Wang Li, an 18-year-old student from Dongqi Middle School in Hanwang county of Deyang, Sichuan province, sat for the national college entrance examination in a hospital yesterday.
She took the papers in a wheelchair because her left leg was amputated in the 8-magnitude quake that hit the province on May 12.
Wang said she could handle the tests.
"Well, I was strong enough to survive the quake, so I believe I am also strong enough to face the exams," she said.
"I will try my best."
Two of Wang's schoolmates, both 18 and victims of the quake, accompanied her in taking the exam in Xinqiao Hospital in Chongqing municipality. The quake left Peng Li with leg fractures, and Zhao Sili suffered similar injuries.
The trio was part of more than 120,000 students in Sichuan who had their entrance exams postponed for almost a month because of the quake.
Hanwang itself was one of the worst hit areas of the quake.
Sitting in bed, Peng told China Daily she would study nursing at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing if she did well in the three-day exam, considered by many as a life-changing event for high school students nationwide.
"I suffered a lot in the quake so I know how to treat people who are in my situation," she said, adding that taking the test was the best way for her to recover from the trauma of the disaster.
Peng said she would not give up, even though the disaster had totally disrupted her studies.
Two proctors, both high school teachers from the trio's hometown of Deyang, have been assigned to the girls for the duration of the exam.
Their main responsibility is to offer assistance such as emergency aid, said an official from the Deyang's College Enrolment Commission Office.
Although the girls looked tired and said little after the first round of the exam yesterday that lasted for nearly three hours, Peng remained undaunted.
"I feel OK. So many people have helped me," she said.
"Especially the volunteers from the Sichuan Normal University," Wang added.
According to Wang, a group of students from the university based in the provincial capital of Chengdu helped the three with their studies after they were transferred to Chongqing more than 40 days ago. The volunteers also gave them study materials.
Wang said she also wanted to study in a Chongqing university because she did not want to leave the place where she was given a second shot at life.
"I told Peng Li and Sili we would go for a hot pot meal in Chongqing after the exams," Wang said.
"We are 'sisters' for life," she said.
The education authorities of Sichuan and Chongqing had made special arrangements for the girls to take the exam.
It was also the first time for Sichuan students to take the exam outside the province since the national college entrance examination resumed in 1977, after a 10-year suspension during the "cultural revolution".
"The whole exam process strictly follows national regulations. We will ensure that this is a fair, just and humane examination," said Zhao Guangqing, vice-director of the Deyang college enrolment commission office.
"We also arranged for the three girls to take the exam in hospital after considering their health and strong desire to continue their studies. The provincial authorities approved of the move," Zhao said.
The three girls were not the only ones who sat for the exam in a hospital.
Liu Yudong, 19, also from Deyang, went through a similar experience back in his hometown yesterday.
A high school student from Mianzhu county of Deyang, Liu lost his left leg in the earthquake. He is also recovering from severe cerebral hemorrhage, after his head was hit by a piece of falling concrete in school.
"He had prepared so hard for the exam," Liu's mother, Zhang Wenying, said.
"If he were not able to take it, it would be another heavy blow to him."
As Zhang worked on a math paper in a ward on the fifth floor of the Deyang hospital, two proctors, nurses and security guards helped keep watch over the teen in case he felt uncomfortable during the two-hour test.
Near the hospital, another 2,000 students from Mianzhu were also sitting for the exam in prefabricated rooms built specially for that purpose.
Since May 19, students from the worst hit areas of Deyang, such as Mianzhu and Shifang counties, have been moved to the city's downtown area to prepare for the exams and give them a chance to return to normal life.
On the first day of the exam, the local government deployed more than 100 buses to transport the students between their makeshift homes to test venues. Local traffic police were also rolled out to escort the students.
At about 8:00 am, the Mianzhu students arrived at the test venue in Sichuan Engineering Technical College. While waiting for the test to begin, a teacher was seen hugging her students to encourage them.
A psychotherapist, who had spent a month with the students, took out a poster that read "We are always together" and wished every passing-by student well.
At 11:30 am, the Chinese test concluded and students rushed back to their buses for lunch.
"The title of my essay is 'A letter to the victims of the earthquake'," said Wu Jing, a student from Mianzhu's Nanxuan Middle School.
"I hope they can leave in peace.
"We promise to do our best to rebuild our families."
Source: China Daily
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