Optimistic, confident and resolute, this is the person who knows Liu Fang, a blind teacher of No.3 Junior High School in Baiyun District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, and gives her unanimous evaluation.

Although she gradually lost her sight, Liu Fang still stuck to her teaching post: "My wish in this life is to become a good teacher. I can't give up."

As a psychological tutor, a radio host, a public lecture, and literary creation, Liu Fang has been running hard in his career for years.

"I'm ready for a new life"

Liu Fang, a teacher of the Third Junior High School in Baiyun District, Guiyang City, values this most among many identities.

Many of Liu Fang's elders are teachers, and she is very familiar with this identity. "Now think about it, I may have planted seeds in my heart long ago when I was a teacher," said Liu Fang.

In 1993, after graduating from university, Liu Fang went to Baiyun District No. 3 Junior Middle School to teach Chinese. In only three or four years, she has made her teaching work better and better, which has been praised by many colleagues and welcomed by students.

However, in 1997, a diagnosis made by the hospital changed Liu Fang's fate. "Retinal pigment degeneration will lead to blindness slowly," Liu Fang said. At the beginning, she was a little confused. What should I do with my work? What about life?

But Liu Fang soon rallied. "We must work harder to be a positive person and not be depressed." Liu Fang said, "Life will open a door for brave people."

Liu Fang chose to continue teaching. Although her eyesight gradually declined, she still came up with various methods to apply to teaching, and the more she talked about the course, the more wonderful it became. "It's not difficult for me to correct the composition. Let the students read aloud in class, and let everyone comment and grade together." During that time, her class's Chinese performance did not show any regression.

The vision is getting narrower day by day, and blurred year by year. In 2007, when she was completely blind, Liu Fang seemed very calm. "At that moment, I was ready for a new life."

"Learning is a kind of accumulation, which can help me open my mind"

Complete blindness means that it is very difficult to stay on the platform.

"I can listen, speak, think, and do a lot of things. Although I can't see, I can also be a good teacher." Liu Fang made up her mind to stay at school and around students. "I take the initiative to apply for transformation and become the confidant of students."

As for how to transform, Liu Fang already has the answer.

"I have discussed moral education with other teachers before, which involves some mental health issues, so I can turn to the direction of psychological tutors." In 2007, the "Fangfang Chat Room" was established in the school. Liu Fang stepped down from the podium and started psychological counseling full-time. "What the students told me has become a little secret between us."

In 2008, Liu Fang participated in the psychological training organized by colleges and universities, which gave her more understanding of the practice of psychological counseling. "Not long after I returned to school, I set up a radio station to tell stories and talk about life to students on time every day." Liu Fang also made a growth record bag for students, asking them to write down their thoughts, put them in the bag for preservation, and build a channel for children to talk.

In this way, Liu Fang's psychological guidance has gradually been recognized in the school. Students can often be seen in chat rooms. Later, many parents came to consult. "I'm not a professional, so I can only keep learning." For many years, she has insisted on self-study almost every day. "Learning is a kind of accumulation, which can help me open my mind."

In 2015, "Fangfang Chat Room" was upgraded to "Liufang Studio", becoming an important platform for the school to carry out mental health education. On September 25, 2019, Liu Fang was awarded the honorary title of "the most beautiful fighter". In 2021, she was awarded the title of "National Excellent Communist Party Member".

"Go out bravely and bring strength to more people"

For 17 years, Liu Fang has been able to live like an ordinary person through daily practice. "At school, I can go upstairs and downstairs alone to find the room I want to go to; at home, I can wash clothes, make coffee, and exercise." In 2022, Liu Fang did a "big event" - taking the high-speed railway to Liupanshui alone and holding a public lecture in the local hospital.

In 2008, Liu Fang was invited to give a speech outside the school. For the first time, she wrote a growth article about her experience, and told it on the spot. "At the end of the speech, the applause lasted for a long time, which deeply inspired me to go out bravely and bring strength to more people." Up to now, Liu Fang has attended more than 500 public benefit lectures, large and small.

Since 2016, Liu Fang has become a radio host and founded a live broadcast program, "Love to Listen", which is one hour a week to help parents and children answer questions. Creation is also Liu Fang's hobby. She has published two novels successively to guide more people to pay attention to rural education

Liu Fang, who has lost her sight, not only runs hard towards the light, but also emits light and heat, bringing warmth and strength to people.

Originally published in People's Daily (the 6th edition on April 19, 2024)

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