The gaokao is a right granted to every student by the state, yet for three years in a row, exam proctors barred me from entering.
The first time I took the gaokao, I was dressed properly and passed security without a problem.
But just as I was about to enter the exam room, a proctor glanced at my admission ticket and hurriedly stopped me.
I thought something was wrong with the ticket.
The second time, I printed my admission ticket online according to the government’s official requirements.
But after looking at it, the proctor still refused to let me in.
By the time I took the gaokao for the third time, I had changed my name and moved to another city.
When I saw that the proctor was my former elementary school teacher, I thought I was finally in the clear.
She was smiling and encouraging me to do my best one moment, but the instant she saw my admission ticket, her expression changed.
After mercilessly stopping me outside the exam room, she told me with certainty that no matter how many times I took the gaokao, I would never be allowed inside.
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my admission ticket.
Why was it that I had passed security and facial recognition, yet every proctor who saw my admission ticket refused to let me into the exam room?
