In June of 1998, Su Mingjuan was elected as a representative of Anhui Province to attend the 14th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Youth League in Beijing. During the congress, Su Mingjuan became the most popular one. Many people immediately offered an invitation as soon as they saw Su, "Big-Eye girl, let's take a photo together!" At the Congress, Su Mingjuan, aged less than fifteen years old was elected as the alternate member of the Communist Youth League Central Committee.
In September of 2002, Su Mingjuan was admitted by Anhui University Vocational College, majoring in finance. From a poor child supported by Project Hope to a college student, Su Mingjuan's fate had undergone a tremendous change.
Soon after her college life started, Su Mingjuan wrote to the China Youth Development Foundation and raised a special application:
The China Youth Development Foundation:
…
When I was a pupil in Grade One, Mr. Xie Hailong took the renowned picture "Big-Eye Girl" . From then on, my study and life have gone through many changes in contrast to before. As the iconic representative of Project Hope, I went out of the big mountain to take part in various public welfare activities in order to further promote the development of Project Hope. I have worked even harder and I want to use my most excellent achieve-ments to pay back all the kind people who are concerned about Project.
When I was in the Grade One of high school, I was rewarded "Star of Hope" . After that, all of my three years at High School was sponsored by Project Hope. Now, I come to Anhui University to major in Finance and further my studies. Thank you sincerely for your industrious cultivation of us, the poor children.
Today, I wish to make a solemn request that Project Hope's donation plan for me must be dropped. I think after entry into college, every one should learn to be self-dependent and stand on one's own feet. I firmly believe, in my future years at College, I will work hard to master knowledge of my major and strengthen myself from all sides. I can make use of my spare time and vocations to take part in social practice. In addition, solving my material difficulties in life whilst simultaneously, receive social training. I think the donation can be used on those students who need them more. It can relieve them from the trouble caused by poverty.
After entering college, I find that the children cultivated by Project Hope are no weaker than others. We also have the same intelligence and talents and in some aspects we are even stronger than those urban students. I have deep faith that with several years in college, we can be even more excellent and with our great scores and outstanding competence we will repay all the warmhearted people who are always caring about Project Hope.
Anhui University Su Mingjuan
As soon as Su Mingjuan's request went public, she won lots of praises. "Good example! You are a true qualified college student!" "Big-eye girl, you are right!" "Because of your thoughtfulness, you will achieve more in the future!"
In the first summer, Su Mingjuan took part in a service group consisted of ten college students from her Vocational College and they came to Su's hometown, Jinzhai County. They conducted a one-week summer social practice program concerning Project Hope and their own major. They came to Junma Hope Primary School and donated several books that were collected by themselves. In addition, they gave guidance to the students on computer and writing.
Su Mingjuan asked students beside her, "You are all students of a Hope Primary School, but do you know what Project Hope is?"
"Yes!" The students answered in one voice. Some students said, "Project Hope helps poor children get back to school!" "Project Hope joins urban children and us hand in hand!"
Hearing the students' answers, Su Mingjuan has a smile on her face. From these children, she seemed to see herself-that little girl in a flower coat, shy to speak aloud before a stranger and nearly dropping out due to poverty. However, Su Mingjuan thought they were more fortunate and more knowledgeable than her of that age.
Su Mingjuan said many times, "Project Hope changed my life. Without Project Hope, never could I have the opportunity to sit in the classroom; without it, I would stay in the mountain forever." "What Project Hope sent to me is not only material support but spiritual nourishment. It tells me that there are so many warmhearted people caring for poor children and it teaches me the pleasure in helping others."
Project Hope changed Su Mingjuan's fate. Therefore, Su thought she had the obligation to make contributions to Project Hope and to help more children in impoverished regions to change their fate.
She actively took part in all kinds of public welfare activities and received interviews for thousands of times with each interview acting as promotion for Project Hope.
In 2005, Su Mingjuan graduated from college and started to work in a bank in Anhui Province.
"Helping others is a virtue; repaying the society is an obligation." Su Mingjuan expects more and more people to pay attention to the poor people and devote to Project Hope, the social public welfare cause.
3.Zhang Xun: Full of Passion Forever
The sunlight in late autumn was especially warmer than ever.
On the afternoon of October 25, 2008, on the campus of China Agricultural University, I met with Zhang Xun, at the height of 1.8 meters, in sportswear, permeated with passion.
It is exactly this boy in front of me that has ranked top in his class both in examination performance and comprehensive evaluation since he was a freshman. One month ago, he was recommended by his university for admission to the graduate school and he has got the acceptance letter from the Institute of Geography in Chinese Academy on Science for a continuous academic project that involves postgraduate and doctoral study.
