No Shame to Be Poor | 贫穷并不可耻

English Original

Xiang Haiqing (a pseudonym), a 22-year-old student at Shanghai Fisheries University, recently gained notoriety for living far beyond the means of an average financially disadvantaged student. He was receiving a monthly stipend of 500 yuan and had his annual tuition of 6,000 yuan covered by actress Sun Li. However, Xiang repeatedly requested more money, including asking for 1,000 yuan within ten days last December, despite Sun Li having already purchased a mobile phone and camera for him.

Consequently, Sun Li decided to stop funding his living expenses but continues to pay his tuition, hoping to encourage his independence. Xiang defended his actions by citing the social expenses required for his role as a student officer.

This incident sparked a broader discussion on donations to students in need. According to 2005 Ministry of Education statistics, approximately 4 million students, or 25% of the total student population, faced financial difficulties. Donations, often paired with student loans, help these students. They typically come in two forms: anonymous donations and paired donations where the donor and recipient maintain contact.

A survey of financially disadvantaged university students in Beijing suggests a preference for anonymity. Over 70% of recipients preferred not to be identified, with only 16% willing to reveal their status. One freshman from Guangdong who received a 500-yuan donation stated, "I don't want others to know I'm poor. If I had to, I'd rather not accept the donation."

In contrast, Professor Lin Guirui, a psychology expert at Capital Normal University, encourages students to confront their economic situation. "It's not a shame to be poor," he said. While acknowledging that anonymity can better protect students' self-esteem, he noted that direct contact with a donor—often a more experienced individual—can aid personal growth and provide valuable social insights.

Sun Li's experience has placed her at the center of a debate regarding the appropriate boundaries and methods of charitable giving to students.


中文翻译

向海清(化名),一名22岁的上海水产大学学生,最近因生活水平远超普通贫困生而声名狼藉。他每月从演员孙俪那里获得500元生活费,并且孙俪还为他支付每年6000元的学费。然而,向海清不断索要更多钱,甚至在去年12月的十天内索要了1000元,尽管孙俪已经为他购买了手机和相机。

因此,孙俪决定停止资助他的生活开销,但继续支付学费,希望鼓励他独立。向海清则以自己作为学生干部需要社交开支为由为自己辩护。

这一事件引发了对资助贫困生方式的广泛讨论。根据教育部2005年的统计数据,约有400万学生(占学生总数的25%)面临经济困难。捐款通常与助学贷款结合,以帮助这些学生。资助主要有两种形式:匿名捐赠和结对捐赠(捐助者与受助者保持联系)。

一项针对北京高校贫困生的调查显示,他们更倾向于匿名资助。超过70%的受助者不希望被识别身份,只有16%的人愿意公开自己的状况。一位接受500元捐款的广东大一新生表示:“我不想让别人知道我很穷。如果必须公开,我宁愿不接受捐款。”

与此相反,首都师范大学心理学教授林桂瑞鼓励学生正视自己的经济状况。他说:“贫穷并不可耻。”他承认匿名方式更能保护学生的自尊心,但同时指出,与通常社会经验更丰富的捐助者直接沟通,有助于学生成长并了解更多社会知识。

孙俪的经历使她置身于一场关于学生慈善捐助的适当边界与方式的辩论中心。

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