Ma Fuxing teaches first grade at a rural mountain school in the Yushu Tibetan prefecture. He only has a high school diploma, but that’s not the only hurdle Ma had overcome to become a teacher.

Ma lost both his hands in a fire accident when he was four months old. He says he learned to write with his feet when he was ten. He was 12 when he began school, but was not allowed to study after high school because of his impairment. Still, it didn’t stop him from a successful 32-year teaching career.

Ma says that it was the kindness of others that inspired him to teach.

[Ma Fuxing, First Grade Teacher without Hands]:
"When I was a kid, I couldn't put on my shoes myself and people around would come over to help me. When I couldn't do my buttons, they would come over and button them for me. As a handicapped person, I have been helped by many people. So I began to think how I could repay them. I just want to show them how their teacher without hands has overcome all difficulties. I think they can learn how to resolve problems when they are in more difficult circumstances."

And for at least one student, Ma is an inspiration. Ma’s now full-grown daughter was once his student, now she wants to follow in his footsteps.

[Ma Haihong, Ma Fuxing's Daughter]:
"If I take up teaching as my career, the exemplary role of my father would give me pressure. But I hope I can still do better than him under this pressure."

Ma plays outside with his students at break time. Today he is showing off his badminton skills but more importantly he shows them, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

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