Student with Muscular Dystrophy Overcomes Physical Limits to Gain Admission to Chiayi University

Central News Agency (Chiayi City), June 1. Guo Jian-an, a third-year student at National Chiayi Senior Commercial Vocational School, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy but has always faced life with an optimistic and enterprising attitude. This year, he not only won the Presidential Education Award but was also admitted to the Department of Technology Management at National Chiayi University through the Star Recommendation program, a source of pride for the entire school. The school released a press release today stating that Guo's academic journey has been full of hardships. Since the second grade of elementary school, he has been confined to a wheelchair due to his condition. His father, who also suffers from severe disabilities due to a car accident, has insisted on picking him up and dropping him off at school for years, regardless of the weather. Chen Xuan-an, the school's Dean of Student Affairs, noted that Guo's father, unable to wear shoes due to his disability, would walk barefoot even on rainy or freezing days to take his son to school. Seeing the pair on campus was always moving, and their refusal to give up has been a remarkable journey. Guo's homeroom teacher, Chiu Wen-fu, explained that although Guo had to switch to home-based learning in his second year of high school due to his worsening condition, he remained disciplined, mastering his studies through online courses and remote guidance, and always kept his handwriting neat. This persistence beyond his physical limits not only kept his grades at the top of his class but also helped him win scholarships to ease his family's financial burden. Chiu added that while Guo has been admitted to the Department of Technology Management at Chiayi University, he is still working hard to potentially get into a psychology department through other channels, hoping to use his knowledge to help others in the future. The school stated that Guo has actively participated in public welfare press conferences held by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, sharing his experiences to speak up for disadvantaged families and encourage others. The school noted that Guo always faces his physical pain and difficulties with a smile, and whenever teachers express concern, he always says, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern," an optimistic attitude that is truly admirable. (Editor: Chen Ren-hua) 1150601