[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”\u201cLosers\u201d at China\u2019s Top Universities” subhead=”How small-town success stories feel out of place at elite universities” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.24)” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”32px” subhead_font_size=”22px” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Header_Small-Town-Swots.png” filter_opacity=”90%” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ content_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ subhead_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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By Shiqi Huang & Ziying Le<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”50%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
R<\/span>omona Rong, 22, a recent graduate from Jilin University, experienced four years of loneliness and low self-esteem in college.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “I was very isolated in the first few years. I felt like a misfit and was lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Rong was one of the “small-town swots,” a term coined in China to describe those who come from small towns and earned admission to top universities through hard work and good grades. The term was created by a member of Douban’s “Losers from Project 985” group, a forum filled with students from the most elite universities in mainland China who feel like they are underachieving. Douban is a Chinese equivalent of IMDB, but it also has many community groups, like Facebook groups, for like-minded individuals to communicate with each other.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sts1.png” title_text=”sts1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||39px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Project 985 consists of the top 39 universities in mainland China, representing the highest level of education in the country. The project was created by the Chinese government to establish world-class universities in the country, for the 21st century. Its name refers to the date of its establishment (May 1998), but others also refer to it because around 98.5% of students couldn\u2019t get accepted.<\/p>\n On the Losers from Project 985 forum, its 120,000 members share feelings and experiences on how becoming members of the \u201celite\u201d has not met their expectations. This is especially true for those \u201csmall-town swots\u201d, who spent most of their youth striving for good grades, while other essential skills were neglected, such as socialising and building self-confidence. The group is filled with confused young minds like Rong.<\/p>\n We analysed over 35,000 posts, 8 million words, in this group, from May 2020 to April 2023, and found that \u201closer\u201d was the most frequent word used to express members\u2019 emotions.<\/p>\n Attending a top university is supposed to grant students a more successful future. However, these young elites, representing the best of the country, often feel the opposite. They struggle to find a decent job and live the life they desire.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”50%” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n