How an undergraduate raised her sister and mother alone
For many undergraduates, finding a job or getting further education is a trouble at their age. However, a Henan girl faced more urgent and bigger issues when it came to job or further studies, because she had to help her family 1 before graduating from college.
Liu Jiaojiao, 26, was born in a village of Luyi county in Zhoukou city, Central China's Henan province. After graduation in 2014, she chose to be a teacher in a middle school in her hometown, so she could 2 her paralyzed mother.
Up to now, 3 the only bread-earner in the family, Liu has taken care of her mother who 4 from cerebral infarction(脑梗塞) for five years. She has remained positive and strong to overcome the challenges of life, 5complain about her fate.
In 2010, after finishing the college entrance examination, Liu was told that her father was 6with esophageal cancer(食道癌) six months ago. Then her father was dead about one year later.
"My grandmother was over 70 years old, and my sister was still in high school at that time, which left my mother and me to 7 the family," Liu said.
Hou Panzhi, 50, Liu's mother, has been suffering from mental illness for a long time. Liu said: "She could say something to encourage me at the beginning; I did not feel alone at that time."
In order to 8 money, she spent less than 10 yuan ($1.5) every day. Besides doing some part-time jobs at the college, she also worked in other southern cities such as Guangzhou and Hangzhou in the summer and winter 9.
However, Huo's 10 got worse in 2012; she suffered with cerebral infarction and became paralyzed. Liu then rented a house for her mother to take care of her while going to school nearby.
The teachers organized a donation and formed a volunteer team to help her. Liu also 11 a scholarship at school.
"I told myself that I am not lonely, there are many people around me. I had a strong12to support my family," Liu said. However, it was hard. She added: The most 13time was when I was sick at school."
Now, she works hard to strike a balance to take care of her mother and to teach students.
"I would like to tell my mother what happened in my math class after school, I feel she could hear it sometimes," she said with a smile. "I also buy an electro-tricycle two month ago, taking my mother to go outside."
She often14the photos with her mother on her WeChat, saying that wherever she is with her mom is home.
"Life is much better than before, I have a job, and my sister has grown up, we have become stronger and most confident than before," she added.
In July, Liu was nominated as a(an) candidate of the "National Moral Models" this year, which encourages and guides the young people to cherish the time with parents and have a sense of15.
