Ou Yangxiu, a literary giant of China’s Song Dynasty, once said: "The first step toward establishing oneself in society is getting educated, and the foundation of this is reading." Meanwhile Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German writer, said: "Reading all kinds of good books is like talking to many noble people." As a mother who was out of school for decades, I have often been asked why I chose to return. I think the maxims of those two sages are the perfect answer for me; external beauty fades, but the elegance and calm of those who have kept reading will never disappear.

Liang Dongfang, female, 38, Chinese Language and Literature major, Anhui branch, Open University of China (OUC)

I remember how, in the first class of my literature course, the teacher mentioned several literary works and their authors, and I realised that the familiar names had drifted from my mind and left only a shadowy memory. I could not answer the questions the teacher asked, and felt ashamed. The teacher went on to give vivid introductions to several literary works, and uer his influence I began using my lunch breaks to regain what I had forgotten. I had never thought that I would be unable to put a book down once I had picked it up. How long it had been since I had read one! In Yu Hua's Alive, the life of the hero, Fugui, is full of ups and downs, and it made me feel that what was happening was deeply relevant to me; I felt like groaning even though I was not in any real pain. In Thunderstorm, the hero's inner contradictions and psychological changes turned out to be different from what I had understood from reading the book many years earlier. It was an enlightenment to read it again. I immediately recommended the works to my niece, a student in junior high school, and after she had finished we spent a whole night talking about them. I had never thought that we would have so many feelings in common. I learned to really appreciate the classic works, the books recommended by my OUC teachers, and the learning environment provided by the OUC.

In order to study well, I added the teacher's WeChat and QQ accounts to my friends list, requested more recommendations from time to time, and asked questions about any things I didn’t understand. I found that I was spending less time surfing the internet and going shopping, reading more and more books, and gaining a peaceful frame of mind.

I am a grassroots literary and artistic worker. After taking the course Regional Culture, I wrote a paper, Biography of Chuzhou Crysanthemum, based on thorough research and understanding. I also created a small musical piece with the same name, which became part of a touring show, and thereby helped to popularize the culture of Chuzhou.

These days, when my young daughter does her homework, she no longer complains about studying alone, but works quietly at my side. She said once: "Mom, you are an adult,but you insist on learning. I have to study harder, too. Mom, you write so fast!" I replied, "How do you know I write fast?" "I hear your pen. I must make the best use of my time and do my homework well, too. Shush, no more talking!" Before each final exam, she pats my shoulder and says to me, "Mom, both you and I should keep up the good work! Hooray! Let's see who makes more progress." This warm scene came about thanks to the continuing education at Chuzhou Radio and Television University, to which I feel so grateful.
Studying at the OUC has broadened my horizons and lighted my life. I will continue to work hard and continue to learn, to perform, and to create a more wonderful path for my life! (This speech won third prize in the OUC “My Learning Story” speech contest.)

By OUC