My schoolmate Yang Jianli

Xiao Jun

In 1982, I met Jianli at the Graduate School of Beijing Normal University. He was only 19 years old and was by far the youngest graduate student. He was very sociable, outgoing, and smiling all the time. It was only a matter of a few weeks before he was known throughout the Graduate School. Despite his young age, Jianli was very focused and established a clear and systematic plan of studies to go with his dreams and ambitions. This focus on his personal objectives did not prevent him from accepting to help others. Specifically when he was asked by the Graduate Student Union to volunteer and commit to serve as the sports activities director, he accepted with no hesitation. He played a major role not only as an organizer but also as an actual player in basketball, volleyball, table tennis and badminton games. His leadership and dedication to the sports activities put the entire Graduate School at Beijing Normal University in a very respectable position. We participated in various competitions with other universities and municipal teams in the city of Beijing. Our campus life was enriched because of his services. His impact lasted for many years. For example, in a recent school reunion event, I had a chat with some old schoolmates from the departments of Chinese Literature and Chemistry and we all remembered and cherished that nice period in our lives.

Jianli's involvement in the time consuming social activities didn't affect the achievement of his personal educational goals. After only three years, he finished his master degree in mathematics with excellent grades, and was invited to work as a lecturer in the Mathematics Department. He was assigned to teach the class of young gifted students (who were selected from all over the country for their exceptional capabilities). Jianli was later promoted to the position of the secretary general of the department. He also started publishing research papers at the university and national levels.

Jianli was simply full of energy. Once I recall we took the young gifted students in a field trip to the Great Wall, I asked him, "Which animal do you like the most?" He quickly replied, "A running horse." No wonder he is always full of energy and has the spirit to fight for what he believes. Now, although his body is detained, I know his dreams and thoughts are still alive, well, and flying high. Any man-imposed confinement will only hamper his physical move not his free soul.

After we left China, we lost contact for a while. He went to the University of California at Berkley. Among the top students in mathematics, he proved himself as one of the best. I recall an anecdote - An American student, very impressed with Jianli's mathematical capabilities, asked, "How many Chinese mathematicians are like you?" Jianli replied proudly, "Thousands". When he graduated, the U.S. was in recession. He successfully found an assistant professor position at the University of Pacific. Later on he quit his teaching position to pursue a second Ph.D. at Harvard University. At first I was disappointed to see him switch his career direction and move away from mathematics. To my surprise, he had a bigger plan and a higher objective. Jianli has a lot of friends. He is always willing and eager to help others, and he has a unique skill and power to gather people around him and also to bring people together in spite of their differences.

One summer in Beijing, I was going to my hometown. After purchasing the train ticket, I had only 3 yuans left. Jianli, insisted to share his 20 yuans with me, and told me, "On a trip by yourself, you must be prepared. I stay in Beijing and can manage to get by." After coming to the U.S., he lived in the San Francisco Bay area for many years. His home was like a free motel for his friends and a place of gathering. Jianli and his wife were always ready to assist and help others logistically, financially, and morally. They picked up many friends from the airport and saw them off. One of our schoolmates had an emergency and needed to go back to China. Jianli and his wife not only provided him with transportation but also purchased the airline ticket for him. Jianli helps people in every possible way. When my parents came to visit me in Maryland, they had a layover connection at the San Francisco Airport. This was their first international trip and they didn't know English. I thought I needed someone to meet them at the airport just in case. I knew Jianli was busy, but I didn't know anyone else. So, I asked him if he could help me this time and assist my parents. He happily agreed to do it and he did it. After he moved to Boston, his home again became an open house to all his friends.

Jianli told us that he liked music since childhood. In fact, he can dance and play the Chinese instrument "Er Hu" very well. His favorite music is "Liang Zhu" (The Love Story of Butterfly). Once in the dormitory, he played a tape of the famous music that his elder sister gave him as a gift and explained to me the meaning of the whole piece.

Jianli has a good handwriting. The logo of ChinaEweekly (Seewww.ChinaEweekly.com) was designed and written by him. ChinaEweekly showed his picture when he volunteered to give a lecture on Chinese calligraphy at his daughter's school.

After June 4, 1989, he became active in the democracy movement. I am not good in social activities and less interested in politics. We didn't see each other for a long time partially due to the fact that we lived in different parts of the country. During the 1989 demonstration in Washington D.C., he picked me from a huge crowd of thousands of people from all over the country. He said that he knew I would come and he was very glad to see me.

Although he devotes himself to the democracy movement, he managed to keep close contacts with his old friends. Moreover, he never tried to push them or coerce them to join him. I went to see him while he was attending a conference at the school I was studying at. When a journalist-looking man wanted to take a picture of us, he immediately stopped him. He said, "I don't mind that you take my picture, but perhaps others do." At another incidence, he asked me to take his new friends to the airport and insisted to pay the cost.

Jianli is a man who is always eager to help and cares deeply about others. He has tremendous skills and intelligence but never shows off. His classmates are glad to have him as a friend. Now, when he is in trouble, they came together trying to help him. All his classmates in the U.S. signed the open letter to the Chinese government for his release. Sometimes, I don't understand why he devotes himself to the democracy movement. But I get an answer when I recall one of our conversations at a hill near Oakland, California. This hill had a fire and all trees and houses were burned. The following year, we both returned there and we were shocked to see brand new houses and trees. Jianli then concluded, "We can rebuild everything as long as our belief is there." I know that Jianli is standing there supported by his belief.

Jianli is a Christian. When I asked him "How come you can always reach your goal?" He answered, "It is because I have my God who is always by my side helping me." Now, Jianli is experiencing a life in jail. It might be his God who is offering him a chance to view the world from another angle. Jianli, please take care of yourself. Your real friends are always with you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

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Source: "HXWZ Express".