The Box That Saved Jason

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a sixth-tier city--meaning, "there's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to University of Washington. Then his only problem? Funding. (See post five.)

As Jason was grappling with a sad state of affairs--the one college he got accepted to he could not afford, and all of his pathways were winding up at dead ends-- he got what he thought of as a, “random e-mail.” 

He now knows it came as the result of him ticking a box on the SAT form that allowed colleges to contact him. Ticking that small little box saved him, offering him a lily pad to jump to.

“I got a note from the University of Evansville, and it said ‘You are qualified for a tuition scholarship and a housing stipend.’ So the whole college education was covered.  I thought, ‘Dear God saved me.’

“I really didn’t know what kind of town it was. But it was the only chance that I could go to an American college. So I accepted the offer right away.  They were really happy, as well. They constantly sent me e-mails, ‘Come over.’ 'This is a great place.’ ‘You’re going to be so special for us.’ ‘You are one of only two Chinese students.’"

(To Be Continued: Jason Heart Grows in American Sixth-Tier City.)