Editor's Note:

"Read ten thousand books,MK sport and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at [email protected]

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.

Photo: VCG

I have a dream, which is to change the world and make it a happier place. I believe everyone came to this wonderful world with a purpose – something to give to the community. I was very clear about what my purpose would be when I went on a volunteer teaching trip to a rural place in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

When coming back from the airport, my mom and I discussed how touched we were about a little boy that I taught. His dad was deaf, while his mom had passed away two months before. Yet the boy still hid all the grief with a smile. He used his own money to buy us food. I was more than touched, watching him pretending to be totally fine at school but crying at home. 

This made me deeply reflect on why I have a happy family while some other people are less privileged. That’s when an idea popped into my mind. At that moment, I made a decision to do something sustainable. Helping people reduce poverty is one of my major focuses.