Distinguished guests, university leaders, colleagues and 166 adorable “upperclassmen and girls” from grade 2012, good morning!

I am a teacher of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from grade 2013. I came here a year later than you. Therefore, I feel very flattered and excited to have the opportunity to chat with my “upperclassmen and girls”. It’s my first time to stand here to give a graduation speech. I have asked one of my friends what I was supposed to say. He told me to just share some social experience and reflections on life with students that are going to leave campus for the society. He must be joking. During the past 28 years since primary school, I have never left campus. So what worthwhile social experience I’ve got to share with you?

After second thoughts, I decided: though I am lacking in social experience, still I l have some reflections on life that can be shared with you. My topic today is how to deal with choices in life. Of course, I believe, every one of you, parents or students, is good at making choices, which can be proved by the choice you made four years ago to study here at SUSTech. However, there are still more choices waiting for you at different phases of your future life.

If you want to pursue further study, you may hesitate which research fields to choose; if you are a green hand at the job market, you may be indecisive faced with so many positions. In these cases, I think your choices should be made based on your interest. Because interest empowers you to move forward; interest inspires you never to draw back; interest can make you keep going when you are stuck in difficulties until the dawn comes. Also, interest is the reason why I am undertaking my research right now.

One day you may be successful in your career. Then many other units may compete for you. I believe many of you will face this kind of situation. At that time, I think the basis for making choice is promotion space. Don’t be fooled by temporary high salary and position. At the beginning and developing stages of your life, future is more important. You must take the prospect of promotion into account. That’s the reason why I left the Technical University of Denmark and joined SUSTech.

In the future, you may have you own families. Sooner or later, many or few of you’ll find you should consider more and more factors when making choices. The career development and life plan of you’re the other half, the growing environment for your children, aged parents, all of these need to be seriously considered. At that time, I think the basis of your choice is your family. Because when you look back 50 years later, you’ll find the most important thing in your life is not your career, but your family. Besides, when placed as the top priority, family will promote the stable development of your career. And that’s why I came back to China 3 years ago.

And, of course, there’s another important basis: once you have decided, never regret. As the saying goes “Keeping to your original aspiration leads you to success.” Even if your aspiration is far from reality, just keep moving. Don’t give up in the middle way. I have been thinking those two questions these days: First, why you chose SUSTech 4 years ago? Second, have you ever regretted it? I could never know the answers, but I can speculate based on my observation. I think SUSTech provides its students and teachers with a promising stage. Although there are a lot of uncertainties, these uncertainties mean limitless possibilities. Then have you ever regretted? Judging form your joyful expression today, I think the answer is “No”. It is mainly because both our professors and administrative staff have been working hard in the past four years.

Finally, I want to end this speech with a poem. A few days ago, I was eating in the dining hall when it rained. I wrote down the first half when I looked at the banyan tree. I added the last half in the past two days. I would like to give this poor poem to you. Wish all of you a bright future in spite of the harsh winds and rains in your life. Wish SUSTech a better future.

Qilv-To the Midsummer Graduation

Rain, half of the city, wind, half of the world,

Fog locks the building new, and Banyan aged.

A river, winds across the garden, under the Lotus leaves,

The mountain, hangs the moon, and the Lychee Red

Exploring the new we together

Arts and science, students and teachers.

If the floating cloud darkens your road,

Afraid not, my love,

After the storm comes the rainbow.

Thank you all!