A Model Student Had High Aspirations; Political Study Was Necessary
(Second update for the Year of the Dog. Wishing all my friends who are doing well, not doing so well, or working hard to improve their grades a prosperous Year of the Dog, and may you all pass your courses and get high scores.)
When the mountain flowers bloom in profusion, the underachievers become top students, and the top students become super-rich.
On the day you pass the imperial examination with flying colors, please don't forget your author by the Daming Lake! I hope that you, now invincible, won't get lost.
New Year, new look! New book needs love! (I'm asking for votes every day, so please give me some!)
Shen Qi deeply agreed. He had some vague and immature ideas in his mind. He was not satisfied with making achievements in only one branch of mathematics, because in the 21st century, it is becoming increasingly difficult for mathematicians to focus on only one branch and work in a single area to achieve those world-shaking, groundbreaking achievements.
In today's interconnected world, contemporary mathematicians' mastery of theoretical knowledge beyond mathematics is not simply out of interest, but a necessity; otherwise, they will find it difficult to achieve anything significant. This is a rigid requirement of our time, an essential need.
Shen Qi upgraded his physics skill to level 4; let's delve deeper into it first.
Over the next few days, Shen Qi spent his days receiving training at the school's Physics Competition Team and his evenings visiting relatives.
After the tenth day of the first lunar month, all teachers and students of the High School Department of Nangang Second High School Middle School returned to school.
The new semester has begun, and a countdown sign is prominently displayed at the school: 110 days until the college entrance examination.
With less than four months to go, high school seniors have only 110 days left. It's no exaggeration to say that their daily routine is measured in minutes, and they are making the most of every second.
Zhang Wanbang is extremely busy. He has to teach math, specifically the math classes for two graduating classes: Senior Three (2) and (3).
Zhang Wanbang also had to manage all sorts of miscellaneous daily affairs of Class 2, Grade 12. He left early and returned late, and didn't even have time to care about his wife.
Fortunately, Teacher Zhang's wife understands the hardships of teaching graduating high school students. She is also a teacher, teaching music in elementary school, which is a bit easier for her.
"Fortunately, the neighbor next door to my house isn't surnamed Wang." Zhang Wanbang called Shen Qi to his office amidst his busy schedule.
"Hehe." Shen Qi didn't know how to respond, so he could only laugh.
"To be honest, I kind of regret switching to teachers' college. Back then, my family wasn't well-off, and I just wanted to become a middle school teacher—a secure, stable job—to help support my family as soon as possible. Actually, I did quite well in applied mathematics, and I was passionate about researching mathematics. My advisor liked me a lot and wanted me to pursue his graduate studies. But because of poverty, I gave up that academic path and became a math teacher at No. 2 Middle School," Zhang Wanbang said regretfully. Who hasn't been young?
At this stage, Zhang Wanbang no longer treated Shen Qi as an ordinary student; the two became both teacher and friend.
The work pressure is too great, even a math teacher needs to vent. At home, Zhang Wanbang is a father and husband, but at school, he is the head teacher of a graduating class. Facing his wife, children, superiors, and colleagues, he chooses to endure in his forties.
But sometimes, Zhang Wanbang couldn't help himself. He found that the only person he could really complain to was Shen Qi: "So Shen Qi, you young people of your generation are very lucky to be able to choose the path you want to take. You should cherish that."
"I cherish it very much." Shen Qi nodded, then said, "I have something to report to Teacher Zhang: I've joined the school Physics Competition Team."
"Shen Qi, do whatever you want, you don't need to report to me. I don't have time for you."
"Teacher Zhang called me to his office just to chat about life, right? Of course, I'm happy to talk to Teacher Zhang about life and ideals."
"We got a bit off-topic. I called you here because I have something important to discuss." Zhang Wanbang opened his desk drawer, took out a form, and handed it to Shen Qi: "Fill this out and return it to me today."
Shen Qi took the form and glanced at it. "Provincial Model Student? I never thought I, Shen Qi, would have this day. Outstanding students, especially at the provincial level, I never even dared to dream of it before. My most glorious period was just being a squad leader, one line. Back then, I was a member of the Young Pioneers, specifically responsible for collecting homework... Anyway, let's fill it out, I'll fill it out now."
