"Like all the other coal miners, I leave home at five every morning wearing a uniform and cap, and get down to the mine for a day's work," said Xue Liangwen, a Shanxi coal miner, during a speech contest in Taiyuan city.
Sponsored by the publicity department of the CPC Taiyuan municipal committee, the contest was initiated in November 2017, attracting people from all walks of life to come and share their stories.
The event aims to promote the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, enhance the public sense of responsibility and encourage more outstanding workers for China's new era.
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Xue Liangwen, a Shanxi coal miner, addresses a speech contest where people from all walks of life share their stories in Taiyuan. [Photo/chinanews.com] |
Xue was a featured speaker at the event.
After graduating from a technical secondary school in 1998, Xue worked in the Guandi coal mine of Xishan Coal Electricity Group Co, and was responsible for cleaning the transportation area. In 2003, Xue began to work in a newly-built washery factory at the mine. Instead of dealing with rubbish and coal cinders, Xue found himself out of his depth in a high-tech environment, so he decided to update his skillset.
In 2005, Xue took the entrance examination for college, but failed.
"Why did I fail to pass the exam while others managed to succeed?" Xue repeatedly asked himself.
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Xue Liangwen gives an interview. [Photo/chinanews.com] |
Over the following year, he studied day and night before finally being admitted to Taiyuan University of Technology at the age of 30, with more than 100 points over the admission score.
As the oldest undergraduate student ever to attend the university, Xue felt he lacked energy.
"I am even older than my teacher. But the experience working in the mine has given me strength and willpower," said Xue, who was consistently the top ranking student in the university, and eventually gained the national encouragement scholarship.
Xue graduated from the university and returned to Xishan Coal Electricity Group Co in 2011, delving into the technologies of the mine's underground air door. He led a team to research the air-controlled locking device of air doors, with the aim of giving them a longer life-cycle and lower maintenance requirements –– saving money and manpower.
Following a two-year effort, Xue and his team invented a steam-water separator that can be applied in air doors. The device helped the mine save 300,000 yuan ($46,846) in costs and won the second prize of the company’s innovation competition in 2016.
"As a coal miner, I will preserve and carry on the spirit of perseverance, diligence and responsibility," Xue pledged in his speech.
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Xue Liangwen (second from left) discuss with colleagues about steam-water separator that can be applied in air doors. [Photo/chinanews.com] |
