The commencement ceremony for the newly enrolled freshmen was held at both the North and South Campuses of GDUFS. This ceremony also served as a mobilization assembly for the upcoming military training. An astounding 5,061 freshman attended the ceremony where they were addressed by the Secretary of the Party Committee Sui Guangjun. Mr. Sui inspired the students to pursue their dreams, to cultivate moral character and nourish nature, and to pursue their goals with determination and perseverance. The ceremony was directed by the President Zhong Weihe. Vice President Fang Fanquan also attended.
Commencement Ceremony and mobilization assembly for military training
At the ceremony, Mr. Sui set three expectations for the students: First and foremost, to keep a clear mind about the dreams of the university and continue to live as a confident and ambitious person throughout their lifetime. He pointed out that building a top-notch university featuring internationalization is the dream of GDUFS. As a new generation, students are supposed to be designated with the social responsibility of dedicating themselves to social affairs and be willing to undertake the duties and obligations of sticking to the principle of honoring the academy and striving for truth. Moreover, students are also bound to practice the school motto, which encompasses moral integrity, examplary behaviour, and conversance with both eastern and western learning. The second expectation is to cultivate moral character, nourish nature and temper their morality so as to become a person with sense of distinction. Mr. Sui said that university is the starting point of their life as grown adults and we should make it a time of learning to behave ourselves. Thirdly, to pursue the goal with determination and perseverance, and be ready to bring forth innovations and new ideas so as to be a man or woman of progress. He also stated that new students are expected to blend into the varied university life and social practices with a proactive attitude, because their leaning and practicing ability will be improved in this process and they will be more capable of dealing with conflicts between other people and will increase their adaptability.
Mr.Sui: Learn to behave yourself before books
President Zhong Weihe introduced GDUFS to the new students and compared the school campus to "the green Baiyun Mountain that breeds the excellent wood, and the blue stream of water that produces the beautiful fish." President Zhong also pointed out that GDUFS is always delightfully embracing its new members and to be a part of GDUFS is a special blessing, but blessing demands reciprocity, so President Zhong believes that we are relying on GDUFS today as we conversely support the GDUFS tomorrow.
President Zhong Weihe: GDUFS is blessed to have you and you are destined to be a part
In the commencement ceremony, students in the audience were addressed by a delegate of teachers, elder students, and freshman. As a special treat, they heard from a silver medalist of the London Olympics from Faculty of English Language and Culture. Mao Guomin, a teacher from the Faculty of Politics and Public Administration, inspired the students to learn to think and be creative, be awed by the academy, be admirable of the books, and be respectful to their seniors and teachers. The speech given by Professor Liu Hailin from the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture focused on continuously asking ourselves, "What is the goal of life, how can I prepare for it, and how many miles away from that goal am I right now?"
Teacher Mao Guoming is giving his speech
Teacher Liu Hailin is giving her speech
The silver medalist in the London Olympics Luoxi encouraged the students to set up their own goal, to seize the hour and to seize the day with that goal in mind until they reach it. She took her own experience in the national team as an example, illustrating the point of "No pain, no gain.".
Luoxi revealed his silver medal of London Olympic Games
The delegates of elder students and the Chairman of the Student Union Ruan Huixin encouraged the students to make their selections with reason, leveraging the loss and gain, striving in everything for endless perfection. The value of both material and spiritual gains in this process is much greater than then their cursory study alone. The delegates of freshmen from the Faculty of Asian Language and Culture and the School of Interpretation and Translation Studies also expressed their strong determination to confront the tough and painstaking military training, and they will always keep determined and dignified in the future.
Delegate of freshmen is giving speech
The freshmen swearing an oath
In the following session of military training mobilization, Chen Deping, on behalf of the leading group of military training affairs, made three requests to the students: To confront the difficulties bravely, to follow the command unconditionally, and to safeguard the collective honor untiringly. The chief commander of the military training regiment Zheng Shixiong inspired the students to strengthen the body and cultivate an unbendable will.
Chen Deping encourage the students to bravely confront the military training
Chief commander of the military training regiment
The students are listening to the speech