Youth from Songhua River to Tianshan brightens frontier classrooms

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Shen Zuxiao) news: On the morning of May 19, 2026, Li Yue arrived at school earlier than usual to begin another day of teaching. The warm smiles and kind eyes of her colleagues filled the campus with vitality — a familiar routine that also serves as the truest portrait of her youth as a member of a graduate student volunteer teaching corps.

Li Ning, Li Yue's mentoring teacher, offers guidance on lesson planning to Li Yue (right). (Photo by Luo Lianfang)

In July 2025, Li Yue, captain of the Wensu Detachment of the 27th Graduate Student Volunteer Teaching Corps of Northeast Forestry University, arrived in Xinjiang. She now serves at Wensu County No. 8 Middle School as a history teacher for eighth-grade students.

Her bond with Xinjiang began with a simple piece of advice from a senior: "Go to Xinjiang — it's a wonderful place." That seed took quiet root in her heart. Drawn to the towering snow-capped mountains and golden poplar forests, she yearned to contribute her youth to education on the frontier.

Upon arriving in Wensu County, everything felt fresh and wondrous: skies still bright at 10 p.m., sweet and juicy fruits, snow-capped peaks on the distant horizon, and resplendent forests of desert poplars. The vastness and warmth of this land captivated her.

Yet challenges on the podium came one after another. The students in her class had a weak foundation in history, classroom discipline was loose, and many struggled to stay focused during lessons.

Undeterred, Li Yue made a firm resolve: "I will raise these children's history scores within one year." It was not only a promise to herself, but a pledge to her students.

In those early days, lesson planning, teaching, grading assignments, and heart-to-heart talks with students filled every moment of Li Yue's schedule. She admits the road to change was arduous. But perseverance eventually bore fruit — homework submissions, once sparse, gradually improved in quality, and the seeds of transformation began to sprout.

Education, she has come to realize, is a journey of mutual growth and warm reciprocity. A turning point came after one exam. Frustrated by the gap in scores, she was about to reprimand her students when she received a note: "Teacher, give us time to make progress and don’t bring us down." Those words struck a chord. Growth, she understood, cannot be rushed. From then on, her classroom held less harsh criticism and more patient guidance and sincere encouragement.

Gentle as a spring breeze, the results have been bountiful. Her students not only regained their confidence but also wrote and performed a historical drama at the New Year's gala, showcasing their passion for history. In the midterm exam that just concluded, the class ranked first among all parallel classes.

The bond between teacher and students has become a heartwarming journey of mutual devotion. Focused gazes, after-class sharing, holiday greeting cards, get-well messages during illness — these small moments have become the most precious memories of her volunteer teaching journey. "Volunteer teaching is never a one-way street," Li Yue reflected. "I brought my youth into the youth of these children. We accompanied and nourished each other."

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