（Photo by Beijing Youth Daily)

Li Mingyong, a 41-year-old lecturer in southwest China’s Guizhou province, has won applause and respect from Chinese netizens with his inspiring story after this former school guard made his way to the lecturing platform.

Li, born in a poverty-stricken rural area in Guizhou, dropped out of school at 16. “Although I outperformed my classmates during primary school and junior high school, I didn’t consider trying to achieve a higher degree because of the poverty condition of my family,” Li said. After he completed his middle school years, he held various jobs, from laborer to farmer, with the aim of reducing the heavy burden on his family.

In 1999, Li began to work at Guizhou Normal University as a school guard. Li said seeing all the young faces made him feel inspired to continue his study. After two years of late-night study, he was admitted by the university. Upon graduation of his undergraduate program, Li decided to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher by earning his master’s degree. After three attempts, Li was finally admitted by a postgraduate program at Guizhou University in 2007. In 2015, he was admitted by a doctoral program at Central China Normal University.

Upon graduation this year, Li has now returned to where his dream started - Guizhou Normal University

“With the strong support and respect of my family, I made every effort to study and pursue my dream as a teacher. Furthermore, confidence, powerful self-control, and not being afraid of failure are three vital elements for me to carry on,” Li added.