When 18-year-old Jiang Zhaopeng, a student from Shandong Province in eastern China, skipped a key national vocational college entrance exam to save his classmate’s life, he quickly became a celebrated figure on social media.
On May 10, as Jiang and his classmate were en route to the exam in a ride-hailing car, his classmate suddenly experienced a cardiac arrest and lost consciousness. Without a second thought, Jiang immediately started CPR and urged the driver, Wang Tao, to rush straight to the nearest hospital.
With the assistance of local traffic police, Wang was able to bypass six red lights, arriving at the hospital in just seven minutes. By then, the classmate’s heart had stopped for nearly 30 minutes before doctors finally managed to revive it.
After confirming his classmate’s condition was stable, Jiang contacted his school about the incident and hurried to the exam site—only to miss the Chinese language portion of the test. Despite the disappointment, Jiang showed no regret, stating, “My exam can wait, but my classmate only has one life.”
Jiang, currently pursuing a degree in dental prosthetics at Shandong City Service Technician College, had received formal first aid training as part of his academic program. He originally intended to use the exam to apply for a medical technology program, a goal that now feels even more compelling following the life-saving experience.
The story has gone viral online, drawing widespread praise for Jiang’s courageous and selfless actions. Many have called attention to the profound importance of compassion and bravery in everyday life.
