Yeyu Ying, an 80-year-old Chinese woman, has been officially certified by World Guinness Records for having the longest career as a female language teacher, spanning 64 years and 33 days. GWR reported that Yeyu Ying began her teaching career at the age of 17 in a remote primary school in Zhejiang, China.
She was born into an impoverished family in Ruian, Zhejiang Province, but chose to become a teacher to support her family, which marked the start of an incredible adventure. After retiring in February 1999 at the age of 55, she started Yuying Elementary School, where she still teaches today ( world Guinness records).
However, she is still teaching six Chinese language lessons per week. Her dedication epitomises the idea of lifelong learning, as she continues to update her teaching methods and resources even as she ages. “I recall witnessing record challenges on television many years ago and reflecting on my own enthusiasm for teaching ( world Guinness records).
“I always thought my lesson plans were the most meticulous in the world,” Yeyu Ying explained. “Maybe I harboured a secret desire to challenge the record but never dared to speak it out loud for fear of being laughed at,” Yeyu Ying says. “Earlier this year, while conversing with my daughter, we watched the Guinness World Records challenge videos again. I decided to discuss applying with my coworkers, and to my amazement, we were successful!”
She revealed that her experience as a teacher from a humble home with amazing accomplishments brings her delight. “This accolade reflects my lifelong passion. Coming from a remote town in southern China, establishing a school in Lishui in the 1990s, and earning such an accolade for what appeared to be an average career fills me with appreciation,” she said.
Yeyu Ying has always tackled life’s obstacles with tenacity, refusing to give up. At the age of 17, she was put to the test by naughty students. After retirement, she confronted the challenge of starting a school on her own, moving three times in four years. During her decades-long teaching career, even walking to school became a difficult effort at times ( world Guinness records).
As a principal, Yeyu Ying would get up at 5 a.m. and arrive at school by 7:30 a.m. to supervise teachers and kids before beginning her teaching duties. When teachers were away for meetings or training, she would fill in to save money on school expenses. She recalled, “In my leisure time, I prepared lessons. Unlike today, we did not have convenient electronic devices. Each lesson was meticulously penned using a calligraphy brush, requiring six hours to prepare. If I wasn’t satisfied with my handwriting, I’d tear up the pages and start again.”
World Guinness Records
Surprisingly, at 80, Yeyu Ying still has fresh aspirations, like constructing a nursing home to make life easier for the elderly. “I plan to open a nursing home next, dedicating my remaining life to society and helping the elderly live their final years with joy,” she stated, stressing that she is presently undertaking social research for this new initiative (world Guinness records).
Source: vanguardngr.com
