At some point in 1992, 29-year-old Professor Yang Jia began to notice an abnormality in his eyesight. At first, she just thought that she needed a new pair of glasses to solve the problem, but the facts turned out to be cruel that she suffered from retinitis pigmentosa, the "disease of the century".
This terminal illness is destined to push her into a pitch black situation.
When the doctor announced that Yang Jia would gradually lose her sight, she felt unbearable pain and despair in her heart. Everything that this talented and soaring professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences once prided himself on seemed to have come to naught overnight.
She couldn't accept that she was going to be completely blind, and the whole world seemed to collapse at this moment.
At the same time, Yang Jia's married life also came to an end. The husband, who once swore to "grow old together", abandoned Yang Jia ruthlessly after learning the news of her blindness, and also took away their only daughter.
This betrayal is undoubtedly worse for Yang Jia. Once sunny and passionate, she is now plunged into boundless darkness and despair. She gradually closed herself off from her family and friends, and spent her days at home avoiding all outside distractions.
Faced with a major blow in her life, Yang Jia once felt hopeless. She could not bear the double blow of losing her eyesight and family, and the whole person seemed to fall into an endless abyss.
In such a predicament, her heart was full of fear and inferiority, and she even doubted whether she could regain the courage to live.
Just when Yang Jia almost gave up hope, the singing voice of an American singer evoked the deepest strength in her heart. Yang Jia suddenly realized that she had to find the meaning and direction of life again.
So, she made up her mind to use dignity and hope as weapons to start anew and get out of this darkness.
Return to the podium and reinvent your life
Under the careful care of her relatives, Yang Jia gradually adapted to life after becoming completely blind. She learned her daily skills such as dressing, eating, and walking, and was determined to return to the pulpit to regain meaning in life by teaching and educating people.
However, this process does not happen overnight. As a veteran English teacher, Yang Jia's fluency in reading in the past was completely lost in the dark. She had to start with the basics of Braille, and it took a lot of time and effort to recognize each letter.
But Yang Jia never gave up, she studied day and night, using her fingers instead of her eyes, and accumulating knowledge bit by bit.
In this difficult process, Yang Jia's father became her most solid pillar. Every morning, the father would help his daughter to the classroom and wait for her to get out of class in the lounge; After school, they return shoulder to shoulder to warm home.
With the help of her father, Yang Jia finally overcame the difficulties of walking and positioning and stood on the podium again.
The students didn't know that Yang Jia was blind at first, but it was only when they discovered her special teaching style that they were deeply struck by her tenacity. It turned out that those neat and smooth board books were carefully measured by Yang Jia with her left hand again and again; The adhesive tape marks on the new media teaching equipment are a unique design that she uses to identify the position.
These details all reflect Yang Jia's enthusiasm and dedication to teaching. For her, it is a great happiness to be able to resume the noble mission of teaching and educating people.
As a result, she began to write excellent textbooks, which were selected as required reading for doctoral students in English writing.
Although the daily work is full of hardships, Yang Jia has never flinched. Instead, she is scrappy and determined to pursue a higher level of knowledge. In 2000, she decided to go to Harvard University, becoming the first blind Chinese student in the history of the Kennedy School to earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
On the road of studying at Harvard, Yang Jia faced great challenges. Unable to read textbooks and teacher presentations with her own eyes, she had to use scanners and voice software to gain knowledge.
Even though it took several times more time and energy every day, she did not relax at all, and finally completed her studies with the first grade in the whole school of mathematics.
Harvard University Dean Joseph Nye personally presented Yang Jia with a certificate of honor, praising her as "China's soft power". This moment will surely be recorded in the 300-year history of the school, and it will also become a turning point in Yang Jia's life.
The take-off of public undertakings
Yang Jia, who regained her knowledge and degree, embarked on a new chapter in her life. After returning to China, she pioneered new courses such as "Economic Globalization" and "The Art of Communication", and actively participated in various academic conferences and lectures at home and abroad.
In October 2008, Yang Jia decided to compete on a bigger stage - the election of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The election was fraught with hardship, as the United Nations Secretariat allowed voting in English only.
But Yang Jia did not back down, she struggled to explain her views to the delegates of various countries, and finally succeeded in convincing everyone to defend the dignity of the Chinese language.
With this tenacious struggle, Yang Jia was not only elected vice chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but also became a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in the same year. Since then, she has stepped into a new field of politics and advocated for the rights and interests of the disabled community.
In an interview, Yang Jia said with emotion: "Blindness has divided my life, but I am still strong. Before the age of 29, I was surpassing others; After the age of 29, I am more inclined to surpass myself.
These words speak to her inner world – that despite the trauma, she is resilient and determined to reinvent herself and contribute to society.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Yang Jia has served as the Vice-President of the United Nations Committee for 15 consecutive years. During this period, she wholeheartedly sought the well-being of the general public, spared no effort to provide valuable advice to countless disabled friends, and actively promoted related social processes.
Many of the proposals put forward by Yang Jia have had a profound impact on promoting social progress. With wisdom and fighting spirit, she found her own path of light in the dark and boundless predicament, and became the spiritual pillar of the disabled.
Whenever people hear her story, they are all moved and admire her indomitable will.
Inspiration and prospects
Yang Jia's life experience is undoubtedly an inspiring and inspirational story. From being blind at the age of 29 and being abandoned by her husband to finally regaining her life and becoming a role model for people with disabilities in China and around the world, her life journey is undoubtedly instructive.
Faced with a major blow in life, Yang Jia chose perseverance and tenacious struggle. She was not defeated by the blow of fate, but reinvigorated herself with the strength of her heart, and started anew with the belief of "dignity as life, strength as the backbone, and hope as the driving force".
This fighting spirit is undoubtedly worth learning from everyone.
Yang Jia's story also tells us that even in the most desperate circumstances, as long as we stick to our inner beliefs and pursuits, we will definitely find our own bright path.
Her experience fully proves that "where there is a will, there is a way" - as long as you maintain your dreams and determination, no matter how big the setbacks, you can still overcome the difficulties and achieve your dreams.
The life trajectory of this professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences also reveals that people with disabilities should enjoy equal rights and opportunities with other citizens in society.
Although they have physical disabilities, as long as they have a strong will and a spirit of selfless dedication, they can also achieve outstanding achievements in various fields and make great contributions to the country and society.
Yang Jia has not only made great achievements in her academic and professional career, but has also played an important role in international public affairs, becoming a key member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Her experience vividly illustrates how people with disabilities can also shine in a variety of fields and become pillars of society if they are given a fair chance.