A Chinese Girl Overcomes Adversity

The plague of adversity clangs globally. Presented in many forms, it determines our future and well-being. Most affected are people from underprivileged countries, where preference of a better life is ignored. From generation to generation, acceptance of adverse lifestyles strengthens homogeneously, as is the case with China. Many younger generation Chinese are refusing to accept this poverty-stricken life, and using it as motivation. One such person is, Mary Xiao.

We’ve heard stories of how fathers or grandfathers walked miles through mud and snow, with only a pair of holy shoes. The impoverished villages of China are no different today. As a child, Mary was raised in a country setting consisting of sparse villages, each containing ten to fifteen cement houses without windows or inside plumbing. The only school house, with multi-grade level classrooms, was miles away down a path, riddled with generations of footprints.

Mary helped her mother and father sell plums along the distant highway after graduating from school. After persistent urging, her parents purchased their first TV. Through the blanket of static on the screen, Mary discovered a life outside the village. Enamored by what she saw, she broke away from the traditional village environment in search of a better life.

Like people escaping to California to seek stardom, Mary found her way to the capital city of Guangzhou in south China. Arriving in the city with a small amount of money, she began work in a factory. Without a college degree, her options were limited. Since large companies in China provide free housing and food for employees, Mary was able to save her meager earnings. She worked twelve to sixteen hour days without air-conditioning, six days a week, with no overtime pay; conditions referred to in America as “sweat shops.”

Escaping village life and finding work, she still was not content. While shopping one day, Mary struck up a conversation with a lady. Attracted to Mary’s bubbly personality, the lady offered her a secretarial position in an import/export company. Mary’s passion for international trade grew, as did the desire to improve her English. She decided to spend her off time attending relevant classes at the nearby university.

Mary had her problems. Her wallet and bicycle stolen on two separate occasions, Mary continued to work diligently towards her goal. She allowed nothing to persuade her otherwise; adversity was just an obstacle to go around. Thoughts of her former life propelled her to persevere.

Three years later, Mary’s English was impeccable, and earned bragging rights to a degree in International Trade and Finance. Soon afterwards, she accepted a partnership position with the same company she had been working for.

Mary often visits her village, and pleased to see improvements. Most homes have windows, doors, and indoor plumbing now. The distance to the school house remains with no improvements.

Adversity is reserved for those who allow to accept it, while others use it as a luxury to build upon. For some it is innate. For others, it is an illusion created by their failure complex. Look adversity in they eye, and like a submissive dog, it will eventually back down and disappear.