Letter from students in Xizang class

A heartfelt letter, handwritten by former Xizang students, has traveled thousands of miles to reach Yang Haiyan, head of the Teaching and Research Department and a music teacher at the Affiliated High School of Fujian Normal University in Pingtan. The letter, filled with gratitude and nostalgia, was penned by students from a Xizang class that Yang Haiyan once taught.

"Mother Yang" pictured reading letter from students in the Xizang class, her face full of happiness

The letter, addressed to "Mother Yang," was written by Nyima Tsering and Lobsang, students from the 2018-2021 academic year's "Pingtan-Chamdo Youth Education and Talent Cultivation Program" (a class specifically for Xizang students). In the letter, Nyima Tsering expressed his profound gratitude to Yang Haiyan, saying, "You are not only my guide in knowledge but also my mentor in spirit... No matter where I am in the future, I will always remember your kindness."

Yang Haiyan vividly recalls the day in 2018 when 30 Xizang students from the Chamdo and Nyingchi regions arrived at the school with high hopes and aspirations. Over the next three years, she became a motherly figure to these students, celebrating their birthdays, singing and counting the stars on the lawn, observing the flag-raising ceremony, and enjoying Pingtan's wonderful scenery together.

Inspired by the letter, Yang Haiyan created "Echoes Across Mountains and Seas," a recitation that explores the deep bond she shares with her former students from Xizang. The piece, performed by the school's art troupe, is divided into four chapters: "The Mountain-Sea Pact - Initial Blossoming," "Resonance of Hearts - Symphony," "Grace as a Mountain - Inheritance," and "Sea of Stars - Voyage." Each chapter features a dialogue between teachers and students, intertwining memories and expressions of their profound connections.

"This work is a dialogue of emotions between the mountains and the sea, carrying our commitments to one another," said Yang, who believes that " the questions and answers between the mountains and the sea will resonate forever." The art troupe has been diligently preparing for the provincial exhibition, hoping to present this moving story to a wider audience.

One of the former Xizang students, Sola, who now works at a kindergarten in Nyingchi, said she was deeply moved upon hearing the recitation. "I clearly remember the day of my appendix surgery in 2018. Feeling far from home and helpless, it was Mother Yang who stayed with me through the hardest time. I want to express my deepest gratitude for her selfless dedication with the words, 'A silkworm will not stop spinning silk until it dies, a candle will not stop shedding tears until it is burnt out.'"

With rehearsals under Yang Haiyan's guidance, the art troupe aims to present the most touching performance at the provincial exhibition, showcasing the heartwarming story of the bond between teachers and students that transcends geographical boundaries.