A father in northwestern China embraced a challenge posed by his teenage daughter during a heated argument and ultimately earned a spot in an MBA programme.
Zhang Zhiqiang, 44, living in Xian, Shaanxi province, works in the health and wellness industry, as reported by mainland media outlet Dawan News.
Having graduated from university two decades ago, Zhang typically spends up to 300 days a year travelling for work, leaving his wife largely responsible for their daughter’s education.
Last year, he decided to reduce his workload to assist the 15-year-old in preparing for the senior secondary school entrance examination.
However, tensions soon escalated. During a disagreement about her studies, the teenager asserted that students faced a far greater academic burden than her father’s generation had.
“If you are so capable, why not take the postgraduate entrance examination?” she challenged him.
The challenge resonated deeply. Despite concerns regarding his age, workload, and diminishing skills in mathematics and English, Zhang decided to register.
His wife worried that the endeavour might be in vain but ultimately lent him her support.
Zhang enrolled in online courses and crafted a rigorous study schedule around his full-time job.
He dedicated his mornings from 6am to 9am to studying English, spent five hours on mathematics each evening, and used high-speed train rides during business trips for additional review.
This intensive study regimen, averaging over eight hours a day, eventually resulted in persistent headaches.
After five months of preparation, Zhang sat for the national postgraduate entrance examination in December last year.
As a result, he was offered a place in Northwestern Polytechnical University’s part-time MBA programme, receiving his admission letter in June. His future study aspirations remain undisclosed.
Zhang’s efforts significantly influenced his daughter’s attitude towards her own studies.
Upon hearing of his admission, the girl, who had previously resisted visiting the library, began organising study sessions with classmates and even requested her parents to hire a tutor.
Her score in the senior secondary school entrance examination was 95 points higher than in a mock test, securing her a spot at her preferred school.
Although she never directly informed her father how his experience had impacted her, he observed that her increasing self-discipline spoke volumes.
For Zhang, effective parenting is not simply about lecturing children but demonstrating the value of perseverance through action.
He also recognised that while he initially took the exam to set an example for his daughter, he later realised the challenge was also deeply personal.
“Life should be lived for oneself,” he expressed to the media.
One online observer commented: “This father exemplified determination, initiative, and foresight. He took one exam yet transformed two lives.”
“I have shared this story with my parents. I only wish my father were half as driven as Zhang,” wrote another. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
