A Security Guard in China Who Was Told "You'll End Up Like That If You Don't Study" Changes His Life Through Determination

Accepted to Tsinghua on Eighth Try: From Security Guard to New Dreams
Next Goal: Doctoral Studies at Harvard

A young Chinese man who made a living working as a cleaner and dormitory security guard has, after eight years of determined effort, finally received an admission letter from Tsinghua University’s graduate school, the most prestigious university in China. His story—persisting with his studies despite repeated failures, enormous debt, and the pain of fractured relationships—has become a source of inspiration in China.

Yang Xiao (31), who makes a living as a cleaner and security guard in China, has been accepted to the prestigious Tsinghua University graduate school. SCMP

On July 28, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Yang Xiao, 31, from Shenyang in Liaoning Province, was finally accepted to the Graduate School of Art and Design at Tsinghua University after eight attempts.

A Series of Failures... Cleaning and Security Work Amid Despair

Yang, who had dreamed of attending Tsinghua University from childhood, took China’s national university entrance exam in 2013 and entered the renowned Central Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating in 2018, he returned to his hometown and operated an art academy, leading a relatively stable life.

Mr. Yang, who started cleaning work to make a living, later got a job as a security guard at the foreign student dormitory of Tsinghua University and worked there for two years. SCMP

He later decided to pursue graduate studies, but the journey was rocky from the start. In his first exam, he scored over 100 points below the cutoff and continued to face rejection in subsequent attempts. He tried to persevere, hiding his repeated attempts from his partner, but multiple failures eventually led to their breakup.

During his third attempt, an unexpected ordeal struck. Through an online encounter, he handed over money for claimed medical expenses and gambling debts to a woman he met, ultimately losing about 1 million yuan (approximately 215 million won). After their relationship ended, all that was left was overwhelming debt. With his parents' help, he tried to resolve the debt, but the process forced him to close down the art school he had been running.

To make ends meet, Yang began working as a cleaner and subsequently secured a job as a security guard at Tsinghua University’s foreign student dormitory, where he worked for two years. Reflecting on that time, he said, "The psychological pain caused by the gap between reality and my dreams was much greater than the physical fatigue." One particular incident—a parent pointing at him and telling their child, "If you don’t study, you will end up like him"—left a deep emotional scar.

Turning Humiliation Into Motivation… Auditing by Day, Security Work by Night

Yang Xiao (31), who makes a living as a cleaner and security guard in China, has been admitted to the prestigious Tsinghua University graduate school. SCMP

Ironically, this wound became a turning point for him, fueling a determination to be admitted to Tsinghua University no matter what. His approach to learning changed completely from then on.

During the day, Yang would audit classes at Tsinghua University and, at night, worked as a security guard, conversing with foreign students in English. Later, he was promoted to chief of the security team, which increased his salary and reduced his workload, allowing him to focus more on his studies.

Eighth Attempt Successful... Next Goal Set

Finally, in June this year, on his eighth attempt, Yang received his admission letter from the Graduate School of Art and Design at Tsinghua University, having scored 34 points above the cutoff. His chosen field is "Intangible Cultural Heritage and Digital Innovation," an area that integrates modern applications of traditional culture with technology. Although the program usually takes three years, he aims to finish in two to ease his financial burden.

Ms. Yang received her graduate school acceptance letter after 8 years. SCMP

His next goal is to pursue a doctoral program at Harvard University in the United States, with the ambition of deepening his research in intangible cultural heritage on a full scholarship. Reporting on Yang's story, SCMP wrote, "Far from being just a personal success story, his journey symbolizes how persistence and self-investment can transform one’s life trajectory and enable social mobility."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.