To be the first
Her parents noticed her talent early and gave her every opportunity to learn painting. After high school, she was admitted to a top 20 university in China. She majored in oil painting, dreaming of becoming a painter.
During university, Tian Yi fully focused on her art. Each painting she made showed her passion and dedication. She listened closely in class and spent long hours in the studio. She studied different techniques and forms of oil painting.
Her work was often shown in school exhibitions and received praise. Over the years, she worked with her tutors and joined competitions, and late nights in the studio became normal for her. Painting has become a part of my life,” she said.
“Tianyi is very gifted in painting,” said Ren Zhenyu, her tutor at Southwest Jiaotong University. “She’s among the most talented students I’ve met.”
After graduation, Tianyi’s parents urged her to prepare for civil service and postgraduate exams. She knew that attending a top art academy was important for success in the arts.
After thinking it over, she decided to prepare for the postgraduate exams. She aimed to enter China’s best art academy.
Your Attractive Heading
“I really wanted to be a painter,” Tianyi said. “But in China, being a painter isn’t seen as a proper career.”
In the minds of traditional Chinese parents, a good job should offer stability. This includes social insurance, housing funds, and security, no matter how a company performs.
Tianyi failed her first attempt at the exams. She felt confused and thought about giving up. Encouraged by her parents and friends, she decided to try again.
Even though she did well, she failed to get into the top art academy again.
She was transferred to a photography program, which she wasn’t interested in. Tianyi felt conflicted and upset. She even thought about quitting her studies.
After some thought, she saw this might be a new path. She decided to accept reality and entered the photography program. After three years of graduate studies, she graduated this year.
“I’m 27 now and can’t rely on my parents anymore,” Tianyi said. “An artist’s income barely covers daily expenses, so I started job hunting.”
“Many companies attended the university’s job fair,” Tian Yi said. “But I didn’t hear back after submitting my CV. Maybe they don’t want to hire fresh graduates without experience.”
Three years later, the same thing happened. Her classmates were still searching for jobs and turning to civil service exams.
Tian Yi began to realize that becoming a painter was now a distant dream. She had to face reality.
To get a stable job, she decided to take the civil service exam. It wasn’t just for a living but for a long-term, stable career.
“I will never say I want to be a painter again,” she said. “It’s better to be realistic and find a stable job.”
“I’ve been taking exams for five years,” Tian Yi added. “They’ve taken over my life.”
Despite her efforts, she began to doubt if civil service was the right path. As time passed, she saw her friends settle into jobs and start families. Meanwhile, she stayed caught up in the cycle of exams.
“I can’t give up on the exams now,” she said. “I’ve invested too much. I have to keep going until I succeed.”
Tianyi often recalls her dream of becoming a painter. When she sees her university paintings or photos of past exhibitions, she feels some regret.
“I’m now working as an art teacher at a children’s organization,” Tianyi said. “The work isn’t exhausting, and I can’t devote all my time to it.”
Her flexible working hours can give her more time to prepare for the civil service exam.