Youthful enthusiasm

Zeng Xiaoan, 21, bronze winner of the health and social care event at the recent WorldSkills competition, said that taking nursing at university was thought of as a "worrying choice" by her parents because of the laborious work and perceived lower social status of being a nurse. She hopes her peers and her contributions can help change the public's stereotypical view of nursing.

Graduating from the School of Nursing and Health Management of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2024, Zeng said she had heard some preconceptions about nursing work when she was at school.

"People have always said that nurses are assistants to doctors who just do the simplest things like giving injections or pills to the patients. But we are actually 'partners' of the doctor. The doctor diagnoses and we help perform treatment and care for the patient," she said, adding that the WorldSkills competition has turned her into a more considerate person with clearer career targets.

"The event for health and social care is much like nursing, while requiring other professional knowledge on recuperation, rehabilitation and promoting physical and psychosocial well-being. Language ability and communication skills are also of importance in the event," she said. "After the event, the people around me said that I'm totally different now, I'm much more soft, caring and thoughtful. I was a bit introverted before taking part."

Zeng said that there is a great shortage of healthcare professionals in China and she intends to further her studies in social care and elderly nursing to gain more career possibilities.

For 23-year-old Wu Yanting, from Chongqing in Southwest China, becoming China's first female gold medalist in the 3D digital game art competition in Lyon was a dream come true. The event requires competitors to use their creativity, aesthetic ability and geometry skills to design and construct a 3D model of a video game in 21 hours over four days.

"I was learning animation at Chongqing Technology and Business Institute in my first year of college, and then switched to game art design as my major. I'm very interested in video games and programming technology," she said. "I integrated elements of cute giant pandas into my game design to impress the judges.

"When I stepped on the podium with the national flag covering my shoulders, I let the world see not only myself but proactive young Chinese in high spirits," Wu said. She is now a teacher at the institute and plans to open a workshop designing and producing video games.

Jiang Jiajun, 22, from Guangdong province in South China, wishes to use his experience to show young Chinese people ways of leading a decent and fulfilling life. He and his partner Fang Canhao won the autonomous mobile robotics competition in Lyon.

"The competition was a way to learn more knowledge and skills and to prove myself. My hard work paid off," he said, adding that the public and many parents have negative impressions of vocational college, thinking that the students are just muddling along.

"I learned skills and can now make myself a good living using those skills. I hope to inspire more young people, who may feel confused about their future careers," he said. Jiang is now a teacher at a vocational school in Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang province.