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Trash man earns college diploma 20 years later

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-11 08:58

A rubbish collector and former dropout in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, got his university diploma after studying English for nine years.

Pan Yongyuan, 42, started learning and preparing for the exams in 2000. Poverty prevented Pan from staying in school and he dropped out during his second year of high school and hasn't studied for 20 years.

He taught himself English by looking up words in the dictionary and listening to tapes.

Many neighbors said his persistence makes him a good role model for them and their children.

(Modern Express)