A very long time ago, I was only a student in a countryside village. I had no hopes or plans for the future. The me in the past only knew how to play and wreck chaos with my classmates, not paying attention to my studies. My parents also didn’t have much hope in my studies because they felt that graduating from ninth grade and then marrying into a good family was enough. To me at that time, it was also my only future.

　　In a blink of an eye, a few years passed. I also changed a lot: I turned from being someone who didn’t like to learn to someone who put every effort into learning. I understood more and didn’t want to be a conservative person. My earliest plan was to continue my education. I believed that I would always go to school at home: but an accident forced my whole family to come to Beijing. To me, all this was almost a cruel dream. When we were first in Beijing, my parents travelled everywhere to find a fitting job and a school for me and my older brother, but they never found a suitable school for us. During that time, I felt very depressed. When I saw students coming and going every morning on the streets, I longed for what they had. I was constantly struggling with myself and often thought, is that how I’m going to live for the rest of my life? Be a nobody? No, no, I don’t want to live like my parents; I have to be stronger than them and help them live a better life.

　　In the weeks after I arrived in Beijing, I returned to a brand new school with an eagerness to learn. My grades were always very outstanding, so my parents felt very confident about my studies. Slowly I rose to middle school, which is a very important stage. By chance, after someone’s suggestion about the Dandelion School, I came here. At first, I only knew that it was a non-profit welfare school. After coming here for a while, I learned a lot and my English grades immensely improved to my disbelief. Also, I respected the teachers who diligently worked with the students; the care the teachers showed to the students was no different from that of their parents. Here, my grades not only constantly climbed, but my thoughts and abilities also advanced through the school’s psychology classes, interest classes, and other school activities.

　　I need to thank the Principal the most. At her age, she should be at home enjoying family life, but she took on social responsibilities as her own, travelling everywhere to help establish a school for migrant workers’ children. She gave us hope for a new life and confidence for the future. Here we not only learned knowledge, but also widened our horizons. Many celebrities also came to visit the Dandelion School and I feel very lucky to attend this school.

　　More and more I feel that my future is not bleak anymore. I want to study harder and not only go to college, but also study abroad. I not only want to be a successful person, but I also want to be a contributor to society. This is my greatest and permanent plan for the future!
　　
（Dandelion School ninth grade (Class 1) Zhang Tian Ge， Fall semester of 2006）
(Translated by Diana)