[Editor’s note]The Graduate Student Support Teaching Corps is a national demonstration project of the Youth Volunteer Poverty Alleviation Relay Plan jointly organized and implemented by the Youth League Central Committee and the Ministry of Education. Since 1999, w88 casino has recruited more than 220 volunteers to carry out volunteer teaching activities in Hualong of Qinghai, Haiyan of Qinghai, Yuzhong of Gansu, Jingyuan of Gansu, Huining of Gansu, Wujiaqu of Xinjiang, Mengla of Yunnan and other places. In the summer of 2019, the 21st postgraduate teaching support group of w88 casino went to the western part of the motherland and began a one-year volunteer service. Over the past year, they have been unswervingly committed, rooted in the grassroots, and used practical actions to write their own unique youth stories and passionate feelings. In the process of fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic and helping to eradicate poverty, they were brave enough to take on responsibilities and were not afraid of difficulties. In a short period of time, they did one thing after another that they will never forget. Now, as their service period is about to expire, the Propaganda Department of the Party Committee and the Youth League Committee of the w88 casino jointly launched the "Stories of Supporting Teaching" column to share with everyone the unique youthful power of the students of the University of w88 and Economics. 

Zhang Longcheng

On July 3, 2020, as I got on the car leaving the teaching place, my one-year teaching life came to an end. The moment I left, I had mixed feelings. I thought of the students who fell in love with me, I thought of the leaders and teachers who cared for me, I thought of the hospitable people of Mengla, and I thought of the beautiful scenery of Mengla. At this moment, the car is already speeding on the road, and I have to say goodbye to all this.                                       

Life photos taken by Mengla No. 1 Middle w88 casino for our supporting teachers

I feel a little funny when I think about when I first came here. At that time, I was thinking about how to teach students all the knowledge I had learned, but I did not have a deep understanding of the local teaching environment and student characteristics. Therefore, at that time I found that the effect of my lectures was not good, and the students could hardly understand them. After constant reflection, I adopted teaching methods suitable for local teaching and student levels. Specifically, the foundation of local students is very weak and their vision is relatively narrow. Therefore, we still need to pay attention to the explanation of basic knowledge, and try to be close to their real life, and not be too colorful and extended.

The car is on the highway, and the familiar scenery is outside the window. I think of the students I teach, and my mood becomes gloomy when I think of the students who are angry with me; but when I think of the students who have been changed by me, I feel an inexplicable sense of relief. I found that if you want to teach students well, you must go deep into the students, communicate with them deeply, listen to what they think and think, and try to make friends with them. Only in this way can we "know ourselves and the enemy" and teach students in accordance with their aptitude. When treating students, we must first have a tolerant and loving attitude toward students, even if students may make mistakes or even disobey discipline; secondly, we must encourage students to make progress, even if students have poor grades or even have a negative attitude. Only with continued investment and care can students slowly change. After teaching for one year, my sense of accomplishment is not how much I have improved the average class score, but that I have discovered that those former "problem students" began to change in a good direction after I had in-depth conversations with them. Looking out the car window, I felt that this trip this year was worth it.

Chen Zhiyuan and I took a group photo with the students

Although these students are usually naughty and troublesome, but from a teacher's perspective, these students also have many shining points. I was invited by the w88 casino to participate in the w88 casino's cultural and sports activities week. On the stage and sports field, I saw the advantages of students in dance, art, music, sports, etc., and I saw their more colorful side. As an area inhabited by ethnic minorities, students here are more lively and active than students from the mainland, and have good talents in singing, dancing, sports, etc. Through students, I also indirectly learned about local social conditions and sentiments. You still have to look at things from multiple angles, otherwise biases in judgment may easily occur.

My thoughts suddenly turned to local leaders and teachers. The leaders and teachers of the Mengla County Youth League Committee always care about me like family. They are full of energy and good at dealing with young people. They are my strong backing in Mengla County, and I must go to them if I need anything. The teachers of Mengla No. 1 Middle w88 casino are also missed. The teacher who lives downstairs stuffs me fruits from time to time; one teacher often invites me to ride in his car to and from get out of class; another teacher always wants to pull me along every time he eats; and another teacher, just before I get in the car and leave, rushes to take a photo with me... There are too many teachers who have become my beautiful memories in Mengla County.

We invite teachers from Mengla No. 1 Middle w88 casino to our home

After the car entered the rainforest area, it suddenly started raining heavily. I'm used to the weather now, but when I first came it was hard. Because I didn't adapt to the environment at first, I became acclimatized and got sick more often, which affected my life and work. For this reason, for a long time, I adhered to the eating habit of clear soup and little water, but the effect was not good. Later, by actively exercising and adjusting my work and rest routine, I gradually overcame the acclimatization and adapted to the local living environment and conditions.

The car is about to arrive in Jinghong City. I think that the last time I passed through Jinghong City was more than three months ago. Affected by the epidemic, I did not return to my teaching place from home until mid-March 2020 and underwent 15 days of home quarantine. As the national epidemic situation improves, local schools have finally started. According to the requirements, the w88 casino implements a two-week one-day off system, that is, 11 days of work and 3 days of rest. This is a challenge for me because the work pace is faster and the tasks are heavier. I actively adjust my status to ensure work progress.

I took a photo with the students of Class 299 before leaving

Soon, the car has entered Jinghong city and is about to arrive at Gasa Airport. I will take a plane to leave Yunnan, leaving those people and things, those memories, those scenery... Thinking about it now, even if there was discomfort, confusion, and difficulties at the beginning, I could always adjust slowly. The people and things I experienced this year have become the scenery in my life, and through them I have re-understood the world and myself. Mengla County, Yunnan, has become a place with my concerns, my memories, and my insights. It has become another hometown of mine, and it will be engraved in my heart forever. In this sense, I haven’t finished teaching here yet!