Burn survivor in China, 50, cracks law school entrance with books belonging to son who failed the exam

Yang received her admission letter in July from the graduate school of Southwest Forestry University in Kunming, Yunnan province.

Woman uses son's books to pass law exam he failed

Yang graduated in Chemistry from Tongji University, Shanghai, in the 90s

A 50-year-old woman from China has proven that it’s never too late to chase a dream. She, who sustained severe burns in a fire over a decade ago, has now earned a place in a law school. To prepare, she used books belonging to her son, who failed the same exam earlier.

The South China Morning Post reported that the woman, identified only as Yang, received her admission letter in July from the graduate school of Southwest Forestry University in Kunming, Yunnan province. For her, studying law is nothing less than “a new journey” in life.

Yang had long hoped to pursue a master’s degree but life had other plans. She graduated in Chemistry from Tongji University, Shanghai, in the 90s. In 2013, tragedy struck: a fire left her with devastating burns on her face and arms. Her left arm lost all movement, and her right retained only partial function. With visible scars, she began wearing a mask in public. Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder forced her to leave her job, and her ambitions seemed to fade away.

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But two years ago, when her son failed the postgraduate entrance exam, Yang decided she would try it herself. Using his books, she discovered she could still grasp the material. “I took the test while my son looked after me. I am happy with the conversion of these two roles,” she said.

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During the exam, Yang was asked to remove her mask, and many students were taken aback by her scars. She wasn’t rattled, “I am used to such reactions,” she admitted.

What others might call retirement, she sees differently: “Retirement for some people is square dancing or travelling. My retired life is studying. It will be wonderful.”

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