After his eighth attempt, 30-year-old Liu Zheng finally passed the National Judicial Examinations in January, the professional qualification exam that everyone wishing to be a lawyer in China must pass, in addition to getting a degree in law.
After graduating with a bachelor's in automobile engineering from the Hebei College of Science and Technology in 2015he took a job at Peking University as a security guard in the hopes that he would someday be able to pursue a master's at the prestigious (有声望的) university.
"I dreamed of studying somewhere famous, but my family's financial situation meant I had to work while I prepared for the exams," he said As he studied in his spare time, Liu developed an interest in law and decided to prepare for the National Judicial Examinations, which have a pass rate of only 10 to 15 percent.
He later became a facilities manager at the Peking University Law School to help him better prepare. Liu works from 5 p.m.to midnight. He follows a simple routine, shuttling from his dormitory to the school canteen, to classrooms and to his job and wakes up early so that he can arrive at the law school by 8 a.m. for lectures, or to study by himself for a few hours.
He said that despite his having to work, his teachers and other students have been helpful. Professors have sent textbooks and invited him to their courses, and students have sent notes of encouragement. "Nobody has treated me differently. I am just another face in the class."
Looking back over the past seven years working and studying at PKU, Liu said the experience has reaffirmed his determination to shape his future through education.
