Lijia Zhang

I am a rocket-factory worker turned writer, social commentator, and public speaker. Born into a poor working-class family in Nanjing on the banks of the Yangtze River, I dreamt of becoming a writer. At sixteen, my dream was shattered when I was taken out of school to work at a military factory that produced intercontinental missiles. Seeking an escape, I taught myself English, which eventually changed my life. Like the rest of the nation in the 80s, I struggled to break free from Mao’s straitjacket and to dream the impossible. In a sense, my story is China's story. My "coming-of-age" journey from a factory worker to an internationally published writer reflects China's dramatic transformation during the reform era. Or I can use my story to give an inspirational speech. My own story -- a young woman’s transformation from a factory worker who an international-published writer -- is a testament to the power of pushing the boundaries and following your dreams.