A CANDLE-LIT memorial was held at Shenzhen University on Thursday night to mourn Yang Qian, the 19-year-old girl who took her own life Tuesday by jumping from the roof of her apartment building in Futian District.
The memorial was attended by many of Yang’s friends and middle school teachers.
Yang’s friends, many of whom are now Shenzhen University students, voiced doubts over a Southern Metropolis Daily report that alleged Yang killed herself after being criticized by a teacher for poor performance in the reception of new students.
The Daily reported Yang, a sophomore at the College of Economics, was assigned to be a counselor for freshmen one week before her death.
However, Yang’s friends told the Shenzhen Daily that the girl they knew would not have reacted to criticism in this way.
“Teachers at our middle school sometimes scolded us. We never took it to heart,” said one of Yang’s friends, identifying herself as Li.
Li said she couldn’t understand Yang’s choice of death and did not believe suggestions that pressure alone led to her death.
“For students of our age, we always turn to friends when we feel upset or depressed,” said Li.
Yang’s parents posted an article on Yang’s blog to mourn her, which is now open exclusively to close friends and family.
Yang’s friend Liu said she had been depressed and had cried in her dormitory one week before her death.
Yang was the third Shenzhen student to commit suicide in one week. On Sept. 14, 14-year-old Liu Nenghui committed suicide by jumping from an apartment building in Longgang District.
A recent survey revealed that 20 percent of Shenzhen’s students have problems dealing with their emotions.
Li Hao