The Year of 1996

Ten years ago, I study at Zhengzhou University, Henan Province,
central China. At that time, as a son of poor peasant, I know the
study time is scarce and spend most of my time on reading books.
Before entering into the University's gate, I am an ambitious Young
man; after graduated from the university, I lost almost all of my
dreams.

My majority is polymer, which belongs to a part of chemical science.
Science can make a person become more accurate and rational, but I
feel tiring. I think those tubes, medicines, mechanical and chemical
materials in our labs would be harmful to me. On the other hand, most
of graduates in our department will select a factory to work as
engineers or workers. I dislike factories. In my eyes, to enter into a
factory is to become yourselves a worker, or a slavery of the factory,
and in 1990s, the salary of workers in factories in central China is
very low, that is to say, USD 80 per month.

That is a changing time, if you cannot run ahead people, you will fall
behind them. I decide to take part in the examinations for
postgraduate candidates. In all 1990s, unlike now, postgraduate is not
enough for rapidly increasing and developing economy. To hold a master
degree or doctor degree means higher salary. Only 300 thousands
candidate can read higher degrees in postgraduate schools in 1996. The
number in USA in 1972 is 720 thousands. You can find how wide the
difference is.

Maybe to decide to take part in the test is the biggest wrongdoing in
my life, because I select a impossible target in five years. The
degree I want to read is MBA which has been introduced to several
universities in Beijing and Shanghai since 1993. I cannot pass the
test for MBA in three times.

In the summer of 2000, I went to Luoyang to see my friend Mr. Lee. A
small occasion changed my life.

--
ZMQ.