See NY Times:
The Sudden Death of a Man Who Told Chinese Kids How to Succeed
The influencer Zhang Xuefeng was known for no-nonsense, some said cynical, advice about how to win in China’s educational rat race. He died at 41. NYTimes Link
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Mr. Zhang was known for dispensing ruthlessly blunt advice about how to maximize a student’s chances at success.
The liberal arts? Only good for service jobs, he declared. Finance? Don’t bother unless your family has connections.
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His celebrity came as much from his advice as his willingness to provoke. A comment in 2023 that parents should knock their children unconscious rather than let them study journalism, because of the weak job prospects, set off days of online debate. Critics said he misunderstood the point of education, or was suggesting that poorer students shouldn’t follow their dreams.
He helps students choose their college major. The consulting service is roughly priced at about 10k-15k RMB. Some say he is overly negative and cynical and his fame is overrated. Others praise him for helping poor student choose a realistic major that pays by breaking the information barrier.
I’d say he’s a pioneer. He made us all more realistic and see the multifaceted essence of higher education, and rethink how it shapes our future. His words, if not always beneficial and unbiased, are more than enlightening as ever. May the good will rest in peace.