Xiong Guojin, 21 years old, is one of the students who enrolled in a program at Beijing Normal University that trains teachers for service in underdeveloped areas in central and western regions of China. 

Last year, he and his six classmates wrote a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping to tell him what they'd learned from the program, vowing to serve at the grassroots level after graduation.

Xi replied to the letter, encouraging the students to study hard, cultivate their character, improve their teaching capabilities and serve in places where the country and people need them most.

Encouraged by Xi's letter, these students said they are more determined to become teachers in rural areas and make an impact after graduation.

In 2021, China launched a program to train about 10,000 teachers each year to work in over 800 underdeveloped counties in central and western regions of the country. The goal is to improve the quality of primary and secondary school teachers in these areas.

College students who enroll in the program are exempt from tuition and accommodation fees, and receive subsidies for living expenses.