Chen Jian, a teacher at Fuzhou First Technician College, practices for vocational competitions. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chen Jian stayed in the training workshop of a technical school in Fuzhou, Fujian province, during the May Day holiday, practicing skills for a vocational competition.

Chen, a 21-year-old teacher from Fuzhou First Technician College, will represent Fujian province at the second vocational skills competition of China, which will be held in Tianjin in September. During the province's trial competition in March, he won a gold medal for the computer numerical control lathe.

Chen hopes he can deliver a high-quality performance at the national competition and be a candidate for the biennial WorldSkills Competition, which has been his dream since he was 15.

Back in 2017, Zhang Zhikun, a gold medalist in CNC milling at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition, gave a lecture at Chen's school, encouraging the vocational students to show their potential and contribute to the country's economic development. That talk planted a seed in Chen's heart.

To perfect his technique on the lathe and overcome technical problems, Chen has stuck to the workshop from early morning until late at night almost every day.

In December 2020, during the first national vocational skills competition, Chen performed well and qualified for the national team. Although he did not achieve his goal, he was not discouraged.

After returning to Fuzhou, he carried out various targeted training to improve himself.

Upon graduation in August 2021, Chen declined numerous offers from enterprises and chose to be a teacher at the school, aiming to have another shot at his dream.

Many of his students performed well in various competitions, with some having won awards in national competitions.

"I am a beneficiary of vocational education. I hope to help more students master a skill and realize the value of life," he said.

Recently, Chen was awarded the title "Excellent Youth League Member of Fujian Province" by the China Communist Youth League Committee of Fujian province.