Inspired by students, cleaner achieves Master’s admission

A university cleaning staff member in China has gone viral after achieving admission into a master’s degree program through her own dedication

A university cleaning staff member in China has gone viral after achieving admission into a master’s degree program through her own dedication and self-study within a year.

33-year-old Li Jia from Chengdu, Sichuan province, works full-time as a cleaner at Chengdu University of Technology. She and her husband previously ran a restaurant near the university campus, but had to shut it down due to financial difficulties. After that, she took up a cleaning job at the university because it was close to home and offered flexible hours, allowing her to take care of her children.

During her work at the university, she often visited venues for China’s national entrance exams and interacted with students from across the country. She observed many inspiring scenes, such as students studying under streetlights and others appearing for exams despite having grey hair. These experiences deeply motivated her.

She stayed connected with many students through social media, and every year during exam season, her feed would be filled with their posts. Inspired by their determination, she decided she also wanted to set an example for her children and pursue higher education.

However, the journey was extremely challenging. Since she only had a vocational education and no bachelor’s degree, she had to pass additional exams for master’s program eligibility. She had only eight months to prepare before the entrance exams, all while managing her demanding job.

She followed a strict routine—arriving at the university at 6 a.m., cleaning while listening to lectures in politics and English through earphones. Despite the pressure, she continued her preparation consistently.

With full support from her husband, Li Jia successfully secured admission into a three-year master’s program in April 2026.