Name: Shen Qi
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Height: 179cm
Health status: Healthy
Political affiliation: Communist Youth League member
Applicant's Secondary School: Nangang Second High School Nangang City
School registration: Nangang City Nangang Second High School City
What are your interests and special skills: reading, studying, fitness, music, movies, etc.
Awards received: International Mathematical Olympiad team gold medal, individual gold medal, and Special Innovation Award; National High School Mathematics League individual gold medal and team top six.
The basic personal information on the "Provincial Model Student Application Form" was roughly this much, and Shen Qi quickly filled it out in front of Zhang Wanbang.
Below the personal information is the school's recommendation section, which is filled out by Zhang Wanbang and higher-level school leaders.
"That's it? Provincial Model Student?" Shen Qi handed the application form to Zhang Wanbang. Being Provincial Model Student is at least a social achievement, right? Every extra one is an achievement, and more awards are never a bad thing.
"It's not a big problem." Zhang Wanbang handed Shen Qi another piece of paper.
Shen Qi took the paper and read it carefully; it was a "Notice of Selection for Provincial Model Student".
The notice stated:
Notice from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education Regarding the Selection of Provincial- Provincial Model Student in Regular Senior High Schools (Bold Text)
The body text is in regular font, not bold.
In order to fully implement the Party's education policy and cultivate students into socialist builders and successors who are well-rounded in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Education, the following matters concerning the selection of provincial -Provincial Model Student in ordinary high schools are hereby notified:
The number of Provincial Model Student is allocated to each region based on the number of graduating students in each region, according to a certain proportion (see attachment). Each region must report the exact number allocated and may not exceed it.
Selection criteria:
1. Current year graduates with formal student status in regular senior high schools (including private senior high schools), and students must be enrolled in the school where their student status is registered.
2. Excellent moral character.
3. Excellent academic performance. Achieved grade A in all nine subjects of the general high school academic proficiency test: Politics, Chinese, Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, and Geography.
4. Physical health. Achieve a passing grade or above according to the <National Student Physical Fitness and Health Standards> test.
These are the four main selection criteria.
After carefully reading the four selection criteria, Shen Qi said, "This is a bit embarrassing for me. I fully meet criteria 1, 2, and 4, but for criterion 3, I just casually took the high school political science exam with my eyes closed and got a B, while the other eight subjects were all A's. Carelessness has led to my downfall. Is politics my Shen Qi' heel?"
"I told you long ago that Successor of Socialism need to strengthen their Political Study. Did you think political classes were a joke?" Zhang Wanbang could only criticize Shen Qi politically now.
"Teacher Zhang, why didn't you say so sooner? If I had known, I would have taken the political exam again before the Spring Festival, and taken it seriously." Shen Qi regretted it.
"I just received this notice and called you over to fill out the form," Zhang Wanbang said. "It's alright, just submit it first. My recommendation and the school's comments will definitely be written in the best possible light for you. Look at your 'Awards' section; any one of them could add a few points. Our province has only produced one perfect score gold medalist in the IMO in years, so the provincial department will be more lenient with their standards. Okay, go ahead and get busy. Don't worry too much; leave this to the school."
Shen Qi left Zhang Wanbang's office. He hadn't paid attention to the Provincial Model Student award, but Zhang Wanbang had him fill out a form, which piqued his interest.
Last June, before reporting to the provincial math Olympiad team, Shen Qi took the high school academic proficiency test.
After the first year of high school and before graduating, high school students have to take this exam, which covers nine subjects: Chinese, Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, and Politics.
Compared to the college entrance examination, this kind of academic proficiency test is just for fun; the questions are very simple.
Shen Qi was busy with a math competition at the time, so he just took the tests casually in nine subjects, getting an A in eight of them, but only a B in politics.
Later, Shen Qi was admitted to Yenching University through a special admission program. He didn't care about his B in politics at all, because Yenching University didn't care about such low-level exam scores.
The high school academic proficiency test is held twice a year, once before the winter break and once before the summer break. Members of the public can also register, and those who pass the test can obtain a high school diploma.
For senior high school students, who cares about this stuff? So Shen Qi didn't participate in the high school academic proficiency test before the Spring Festival this year.
In short, he was careless, which served as a reminder to Shen Qi that he could not relax his Political Study at any time. As a top student, he should not have any weaknesses.