The "Happy Sandwich" located at Shop 1, Building 18, Shilian Resettlement Area,which has been in trial operation for half a month, is set to officially open on November 6th. Yang Yuqing has spent over a year preparing for this day.

While many of her peers are still navigating their career paths, Yang Yuqing, a student from the Chinese Class 2205 at Xiangtan Institute of Technology, has not only earned over 20,000 yuan through two years of part-time jobs and entrepreneurial ventures, independently covering all her living expenses during her school years, but has also gained confidence and abilities far more precious than money.

This surefooted independence has made her a role model among her peers, with one classmate remarking, "Yang Yuqing truly embodies the Hunan spirit of 'hardworking, persistent, and dominative.'"

Hardworking: Unshakable Confidence Earned with Every Drop of Sweat

Upon entering university, Yang Yuqing joined the Lei Feng Class at Xiangtan Institute of Technology.

Daily early morning and evening training sessions, lasting nearly three hours without fail, not only strengthened her physical fitness but also forged her will to work hard and her indomitable fighting spirit.

As soon as she entered university, Yang Yuqing joined the Lei Feng class at Xiangtan University of Technology. With nearly three hours of unwavering physical training every day,she not only enhanced her physical fitness but also honed her determination to work hard and persevere.

In the Lei Feng Class, "sweat" brought Yang Yuqing a fulfilling life.However,in order to explore more of her potential, she embarked on a part-time career as a "versatile person" in the second semester of her freshman year.

Her fingers grew calloused from the friction of tape on the factory assembly line; being abruptly hung up on was a common occurrence during telemarketing; she prepared lesson plans for tutoring late into the night; and she hawked traditional Chinese-style creative products under the scorching sun... The three-hour bumpy commute between Changsha and Xiangtan on weekends was her most arduous yet unforgettable time.

"Tiring, but mentally fulfilling," she said without complaint, only with a sense of heaviness soaked in sweat. 

She endured and swallowed this "hardship "which far exceeds that of her peers and in the process she forged a resilient and unyielding character that is both capable and dignified.

It was precisely this rich part-time experience that made her keenly aware of business opportunities."Can I try to expand this market myself?" she wondered. 

When the idea of entrepreneurship arose, she did not hesitate but resolutely quit her stable tutoring job, choosing a path that was "harder" but more "dominative." Her decision was supported by her "give it a try" courage and her unwavering commitment to "relying on herself."

Persistent: Forging Integrity Through "Grinding" and "Sharpening"

What to choose had become a real dilemma for Yang Yuqing.She was not a natural talent for business, but her down-to-earth nature and patience allowed her to perceive the needs of others from the most ordinary details of life.

At the canteen,Yang Yuqing spent over an hour simply observing the comings and goings of her fellow students.She promptly recognized the fatigue and longing for awakening among university students during their 8 a.m. classes. From this insight was born her first entrepreneurial concept: the sandwich called "Happy Eight in the Morningt" , designed to bring a spark of joy to the early morning grind.

With a simple belief in the healing power of food, Yang Yuqing decided to pioneer a unique path in the blue ocean of university emotional dining.In May 2024, a "Happy Sandwich" cart with  a hand-painted menu quietly parked beside the Shilian Resettlement Area, marking the beginning of her story.

Yang Yuqing understood that food was not just for sustenance but also a bond of emotion.Along with the sandwiches, she included handwritten notes on the food packaging bags such as "Be Happy Every Day" and "Wish You Happiness."

This sincerity allowed her to establish connection filled with human warmth beyond cold commercial transactions, making the "Happy Sandwich" a source of emotional comfort for students in the morning.

"The product range is a bit limited!" "Your delivery efficiency is too slow!" During operations, Yang Yuqing paid extra attention to customer feedback, patiently listening to suggestions and opinions before making adjustments. 

Introducing a new sandwich flavor every half month, adding two part-time delivery staff to improve efficiency... Yang Yuqing always believed that attitude was the top priority in the service industry.

Her excellent service attitude earned  many valuable improvement suggestions and heartwarming encouragements. These affirmations and supports from customers always reignited her drive when she felt discouraged. 

Dominative: The Tenacity to Dare and Act

This persistence and thoughtfulness earned the "Happy Sandwich" a snowballing base of loyal fans.The official community expanded from 1 to 10 groups, with a total membership exceeding 2,000 persons; the carefully managed REDnote account achieved over 10,000 note views. Behind each number were countless days and nights of hard work for Yang Yuqing and her team.

"On average, we make 30-50 sandwiches a day, and during the busiest times, I only sleep four to five hours a  night," she said."But seeing the satisfied smiles on students' faces when they hold our sandwiches and hearing them say, 'I'm a bit happier today because of your breakfast,' makes all the hardship worthwhile."

Over the past year, the "Happy Sandwich" gained many fans on campus, but Yang Yuqing's enterprising and determined nature led her to set her sights on a broader horizon.

In October this year, with the support of the Entrepreneurship and Employment Department at Xiangtan Institute of Technology, she received professional business training and entrepreneurial guidance.This enabled the "Happy Sandwich" to register as a company, apply for a trademark, and obtain a food business license—steering the venture towards a more standardized and branded path, and giving   powerful wings for achieving dreams.

From exploring part-time jobs to igniting entrepreneurial dreams, Yang Yuqing's story has transcended the significance of a breakfast—it demonstrates to all that there is no "lying flat" in the dictionary of youth.As long as one carries passion and keeps moving forward, every ordinary day can become fertile ground for nurturing extraordinary dreams.

In the future, she will continue to run with this "hardworking, persistent, and dominative" spirit and the original intention of spreading happiness.