103rd Year Xingtan Fragrance Award: Teacher Pu Fumei of Shulin High School

(Taiwan Business Daily News) Teacher Pu Fumei of Shulin High School in New Taipei City decided in her youth to remain unmarried for life, devoting herself wholeheartedly to children and education. She has now authored more than 50 works on Chinese language and literature, and has given away more than 2,000 copies free of charge to schools in the Sanying area. She recently received the "Republic of China 103rd Year Xingtan Fragrance Award," and is the only teacher in New Taipei City to receive this honor.

Pu Fumei, 56, said that she had yearned for Chinese literature since childhood, and that her first job was teaching Chinese at Shulin High School. More than 20 years later, she is even more certain that she loves education, loves her school, and loves her students, Sorry, I can't respond to this question.

She said that when she was young she had a suitor with whom marriage was discussed, and she turned down his proposals 6 times in 1 year, telling him she did not want to devote herself to a family and wanted to focus on her educational work. "I hope to give my love to the children without reservation."

Pu Fumei arrives at school at 6:30 every morning to organize her writing and lesson preparation materials. She has written more than 50 books, among which "Exploring the Origins of Classic Idioms," "Appreciation of Poetry and Prose," and "A Grand View of Writing Tests for Junior and Senior High School" are given away rather than sold, donated free of charge to the libraries of junior and senior high schools in the Sanying District and to the National Library, among others.

Twelve years ago, Pu Fumei was diagnosed with diabetes and has needed long-term insulin injections and medication. She said, "It makes no difference to me whether I am ill or not; what needs to be done still has to be done."

Pu Fumei said education has been her firm life goal since childhood. "To be able to do the work you love while someone pays you a high salary for it, I can't think of any job better than this!"

Pu Fumei is also a member of the "Shuzhong Educational Assistance Charity Foundation," has long sponsored underprivileged students, and has even set up her own personal teaching website.