive muscular dystrophy", a genetic disease that has accompanied him for six years since junior high school.
Li Qi was born in a mountain valley in Longqiao Village, Linjiang Town, Kaizhou District, Chongqing.
His childhood was the happiest time in his memory.
At that time, like other healthy children, he was running around and riding his bicycle everywhere.
After entering junior high school, Li Qi gradually showed symptoms of limb weakness.
This is a genetic disease that gets worse with age.
For Li Qi after the disease, the only exercise is walking.
In high school, Li Qi found that his symptoms had worsened again.
"I can't carry a heavy schoolbag, and it is very painful to go up the stairs. It takes more than ten minutes to go back and forth to the toilet." The academic pressure in high school was already heavy and time was tight, and Li Qi's physical condition put him under even more pressure.
The disease brought him clumsy action, inconvenience in life, and difficulty in life. Fortunately, the disease would not have much impact on the study itself.
Li Qi has always maintained a great enthusiasm for reading and learning.
He tried to make up for his shortcomings by studying hard.
Since entering high school, Li Qi secretly made up his mind to go all out to the dream of Tsinghua University.
With pain, self-examination and persistence, Li Qi approached the gate of Tsinghua Garden step by step.
Now, he is about to start the time of 8 years of undergraduate, master and doctoral studies.
In junior high school, Li Qi read a lot of inspirational stories about the self-improvement of the disabled, inspiring himself to go all out.
He remembered that Shi Tiesheng wrote in "When I was 21": "In the confusion of science, in the chaotic point of fate, people can only call on their own spirit. No matter what we believe in, we are all of us. The description and guidance of one's own spirit."
"No matter how bad life is, it won't prevent you from getting better." Li Qi told reporters that his personality has changed a lot after being ill.
"But there are some deeply ingrained things that may never change in a lifetime. For example, I can't always have a serious face." Li Qi laughed.
■ Dialogue
"The day will eventually pass, but we still have to move forward"
Beijing News: Did you have a heavy psychological burden when you were initially diagnosed?
Li Qi: Indeed.
When I was a child, I was like a normal person, and when I started middle school, I had no energy.
I have checked the information and it is true that there is no treatment or medicine for this disease at present, because it is a genetic disease.
The doctor didn't have any good plan, he just said to exercise more.
When I was in junior high school, I was a little self-sacrificing. At that time, I felt that the long road ahead in my life was over.
But no matter what, the day will pass.
Still have to move forward, go to school or go to school, eat or eat.
Beijing News: Under the circumstances, how did you overcome negative emotions?
Li Qi: Maybe I haven't overcome it yet.
I know this disease will accompany me for the rest of my life, even if I sit there angry or irritable, it will be useless.
Catching up with this disease is what I can do, at least to change the status quo.
Even if fate is not fair to me, I still have to work hard.
Beijing News: How is your physical condition now?
Li Qi: This disease will only get worse and will not recover.
The symptom is that there is no strength in the hands and feet. For example, if the hands cannot be lifted, it will be more laborious to lift the feet. If they bear a little force, they will fall directly.
I don't know what the future will hold. From now on, the rate of deterioration should be slowing down.
"Do your best to do your best and don't hold back others"
Beijing News: Did your parents have a big influence on you?
Li Qi: Great influence.
I have a convenience store at home. I was influenced by my parents and saw that many people like to take the initiative to communicate and say hello.
If I didn't have this disease, my personality might be more lively; because of the disease, I often have to ask people for help, and I sometimes feel very embarrassed.
Mom can do limited labor, but she has always tried to do what she can do.
She often told me that what others can do in a minute, even if it takes an hour to complete, she will never refuse, and try not to hold others back.
Beijing News: How did your parents react when you were admitted to Tsinghua University?
Li Qi: When I gave up on myself, my parents were not in a good mood. They even quarreled because they felt helpless because of their illness.
Mom and Dad should be in a good mood now.
I applied to the school to report with my parents. My father and brother came with me. We set off from home on August 13 and went to Beijing to see Tiananmen Square.
Dad and brother also want to go to the Great Wall to see.
"I want to help others and give back to the society after studying medicine"
Beijing News: Does applying for a medical major have anything to do with your physical condition?
Li Qi: There is a certain relationship, but not all.
With the current technology, there should be no cure for my disease, so I want to be able to help others after studying medicine.
In fact, I have had the idea of studying medicine since I was a child.
Where I live, I see many examples of how much of an impact and pain it can be for a family to be sick.
Including my own family, I also had a very unhappy time. I felt the pain of those who were troubled by the disease, and I was very sympathetic to them and wanted to bring them some help.
For example, my uncle has had a cough for several years. I usually send him to see a doctor, but he doesn't go.
The thinking of many people in the countryside is, "It's not worth going to the hospital for minor illnesses, and it's useless to go to the hospital for serious illnesses."
The medical conditions at home are limited, and people's awareness is not enough.
I hope that people who live there can go to see if they have minor illnesses and receive corresponding treatment.
The Beijing News: Are there other people around me who practice medicine?
Li Qi: My brother also chose to major in clinical medicine. He is two and a half years older than me and is currently studying at Chongqing Medical University.
Our reasons for choosing to study medicine are similar.
Beijing News: Do you support this professional parent?
Li Qi: Our parents are very supportive of our professional choice.
In fact, they are very worried about our future. For example, in Chongqing, the civil engineering major of Chongqing University is relatively strong, but considering that if we do engineering and have to go to the construction site, it is inconvenient to move.
Parents pay special attention to this when we choose a major, worrying that physical inconvenience will affect our studies.
"Even at the bottom of Tsinghua University, I don't dare to be depressed"
Beijing News: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Li Qi: I read a lot of news.
In addition, I like to read novels, such as Lu Xun's.
Or watch some documentaries, etc.
The game is also played, but relatively dishes.
Beijing News: Do you have any learning experiences and methods to share?
Li Qi: My grades are really not good, at least not at Tsinghua University.
To be honest, compared with my classmates in my hometown, I played a little more time than they did.
I don't have any special study methods or skills, but I'm still very interested in learning itself, but I'm not very interested in exams.
When the teacher imparts new knowledge, I basically never get distracted and can listen very attentively.
Beijing News: What are your plans for college life?
Li Qi: I will try to catch up with everyone at Tsinghua University first, because I am really not a scholar here.
After checking in, I chatted with my classmates, and everyone was very good.
I know that some classmates start to loose after they go to college, but I definitely won't be loose.
Even if I'm "bottom" here, I won't, dare not be depressed.
How dare you?
Beijing News: After entering the university, what impact will the disease have on you?
Li Qi: Study should not have much impact, but life will still have an impact.
If you can't move things in your daily life, you may have to ask your roommate for help.
The biggest problem for me is not the powerlessness brought about by the disease itself, but the feeling that I owe many people around me.
All the way to Beijing, with the help of relatives, teachers, classmates, and parents, when I just went upstairs, I still needed the help of volunteers.
I need others to help me in many places, and I feel that I owe others a lot.
So, I want to be a doctor and be able to repay the society in the future. This is from the bottom of my heart.
Beijing News reporter Feng Qi