This case study focuses on the empowerment of some of the poorest Miao peasants who eventually became university students and obtained high prestige as part of mainstream Chinese society. The data gathered shows the profound devotion and commitment Miao students had to their villages, families and community, and how they made enormous sacrifices in order to reach academic excellence in school, and with it honour and respect for their families and communities.

The book covers the theoretical context of ethnic identity and academic achievement, the historical context of the Miao people in China, the testimonies of students and their professors relative to their university experiences, and a discussion of the meaning of ethnic identity for them. This volume emphasizes the role of ethnicity that motivates students to achieve, and thus the power of education in helping even the poorest peasants become self-confident and achieve highly in a competitive society.