Yang Xiao, a 31-year-old from Shenyang in Liaoning province, has achieved a long-held dream by gaining admission to a postgraduate program at Tsinghua University after eight years of persistent attempts. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Harvard University, focusing on intangible cultural heritage.

Yang’s journey began in 2013 when he took the national college entrance examination, known as the gaokao. Though initially accepted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where his painting style was considered a better fit, he aspired to study at Tsinghua. After completing his undergraduate studies in 2018, he returned to Shenyang and opened an art school.

Driven by personal ambition and a promise to his girlfriend, Yang sought to join Tsinghua’s Academy of Arts and Design. However, his first application fell more than 100 points short of the required score. Embarrassed, he concealed this setback, allowing his girlfriend to believe he had already enrolled, hoping to pass the next year’s exam. When he failed again, the deception ended their relationship, leaving Yang to confront feelings of disappointment and doubt.

During his third year of preparation, Yang became involved in an online relationship that resulted in significant financial loss. The woman he met requested money to cover purported health expenses and gambling debts, ultimately accumulating debts exceeding one million yuan (approximately HK$1.2 million). Following the end of that relationship, Yang’s parents assisted him in repaying the debt, but his art school was forced to close.

In subsequent years, Yang narrowly missed Tsinghua’s admission cutoff. To support himself, he worked various jobs, including a year as a cleaner and two years as a security guard at an international student residence on Tsinghua’s campus. While he described the duties as manageable, the psychological impact of working on campus yet remaining outside the academic community was profound. He recounted an incident in which a mother pointed to him and warned her child that lack of academic effort could lead to a similar fate, an episode that strengthened his resolve.

Despite his circumstances, Yang seized opportunities to attend lectures covertly and practiced English with international students during his shifts. His perseverance paid off in June when he surpassed the admission cutoff for Tsinghua’s postgraduate program by 34 points, securing his place on his eighth attempt.

Yang now aims to continue his academic career in the United States, seeking a fully funded doctoral program at Harvard University to further explore intangible cultural heritage. His story reflects years of determination amid personal and financial hardship.