Staff helps shy students find aid, self-confidence

Sun started studying at the university in 2011 and brought 4,000 yuan cash with him after his family sold two pigs, the only ones they had.

Having never left his hometown before, he did not fit in well with university life at first. "Seeing people around me wearing designer brands and speaking fluent Mandarin, I could not help but feel inferior to them," he said. "I spoke with a stutter and strong accent, so I did not want to talk to others."

Sun first met Shi when he applied for an interest-free student loan to pay for tuition. Shi was responsible for helping students prepare the necessary documentation.

Although Shi explained the policies clearly, Sun still could not follow.

Knowing that he would not be able to pay tuition if he did not get the loan, Sun asked Shi for help. Back then, Sun's family only made about 5,000 yuan per year from farming and raising pigs, and his sister has cerebral palsy due to medicine malpractice in early childhood. "He was actually the first staff member I spoke with, and although I had to fill out the form three times before I got it right, he did not show any impatience," Sun said.

After the encounter, Shi started to pay extra attention to Sun.

"Many students from impoverished families are shy and reserved, and my job is to encourage them and help them build confidence," Shi said. "I told him that he was not inferior to his peers and he needed to open himself up."

Apart from receiving 24,000 yuan in interest-free loans, which covered his four-year tuition and dormitory fees, Sun was also able to get more than 50,000 yuan in scholarships, grants and subsidies, which paid for his living expenses. Shi often helped him apply for the funds.

"Without the money, I would not have been able to graduate. More importantly, without Shi's constant encouragement and care, I would not have been able to trust myself and start working hard for a better future," Sun said. "The harder one works, the more fortunate one becomes."

His hard work has won him approval from his bosses. Now, he can earn as much as 20,000 yuan ($3,096) per month, higher than many of his colleagues.

China has built a multifaceted aid program for college students, which includes: national scholarships, grants and interest-free loans; school scholarships and grants; subsidies for students from impoverished families; meal subsidies; and tuition fee reductions and exemptions.

Meanwhile, a "green channel" has been established, which allows freshmen to register at colleges or universities even if they are unable to pay their tuition fees in full.

About 774 billion yuan was allocated to 391 million students in financial aid from preschool education to higher education during the 13th Five Year Plan period (2015-20), according to the Ministry of Education. Financial aid for students rose for the 13th consecutive year in 2019, reaching 212.6 billion yuan, 8.05 percent higher than in 2018, according to the ministry.

To help impoverished students build confidence, Shi and others at the center started offering free courses in various subjects including dancing, music, art, computer science and English.

Unlike their urban counterparts, many rural students lack the financial means to take after-school courses during primary and secondary school, so it is hard for them to fit in with others, Shi said.

Zuo Kaixian, from Zuoquan county, Shanxi province, took a course on Adobe Photoshop, which helped her land a job at an internet company last year. Zuo's family experienced difficulties after her father injured one of his legs in a traffic accident when she was in middle school and her mother needed to take care of her younger brother.

Zuo got to know Shi when she applied for the interest-free loan, and she said he has been just like a father to her.

"I was very introverted during my first year of university. I did not want others to know my family's condition and feel sorry for me," she said. "He told me the adversity would be less intimidating if I let others help me."

He would also constantly check up on her to see if she had any needs. With Shi's encouragement, she started to make more friends, and her grades gradually improved. Thanks to her good academic performance, she was also able to pursue a master's degree at the university without having to take the enrollment test.

Zuo gradated last year and found a job at an internet company in Nanjing, Jiangsu, earning more than 10,000 yuan per month.

She said she will continue to work at the company for a couple of years to make money before trying to earn a teaching certificate.

"It is so fulfilling to have the opportunity to teach someone for a few years and possibly help them obtain a better future with kindness and words of encouragement, just like Mr Shi," she said.