This was going to be the day I hoped to hear the outcome of the years of study I put in preparing for the University Entrance Exams. I woke at 6:30 AM and scurried to my computer hoping the long awaited email announcing the results would be here. One's success on the UEE's was all important in determining if a student would be eligible to attend university, which institutions would be available to him or her and what areas of study could be pursued.
YES! It was there! My hand trembled as I maneuvered the mouse icon to click it open. The email was meager compared to its importance in one's life. There were only six simple lines which read:
UEE results for Student 85497223
The grade in Math and Science is 705
The grade in Social Studies and the Arts is 988
Recommended area of study is Journalism
Congratulations on a job well done
Commission of UEE Examiners
YEEAAH!! The score of 988 meant I could select any university in China and if I did well, I would be able to study abroad after two years. Journalism was my hoped for area of study. My parents will be very proud. I was more excited than I had ever been in my entire 18 years!
Grampy will be very proud as well. I must email the good news to him immediately. Grampy is my adopted mentor in the US. I have been exchanging emails with him for almost 2 years now. His wise counsel and moral support inspired me to pursue Journalism as a career. "The pen is mightier than the sword!" he would tell me. I love this old man and will dedicate my life to strive for human harmony as he has encouraged me to do.
My name is Wan Sun.
I was born in Shanghai Province China on 4 July 1991
My father was a local Commissioner of Education. In 2001 he was transferred to The Peoples Commission of Education in Beijing.
At first I was sad to leave the comforts of my family and friends in Shanghai to go to the unknown confines of the capital. But when I discovered the added privileges that came with my father's new position, my sadness was somewhat relieved. In Beijing I was able to attend the elite Central Middle School which offered a broad range of curriculum. I would receive my own laptop computer and I could participate in music and learn to play the flute. I also would be able to study a foreign language of my choice. I had been studying English on my own in Shanghai but now I would be able to have formal classes with well-qualified instructors. My life long dream was to one day travel abroad to Europe and the US where I could learn first hand how people lived in other cultures. Learning English would enhance my chances of doing so.
Life in Beijing had its good points and its bad. It was an exciting city with many activities not found elsewhere in China. And of course the Summer Olympics of 2008 will be held here. The biggest problem is the smog and the traffic jambs. Beijing has more automobiles than the rest of China put together and they all seem to be going to the same place at the same time at a reckless pace. I hate the traffic in Beijing.
My parents were ousted from their sleep by my screams of delight! They both came to my room in anticipation of hearing good news. They were elated by what they learned. All their hard work and sacrifices had been rewarded. The 988 grade ranked me in the top 2 percent of all students that took the exams. Maybe Grampy was right. Maybe I am a bright young lady!
After numerous congratulatory hugs and high pitched chatter of happiness my parents left my room to phone the family back in Shanghai with the good news. I glanced back at my computer to see that I had already received my daily email from Grampy as well. I opened it and it too was very unusually short. It said:
Hi Sunny
Congratulations on achieving high grades on your UEE's!
I knew you would do well!
When you settle down after the excitement of learning the good news you can email the results to me.
Cheerio!
Grampy :-))
I immediately replied with only a few words!
Dear Grampy
YEEEEAAAAHHHHH!
I GOT A 988!
iluvu!
Sunny
I sent one other email as well. This was to Miss. Lee, my English teacher and counselor at school. Miss Lee would be proud of me as well. My email read:
Dear Miss Lee,
You "ain't" gonna believe this but I got a 988!
YEEEAAAH! And thank you very much!
Your appreciative student
Wan Sun
I dressed in my finest jeans and blouse and wore my Gucci sandals and went to the kitchen where my mom had my breakfast of OJ and fruit on the table. Also on the table was an envelope with my name on it. I rushed to open it with shaky hands. Inside were airline tickets for my parents and myself to fly to Hong Kong. We would go to interview the officials at the University of Hong Kong. All of my dreams were coming true. I was a very happy bright young lady!