On 21st June, the first session of GDUFS’s summer graduation ceremony on the of North Campus took place in Yunshan Hall. This session was held for the the Faculty of English Language and Culture, the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture, the Institute for International Education, the National Key Research Center for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, the Center for Lexicographical Studies and the European Studies Center. Those attendees included President ZHONG Weihe, Vice-Presidents CHEN Linhan and Liu Haichun, and delegations of tutors, alumni and parents of the graduates.  

President ZHONG Weihe opened the ceremony by delivering an inspiring speech. He recalled the graduates’ happiness and bitterness during their four years at GDUFS, and he also urged the students to always appreciate the company of parents, the edification of teachers and the friendship of schoolmates.  

In addition, ZHONG encouraged the students to face difficulties bravely. He said, “It is inevitable that there will be setbacks in our lives.” What we should do is to adopt active attitudes towards them and always keep moving in the right directions. “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”  

President ZHONG delivering a speech       

OUYANG Biao, an alumni representative who graduated from the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture, told the graduates to make proper life choices, and try to be a person who never cheats others or does evil things, and also never be opportunistic.  

The alumni representative giving his speech  

Jeff, an international student representative from Switzerland, shared his experiences and stories at GDUFS, and won rounds of applause with his fluent and native-like Chinese. He not only thanked all the help given by the teachers and students, but also expressed his deep love for GDUFS, and for China. He said, “GDUFS is my home, and I love it.”  

The international student representative giving a speech  

During the ceremony, FANG Fanquan announced the award decisions of Excellent Graduates, Excellent Postgraduates and so on. LIU Haichun conferred the awards on student representatives.  

ZHONG Weihe conferred the newly-designed diploma for every graduate, among whom two graduates were celebrating their birthdays. On this very special day, there was a birthday surprise already prepared for them: ZHONG presented birthday gifts for them.  

President ZHONG conferred diplomats on the graduates        

Moreover, there was a major highlight at this year’s ceremony. President ZHONG had a short video chat with four GDUFS graduates who are volunteering services in the Confucius Institute of Peru, and he expressed his congratulations and best wishes to them. Meanwhile, the four students also expressed wishes to their schoolmates, teachers and GDUFS.  

President ZHONG having a video chat with four graduates