Living to inspire
Gan Xiangwei reads a book on the campus of Peking University on a sunny day in May. Photo: Courtesy of Gan Xiangwei
Just a few years ago, Gan Xiangwei, from rural Hubei Province, took a job as a security guard at Peking University (PKU). Today, the 29-year-old holds a degree from this prestigious institution and now works as a librarian, devoting himself to inspiring others to achieve their dreams.
Gan has recorded his experiences in his first book, Zhanzheshangbeida (Attending PKU on My Feet), published in June, in which he also talks about lectures he attended and some major events he witnessed at the university.
"As a guard, he made very good use of college resources, and insisted on studying in his spare time. His diligence is a good example for all college students," PKU President Zhou Qifeng wrote in the book's preface.
In late 2011, Gan wrote a letter to Zhou in which he detailed his experiences studying at the university, showed his gratitude for the opportunity to learn, and mentioned that he was about to publish a book.
Just two days later, he got a phone call from Zhou's assistant, asking him what the book was about, Gan excitedly explained as he recalled the events to the Global Times.
He began working as a security guard at PKU in 2007. A year later, he passed the entrance exam for PKU's on-the-job continuing education program, and majored in Chinese language and literature. He graduated from the program in February and quit the job in May.
In early September, Gan took a job as a librarian at a private middle school in Haidian district, Beijing, guiding students in their reading and encouraging them to reach their highest potential.
Crazy for learning
Gan describes himself as "crazy" in his appetite for knowledge. He said that in the last five years, he has read or leafed through more than 1,000 books at PKU's library and bookstores in Haidian. This means he picked up a new book every other day on average.
When the Global Times challenged his assertion that he could manage to finish a book so quickly when working full time, Gan insisted it was true. He said he read at least 500 books cover to cover during this period.
"I made use of all my spare time, either reading books or going to lectures," he said, adding that he often switched work shifts with other security guards so he could attend one of the various lectures offered by the university each day.
During his time on PKU's campus, Gan was driven to succeed. He favored lectures given by successful people who discussed their life experiences, and read books on how to succeed and the biographies of famous figures.
"I prefer hearing lectures given by people who came from the countryside and now hold high positions, because I share a similar background with them. This makes me feel closer to them and I find their stories more encouraging," he said.
Among these figures, he has been most influenced by Yu Minhong, CEO of New Oriental Education & Technology Group, a leading English language learning institution, who is from a rural area in East China's Jiangsu Province.
In a lecture he gave at PKU, Yu emphasized the importance of self-improvement in finding success, an idea that is echoed by Gan. He attended one of Yu's lectures at Peking University, and asked the speaker how he defined success. "Diligence and knowing how to make good use of resources are important," Gan said, recalling Yu's response.
Three keys to success
"A person can find success only after obtaining three preconditions: knowledge, money and a relationship," Gan said, adding that he is still on the way to success because he needs to study further and develop more relationships.
Having come from a poor rural family, he holds that he has to work harder to attain financial security and a happy marriage. "I would not be able to do anything without knowledge, and I strongly believe that knowledge can change one's fate," he said.
When he was younger, Gan dropped out of high school and labored as a migrant worker in Shanghai for about four months. During this period, he felt completely adrift and regretful.
He eventually made the decision to return to school and devote himself to his studies. In 2002, he applied to PKU, but failed to get in. He instead attended a junior college in Wuhan, Hubei Province, where he studied law for three years. After finishing his program, he worked as an assistant at an intellectual property law firm in Guangzhou for a year.
"I was still thinking about my dream of being at PKU, and I told myself to follow my heart," said Gan. In 2007 he moved to Beijing and took the job as a PKU security guard to be close to the university.
In his early days as a student, wearing his uniform to sit in on lectures, he was too shy to ask questions next to typical university students. But with time, he became more confident as he made friends and gained the respect of fellow students.
"Security guards play an important role because they are responsible for the university's safety," Gan said, adding that the university extends learning opportunities to many ordinary people like him.
Never giving up
Gan says that his faith in himself is what has taken him this far. "I just want to find out how far I can go, and I want to prove that young people who were not born into rich or powerful families can succeed too," he said.
In early September, Gan made a speech to his students at his school's opening ceremony, telling them of the importance of maintaining one's character and cooperating with others.
Gan enjoys inspiring young minds to reach for the stars, and his reputation has made him a speaker that is highly sought after. He has been flown to Henan, Chongqing and Shandong to deliver speeches on the subject of pursuing one's dreams, and has been invited to cities like Shanghai and Nanjing.
Even during his interview with the Global Times, he peppered his statements with lessons he's learned. "A person's ideals work like GPS. So long as you don't deviate from your course, your efforts will be rewarded with success," he said.
He is currently writing a second book, which is about how ordinary people can reach their dreams.
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