This is a translated letter from one of the college students receiving our financial aid.

Dear Granny Chou,

Greetings to you! I am Yan Fang. Time flies, I am already in the second half of my junior year in college! Over this past semester, I not only gained new knowledge in school, but I also new insights in life.

First of all, the most important thing I have learned is that I am a very lucky person. In addition to enjoying a healthy body and the love from my parents and younger brother, I also have the care and help from a very kind person like you. As I continue my medical studies and observe different patient’s cases, I realize that life is indeed very fragile.

In one of my classes this past semester, my professor shared a case with us about a 20-year old young man who ate spoiled seafood on his birthday and went into septic shock. Unfortunately, he passed away since no one could treat him. Although this case was just used to teach our medical class, it touched my heart and made me aware of how short and fragile life can be. Once a person loses their life, they lose everything. After I heard about this case, I was at a loss for a while, but I felt lucky to be alive and healthy.

Before I went to college, I always thought that the course of life is very long, consisting of birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age and at last, death. However, after I entered college, I began to realize that not everyone can go through all these stages of life. Some die in the womb, some die during childhood and even some of the most brilliant people die young. Realizing the temporary and fragile nature of life, I told myself that I should not waste my time. I needed to treasure every day as if it’s my last and spend it doing things that I will not regret.

I also feel very fortunate to have the chance to go college. As I think back to when I was in the middle school, I thought I would be very lucky if I just finished middle school. I didn’t dare to think about high school. My father told me that if I could not get in the No. 1 Provincial High School, I shouldn’t think about high school. Some people may think that’s my father’s way to encourage me to study hard, but I knew it was because we were too poor financially. I knew then in my heart that if I could go to the No. 1 Provincial High School, I might have a good future. Since my grades were not so good, my chances to get in were slim. Amazingly, when the high school entrance exam results were announced, I was accepted by the No.1 Provincial High School! However, after entering high school, especially in my senior year, I started losing interest to study because I knew that my family could not financially support me to study in college. I was upset for some time, but I told myself to not to worry about the results and just do my best to enjoy the journey. Just like Tagore once said,  “I leave no trace of wings in the air,/but I am glad I have had my flight.” Then, after I completed my college entrance exam, I successfully got accepted to go to college! I also received a lot of care and help from many kindhearted people. I gradually realized that if we persist and work hard, we will not be disappointed.

I am also especially grateful for my parents. One day in class, my professor mentioned that having the ability to travel with your own parents is a wonderful thing. After hearing that, I felt uncomfortable. Did I not want to do that with my parents? It would be so difficult to travel with them! Both my parents are disabled, and they rarely keep contact with the outside world. Moreover, both of them are getting old and alone. Every time I call home, they would be so excited that they would have a loss for words for a few seconds before they start talking to me; I can sense their excitement from the silence. My parents raised my younger brother and me. Both of us wanted to grow up fast so that we could go out to work to support them. However, if we were to leave them, they would be very lonely. It made us hesitate and give up the idea of leaving home. I told myself that I should be filial to them and be a good son from now on. I should listen to them and take care of them, because it is really challenging to be parents. Ever since I started studying in the college, I could not spend much time with my parents. My parents worked so hard in that little ravine just to raise my brother and me.  They never left it to travel outside. Especially my mother, she was sickly from very young and never attended school. After marrying my father, she did not travel far and was only familiar with our area. My hope is that after I start working and have an income, I will accompany my parents to travel so that they get to know the world outside of our village. I believe that will be a wonderful!

My classes this semester are getting more difficult, and I hear that it will become even more difficult later. However, I am not afraid. I believe that I can study hard and eventually become a good doctor.

Last but not the least, I want to thank Granny Chou’s love and care. Wishing Granny very good health and happiness!