Power of education shines in Xizang

The morning he was due to fly back to Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region, Shi Lei found his 5-year-old son curled inside his suitcase. The boy had quietly climbed in and pulled the lid shut, hoping to be taken along. "I'm afraid you'll leave me behind," he whispered.

For Shi, a Shaanxi Normal University graduate who has taught English at Lhasa Middle School for nearly 14 years, this heart-wrenching moment laid bare the painful reality faced by many educators who have chosen to teach on the "roof of the world".

It is a choice mirrored across generations of SNNU teachers and students — a story not only of personal sacrifice but of institutional commitment. Since 2007, SNNU has enrolled 1,196 students from Xizang or those committed to working there after graduation.

From 2011 to 2025, it sent 884 graduates into Xizang classrooms. Over the past 15 years, more than 1,000 SNNU students have participated in teaching internships in the region, with more than 80 percent choosing to stay. Behind these numbers are lives shaped by altitude, isolation, and an unwavering belief in the power of education.

Shi's four years at SNNU were formative. Serving as class monitor and becoming a member of the Communist Party of China, he was known for his dedication to academia and public service. He also met his future wife, Wang Baohua, at the university. The rigorous teacher training at SNNU, equipped him with the foundational skills and philosophy he would carry to the plateau.

His conviction was tested and solidified during a three-month teaching internship in 2011 at Gonggar Middle School in Lhokha.

He vividly remembers starting his first class with only a quarter of the students having English textbooks. Through efforts to make the subject engaging — using English songs and short poems — he saw a shift.

By the third week, nearly all the students had not only brought their books but had carefully covered them. "(They're) small details, but I was happy to see they were willing to step into this subject," he recalled.

The students' innocence, along with simple, warm interactions, cemented his connection to teaching in the region.

After graduation, despite receiving job offers from prestigious schools in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Chongqing, and his hometown Xi'an, Shaanxi province, he chose to honor his pledge and teach at Lhasa Middle School.

What began as a planned five-year commitment was repeatedly extended. "Let me finish teaching this graduating class," he would say, and his stay stretched into nearly 14 years.

This choice came at a significant personal cost.

The high-altitude environment (with oxygen levels about 60 percent of sea level) took a severe toll on his health, leading to conditions like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, high-altitude pulmonary edema, immune system damage, and heart problems. He once fainted twice in class and experienced two nine-hour work-related blackouts due to heart issues and exhaustion.

The sacrifice has extended to his family. He carries guilt for being unable to adequately care for his mother during her cancer treatment, for his wife who left a stable job in Fujian province to restart her career in Xi'an, and for his young son who misses him deeply.

"Every time I go back to Xizang for work, I have to leave very early in the morning, otherwise he would cry for a long, long time," Shi said.

Yet, his dedication is fueled by a profound sense of purpose and the rewards of his work. In the classroom, he insists on full English immersion, employs brain science-based techniques for vocabulary memorization, and focuses on holistic student development rather than just grades.

This commitment is reciprocated with deep affection from his students, who call him big brother, and professional recognition. Two of his former students are now studying at SNNU. "The sense of fulfillment and achievement is incomparable," he said.