Liu Ruonan, a 75-year-old woman east China's Jiangsu Province, shows her certificate of college and a part of her artworks. [yangtse.com/Ding Bo]

A 75-year-old woman from a rural village near the city of Wuxi in east China's Jiangsu Province has recently become an inspirational role model in the local region after she made great efforts to attend the self-study examination for higher education.

Liu Ruonan, who remains single her whole life, said that she has had a great passion for learning after her retirement.

One staff member from the Education and Examination Institute in Wuxi stated that around five senior people above the age of 60 have taken part in the exam in October of this year. However, Liu is the oldest candidate among them, the staff member added.

Meanwhile, the staff member maintained that it is a huge challenge for elderly people as they have to spend more time and energy preparing for the exam than the young due to their special health conditions. The spirit of their lifelong learning should be respected, the staff member claimed.

Liu's Long Journey of Studying

Before retirement, Liu was a ticket seller on the minibus. Thanks to her busy work schedule, she did not have time to learn something new and she has only received education in senior high school at that time.

The elderly woman revealed that thanks to her strong desire to study, she started her four-year study at the college for the aged in the local area, learning fine arts.

In 2011, Liu began to attend the self-study examination of higher education, hoping to obtain an associate degree. With four years' efforts, Liu has finally received the certificate of junior college and she proudly showed it to the reporter when she gave an interview.

At Liu's home, the reporter found that there are various kinds of books on her desk and the layout of the room was very simple. When seeing the desk lamp was covered by white paper, the reporter asked Liu why. Liu maintained that the light is very soft in this way, so she can read for a longer time.

Enjoying Present Life

Liu said that her life is very regular. She usually gets up at around 4 a.m. in the morning and then listens to some programs about health or agricultural lectures on the radio. After doing this, she starts cleaning her room and cooking.

After finishing breakfast, Liu goes out for a walk and comes back home to practice playing the piano. The senior woman concluded that playing the piano is good for activating brain cells and helps avoid rigid fingers.

Speaking of the reason for studying the preschool educational courses, Liu maintained that she believed it is very meaningful for her to review her growth and help her better understand life. In addition, Liu stated that she hopes to make a contribution to assisting young children grow up in a healthy way through what she has learned.

As she has learned facsimile at the college for the aged, she was once employed as an art teacher at a training institution. Liu revealed that she cherished the memory of her drawing with the young children at that time very much.

So far, the elderly woman concluded that she has passed multiple art exams, and the reason for her to study art was very simple: the passion for it, Liu explained.

Apart from this, the enterprising woman has also made an effort to improve her English level.

Liu said that she usually spends more than four hours reading and it has already become a wonderful way to pass the time for her.

When asked what she wanted to be if she had an opportunity in the future, the elderly woman said that she wanted to be a calligraphy teacher without a second thought.

She stated that the calligraphy is an extensive and profound traditional Chinese art. Liu maintained that she would create a new set of teaching methods to help students make improvements in this aspect.                                                                                                           (Source: yangtse.com/Translated and edited by Women of China)

By Ding BoEditor: Jane Wang