Two years ago, Yang's desire to further her education was sparked while cleaning out her son's study materials after he failed the law school entrance exam.

After reading a few pages, she realized the material wasn't overly complicated and felt it would be a waste to discard the books. She decided to study for the exam herself and was accepted into the master's of law program at Southwest Forestry University in Yunnan province. The results, released in July, showed she scored 372 points, well above the required 325.

Yang stands in front of the Southwest Forestry University in Yunnan province on her first day of law school. Photo: The Paper

Yang stands in front of the Southwest Forestry University in Yunnan province on her first day of law school. Photo: The Paper

Yang holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Tongji University in Shanghai. In 2013, she suffered severe burns in a fire, leaving her face scarred and her left hand completely unusable. Her right hand retained only limited movement.

Following the injury, she experienced depression and mental health challenges, forcing her into early retirement.

Yang explained that she studied exclusively using her son's books. She found English the most challenging, having not used it for over 20 years. Studying was also physically difficult because of the limited use of her hands.

She studied 12 hours a day for over a year. Throughout the preparation and exam process, she received unwavering support from her husband and son. Her husband, a retired worker, provided emotional and financial support, even selling some family assets to cover her tuition. Her son cared for her, reversing the usual roles of student and supporter within the family.

On the day of the exam, she had to remove her face mask, surprising some students with the extent of her scarring. "But I’m used to that reaction," she said.

When she received the news of her acceptance, her family was overjoyed. Her son shared a heartfelt post on Weibo, calling his mother a "hero."

She dedicated her entire pension to paying for her tuition. "No matter what stage of life you’re in, you shouldn’t give up on your dreams," Yang said.

Yang's story has gone viral on social media, attracting thousands of comments and millions of views. "I admire this woman’s bravery, perseverance, and intellect," one commenter wrote.

Ngoc Ngan (The Star)