By Vincent, Translated by Shang | Alumni & Volunteer
Vincent was born in a small, remote village in northern Jiangsu Province. His parents relied on temporary jobs and a small area of farmland to make ends meet. Vincent's mother suffered from chronic diseases and required long-term medication, making it difficult for her to work. As a result, his father shouldered most of the family's financial burden, working from early morning until late at night and looking much older than his age.
Despite their own limited education, Vincent's parents knew the importance of education and were determined to provide their children with every opportunity possible. They were frugal in their daily lives but never hesitated to invest as much as they could in Vincent and his younger brother's education. Vincent excelled in his elementary and junior high schools, and he was admitted to the best high school in his county. However, when it came time for his high school education, the family was confronted with a significant challenge. High school in China was no longer compulsory and required tuition fees. The family had to come up with a plan to afford Vincent's tuition fees, which amounted to the majority of their annual income.
Fortunately, a volunteer from the SOAR selection committee in Vincent's hometown encouraged him to apply for a SOAR scholarship, and he received it! Vincent still remembers the overwhelming joy he felt when he received the scholarship check of SOAR from his teacher in December 2014, during his first semester of high school. He carefully pinned the check into his textbook and stored it in the innermost drawer, immediately handing it to his father when he returned home for his monthly break. His father's tired face showed a long-lost sense of relief. He no longer had to worry about tuition and living expenses for the year. For the next two years, Vincent received scholarships from SOAR that helped him finish high school.
However, fate dealt Vincent a blow when he took the college entrance exam. Despite his hard work, he failed to gain admission to a good university and could only attend a low-tier college that required high tuition fees for a rural family. Vincent chose to stay in high school for an extra year and take the exam again. On his second attempt, he successfully gained admission to the computer science major at a very good university in Jiangsu Province.
Vincent continued to work hard to enhance his professional knowledge. His excellent GPA won him numerous honors and awards. He continued to receive scholarships from SOAR and several national scholarships for his academic excellence. During his spare time, he took on part-time jobs and was able to stand on his own feet without the economic support of his family. Vincent graduated summa cum laude and continued pursuing a master's degree in computer science, starting in 2021.
Vincent said, "I am so grateful to SOAR and to those who helped me on my way to school. I will carry on the spirit of SOAR and pass on the love of SOAR to help others in need. From now on, I will study harder to make myself more mature, more talented, and more beneficial to society. I believe I will achieve my dreams and goals, even if the road is bumpy, rugged, difficult, and dangerous. I will overcome any difficulties and succeed."
Thanks for your generous support for SOAR, which helps nourishes the dreams of 15,000+ children like Vincent!
By News by Shang, Translated & Edited by Dawn | SOAR Alumnus &Volunteer, Fundraising Chair
By Story by Alan, Translated by Yuan, Shang & Dawn | SOAR Student and Volunteers
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