Even in the few days before leaving for Beijing, the capital city where the Tsinghua University is located, he was taking care of the pigs in his family.

Though tuition fees of 5,000 yuan ($727) per year are not high, it means a lot to Sun and his family. He had intended to apply for a student loan after his registration in the university. But thankfully, his high school offered him a scholarship of 20,000 yuan ($2,905) so he no longer needs to worry about the money issue.

"I really thank my high school for the scholarship. With that, I do not need to ask for a loan and it can also cover my living expenses," he said.

"It is not an easy thing for my parents to support me and send me to school, so I must give them back the best I can achieve. I will work harder to make my family live better and happier," he added.