Xi Xinyuan, a student who is the incumbent "mayor", said she has learned through this project how to better solve problems and work alongside others.

According to Tang, who is a seasoned curriculum designer, these special elective courses and programs will prepare students for higher education by providing them with a clearer idea of what they could do in the workforce in the future.

The school also collaborates with universities and companies to create real world learning experiences for students.

Born in the then poverty-stricken Luonan county, Shaanxi province in 1963, Tang has been suffering from polio and walking with a limp since childhood. Despite scoring exceptional grades in the 1979 gaokao, Tang was unable to gain admission to any university because of his physical disability.

He then chose to become a tutor before taking on the role of an uncertified Chinese teacher at a local high school. It was through these experiences that he developed a strong passion for teaching.

"Back then, I knew little about what education was. All I did was teach my students what I had learned and unreservedly share my study experiences with them," he said. "This was how a love for this profession was engraved in my soul."

Tang admitted that he too was obsessed with grades when he first started teaching. But he gradually changed his approach, shifting to one that focused on providing a well-rounded education and cultivating students' virtues and potentials.

He honed this new approach when he started work at the prestigious Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School in 1993.

A set of old photos depicting students from more than 80 years ago being honored for their merits such as kindness, hard work and perfect attendance record left him heartened and determined to uphold his teaching philosophy.

Inheriting the tradition, Tang established the Principal's Special Nomination Award in 2006. The award is conferred to a student who excels in any discipline, even those that are not graded by the school.

Song Boliang is among those who have their eyes on winning this special award. The 17-year-old said that he hopes to be recognized as an all-rounder.

"I'm good at many things, such as badminton, making Chinese cheese, and playing the guitar and football. An acknowledgement from Principal Tang would be an overwhelming honor for me," he said.