Hard work delivers success

In April, he got the admission news from the university. That was when he asked his mother to shut down the shop and he began to support his family by becoming a delivery driver.

"I didn't want her to strain herself too much, and she could also spend more time at home with my father," Gao says.

Although the delivery job is only meant to be temporary, since Gao has just been admitted to the postgraduate law program that is set for September, he has delivered what is expected of him with no half measures.

He works more than nine hours a day and deals with more than 30 orders on a daily basis.

He can bring in 200 yuan ($30) a day, which he says is enough to maintain the family outlay for necessities.

Gao's colleagues have affectionately been calling him A Gan, the Chinese nickname for Forrest Gump.

"He has got zero bad reviews, and has been very meticulous and persistent," says Feng Chao, who is in charge of the delivery station where Gao works.

Some of the toughest orders Gao has taken included delivering a takeout that weighs 40 kilograms and climbing the staircase to the 14th floor of a building when the elevator was down.

So far, the officials from the Koguan School of Law have contacted Gao and introduced various subsidy policies to him.

Gao's experience in supporting his family and delivering excellent academic performances has been shared by several other students who have been admitted to the Koguan law school this year.

Their independence and perseverance in the face of challenges and adversity have also become an example for their peers, says Guan Hannan with the law school.

The school authorities say they will provide all kinds of support for these students.

They include Huang Jiadong who comes from a village hidden in the depth of the mountains and Fang Chao who has made outstanding contributions to communities during the pandemic.

"Each of them has encountered difficulties and setbacks, but they all pursue their dreams with enthusiasm," Guan says.

"I hope their stories can bring encouragement to more candidates," Guan adds.

Gao plans to keep his delivery job until the school starts, so he can raise more money for his family.

"I will seek more job opportunities when I get in and take care of my studies," he says.

Gao has taken pride in his nickname A Gan, which he believes is an encouragement for him to deliver more value to his family and the society through hard work.

"I will try to enrich my experiences and contribute to meaningful causes that can help more people," he says.