Yuan Hui (2nd L) takes a selfie with students during a class break at a primary school in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, April 8, 2022. (Photo by Yuan Hui/Xinhua)
After a long day at work, Yuan Hui decided to stay back in the office until late and review students' midterm exam papers.
The silence of the night was occasionally interrupted by the symphony of frogs and crickets, as the 33-year-old Yuan continued his work unfazed.
Yuan is a volunteer teacher at a village in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of his volunteer teaching career in the countryside.
Nestled deep in the mountains, all of the prefecture's two cities and six counties were once reeling under poverty. Despite all challenges, Yuan believes that it was a worthwhile and deeply gratifying experience growing up among his students.
"I did not come here on a whim. I love teaching from the bottom of my heart," said Yuan, who teaches a variety of courses, including history, geography and music, in different primary and middle schools in Enshi.
"Spreading joy and knowledge among others makes me feel valuable. Living in the midst of the woods and lush greenery, I seemed to have reached a tacit understanding with nature, and discovered the essence of life," he said.
When asked how long he would persist in volunteer teaching, Yuan said "persistence is not the accurate word." "Volunteer teaching is vital to me in the same way that breathing is vital to humans. Breathing is necessary for survival so we don't say we persist in breathing."
THE INNER CALLING
Back in 2012, when Yuan was about to graduate from Nanjing University, one of the top universities in China, his mentor wrote a recommendation letter for him to work in a magazine in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.
Though the chief editor was very appreciative of him after an interview, Yuan hesitated over the job offer.
"Since I was a high school student, I've dreamt to be a volunteer teacher. In contrast to the conventional teaching style, I feel there is another way, and I hope to have the opportunity to put my ideas into practice," he said, adding that his teaching may have a greater impact on students' living in mountain villages with inadequate education resources.
"I had thought of going to other mountainous places in Chongqing or Sichuan, but I couldn't find a volunteer position in schools there," said Yuan.
While he was exploring a spot in other places, he came across a news story about a disabled teacher in Enshi named Tan Dingcai.
"Tan, the only teacher for the 27 students in Enshi's Jiangjiawan Village, suffered from paralysis around six years back. So, I thought a volunteer teacher like me might be needed there," Yuan said, adding that he feels really lucky that Tan allowed him to volunteer, marking the start of a new chapter of life.
Yuan finally decided to follow his inner calling. He grabbed a sleeping bag and some clothes, packed a bunch of books and left for Enshi, which is over 1,000 kilometers away from his hometown.
UNIQUE TEACHING APPROACH
When Yuan first started teaching, he encountered students with different temperaments. Some were reserved in class, some were too naughty, while some would shed tears when mentioning the word "mother."
In order to find out the reasons, Yuan visited every student's family on weekends. "Most of them were left-behind children, and some were from single-parent families," said Yuan, adding that the lack of proper companionship and parental guidance had an influence on the kids.
"In such cases, it's important to help them build up confidence," said Yuan.
He decided to help the children in being more expressive and proficient in their studies with good habits.
To achieve this goal, Yuan designed activity-based curriculums, one of which integrated sitcom elements, to encourage children to express themselves bravely and confidently.
For example, when teaching the famous traditional Chinese poem "Swordsman," Yuan brought props such as toy swords and sunglasses to the classroom and organized a performance of the poem.
The courses of Yuan, an excellent storyteller brimming with ideas, not only appealed to the children but also piqued the curiosity of the parents who would sometimes peep through to the classroom windows.
Yuan's unique teaching methods gradually became popular in the county and even other schools invited him to deliver lectures. Yuan conducted more than 30 sessions in different schools in a week during his busiest time, yet he never saw it as a burden. "I think I'm living a happy life," he said.
FRUGAL LIVING, LASTING JOY
Unlike regular teachers, Yuan does not receive a monthly salary as a volunteer. He gets free accommodation and meals at school and sometimes receives no money at all.
Yet, he believes volunteering is the best career for him. "I'm in a very good state. I have food to eat, a place to live, and something to do. And I'm satisfied enough."
Yuan noted that local education administration officials have offered to make him a regular full-time teacher on several occasions, which could bring him a stable income and better welfare insurance. But he declined all such offers. "Life is very short, and I want to stay who I am," he said.
Though his salary is meager, Yuan often helps students in need. While working in Baishaping Primary School, he learned of a first grader who was unable to attend school due to osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder that renders an individual's bones extremely fragile.
"I couldn't bear to see her drop out of school," said Yuan. So, he tutored the student two to three times a week free of cost for six years until she entered middle school.
During that period, Yuan damaged two motorcycles because he had to travel more than 20 km every time, riding through rough mountain roads to the student's home and back.
Over the past decade, Yuan has won many national, provincial and municipal honors. "I think they are an outcome of my dedication. Only through unwavering dedication can one attain lasting inner peace and joy," he said. -
Photo provided by Yuan Hui shows Yuan explaining Chinese poetry during a class at a junior high school in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, March 7, 2022. (Xinhua)
