June 22th was a special day that witnessed the 2016 commencement of Wuhan University. Having completed their four-year studies, 15,800 WHUers bid farewell to the most beautiful campus in China and embark on a new journey in their life.
Students attending the commencement
At 8:30 am, the commencement began at Meiyuan Playground with flags raising and national anthem playing. Four years ago, the graduates started their university life with yearning in hearts and curiosity in eyes. Now, still at the same place with the same scene, they leave with smile on faces and memories in hearts.
President Li Xiaohong extending congratulations to graduates
Commencement means the start. What to expect and how to gear up for the future life? President Li Xiaohong’ s advice is “To be your own life’s craftsman”. In his speech he talked about alumnus Ruan Liping, the president of Bull, an international electrical devices provider and alumnus Chen Shanguang, the commander and chief architect of Shenzhou-9 space system. The two alumni are good craftsmen for their own lives and President Li expected the students to learn from them after leaving school. “To be a life’s craftsman, one should be absorbed in only one thing, because life is limited and we have too little time to fulfill many things.” “To be a life’s craftsman, one should pursue refinement. Good, better, best; never let it rest. Till good is better, and better is best.[1] ” “To be a life’s craftsman, one should be in virtue. On the road to success, one should be in honesty, Integrity and goodness.”
Alumna Yuan Zidan delivering a speech
Commencement means the end. What to memorize and how to say goodbye? Xue Yuan, a representative of graduates recalls the first time he came to WHU. At that time, he was amazed by the beauty of the campus. “Farewell Luojia. I wish Luojia Mountain beautiful forever and the people who live and once lived here all have a good prospect”. Alumna Yuan Zidan also recalled the first day she came here. “At that day my father set me free. I realized that I was not a child anymore, I have grown up.” she said, “Now you are leaving. If life is an adventure, this is a new starting point. Please cherish this moment, appreciate your teachers and friends beside you”.
No matter where WHUers are or what they do, they can always seek shelter in Wuhan University—WHUers’ forever home. Even though they will leave WHU soon, they could still find their home—they are welcomed by more than 180 alumni associations all over the world. When the flags of the associations flying in the air, WHUers are accompanied no matter where they are.
Graduates taking photos
The graduates attended the ceremony with their friends and families. They marked their graduation and recalled their lives in Luojia. They would say goodbye to the playground where they participated the opening ceremony and commencement, the library where they have studied for many years, the Sakura Castle where they could see the most beautiful buildings and the university carring their dreams of youth, all of which are still belong to WHUers, because no matter where they go, Luojia Mountain is their home forever.
(Photo by Wu Jiamin, Edited by Zheng Xinnian &Hu Sijia)
