????Martin Li ????martin.mouse@163.com ????WITHOUT any cake or other special ways to celebrate, Gao Zi’ang, a student of South University of Science and Technology of China (SUSTC), spent his 20th birthday in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya in Africa, this summer with local children. ????Gao said it was the most meaningful birthday he’s ever had in his life. During his stay of one month and a half in Nairobi, Gao taught mathematics to children in a local slum as a volunteer, an experience through which he learned the importance of cherishing life. ????Besides that, he also joined other volunteers to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, an experience through which he challenged and conquered his own limits. ????The two experiences are definitely rarely had by college students in China, so Gao counts himself as lucky. But the truth is he created the opportunity himself. ????Applying to be volunteer ????Gao decided to do something meaningful and see something he had never seen before at the start of this year’s summer vacation. ????Most college students in China spend a summer vacation either by traveling with friends or by working at a part-time job. However, Gao applied for a volunteer teaching program organized by AIESEC. ????AIESEC is a Netherlands-based international non-profit organization that provides students with leadership training and internship opportunities at for-profit and non-profit organizations. ????After passing the interview, Gao headed to Nairobi. ????“Although I was ready for poverty in Nairobi, I was still shocked by it. I used to hear about it, but it was my first time seeing it with my own eyes,” recalled Gao. ????Gao was assigned to teach children, many of whom are orphans, in a slum. ????Every day, he taught mathematics in English for about half the day. His ability to explain difficult math in a simple way worked well there. ????Gao’s mother, Liu Donghui, said Gao started developing the ability to explain difficult problems in a simple and easy-to-understand way from his studies at Shenzhen Middle School. ????“He was dubbed ‘teacher Gao’ by classmates and teachers at high school,” laughed Liu. ????Gao said African children were always focused on what he said in class, and added that he saw a strong desire for knowledge in their eyes. ????“I wanted to share the joy of studying mathematics and inspire them to study. When they grow up, if they could still remember me as a young, funny and knowledgeable Chinese teacher, I will be happy,” said Gao. ????When the children were told by other volunteer teachers the date of Gao’s 20th birthday, they sang birthday songs in both English and Swahili to celebrate for him. ????“I felt surprised and delighted,” said Gao. ????Besides teaching maths, Gao taught tai chi to local children. He also toured Nairobi with the purpose of seeing as much as possible in the underdeveloped nation. ????Difficulties ????While enjoying teaching African children, Gao and his partners had to overcome difficulties in their daily life, such as worries over safety and infectious diseases. ????However, Gao never complained about these difficulties in Tuesday’s interview with Shenzhen Daily. Instead, he considered them to be precious experiences for an urban boy like him, who has been blessed with a life of ease. ????“Gao didn’t complain about life’s difficulties when he called us from Africa,” said his mother, Liu, in a proud voice. ????Climbing Kilimanjaro ????After teaching for one month, the local children had a vacation. Gao then made a decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. ????Joined by other volunteers and a local guide, Gao started climbing the 5,963-meter-tall mountain. ????Like other climbers, Gao vomited, suffered headaches and felt coldness on the way up. ????“We climbed about six hours each day and stayed in camps at night,” Gao recalled. ????Gao insisted on carrying his bags himself instead of having the local guide do it. ????“When I decided to climb the mountain, I thought I had to accomplish it myself,” said Gao. ????It took about four days for Gao to reach the mountaintop. ????“I was delighted to conquer my limits,” he said. ????Never forced to study ????Gao’s mother, Liu, said she and Gao’s father never forced the boy to study when he was a child. ????“I never put extra pressure on him, but he was always willing to study. Each time he had an idea, we would always talk. We are a democratic family,” said Liu. ????Gao completed all preparations for the volunteer program even before he told his parents about it. ????In Tuesday’s interview, Gao impressed the reporter with his confidence, optimism and enterprisingness. ????‘I want to be a scientist’ ????Gao said he would continue to pursue a master’s degree and a doctorate overseas after graduating from SUSTC. ????“I want to be a scientist,” he said. ????Gao likes dancing and sports such as swimming in his limited spare time. He devotes most of his time to studying. ????“I wanted to share the joy of studying mathematics and inspire them to study. When they grow up, if they could still remember me as a young, funny and knowledgeable Chinese teacher, I will be happy.” ????— Gao Zi’ang, a college student who taught children mathematics in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya in Africa, this summer | 