Voicing their pride

Zhang Lezhi, a fourth grader from Shanghai Aiju Primary School and a first-prize winner in the primary school group, told the story of how her family was involved in the reform and opening-up of the country under leadership of the CPC.

The girl said her great-grandfather, 95, once worked in Washington, inviting foreign investment to China; her grandfather was the founder of a snack company in the early 1990s, harboring a dream that all the people in the nation would have access to healthy and delicious food; and her father's job is to help domestic enterprises go global.

"In addition to English, I'm also learning French and Latin. My great-grandfather is always encouraging me to work for the country in the future," said the 10-year-old.

"I aspire to work as a diplomat one day to be a voice for China on the world stage," she said.

Tan Mengtian, a 16-year-old student from Shanghai No 2 Middle School, told the stories of revolutionaries who devoted their lives to the country and were finally laid to rest at the Shanghai Longhua Martyrs' Cemetery.

"We speak about them as we remember a history when China was weak and could be bullied by others. It helps us better understand how the country can retain its present development by learning more about the past," she said.

Tan said her idea for the topic was also inspired by movies and TV series centered around the Party history that have been shown this year.

"I hope to become a journalist in the future to stand at the tide of the times, keep learning, and communicate stories with positive values to society," she said.