Speech at the Graduation Ceremony of 2016
Tao Wenhao
29 June 2016
Dear graduates, parents, distinguished guests and all staff members of the School of Foreign Languages:Good afternoon!
Today, we are gathering here in witness of this special moment. First, I would like, on behalf of the School of Foreign Languages, to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all. You’ve graduated! How time flies! You have grown up from your youths to the mature bachelors (degrees), the talents of the society. You will soon say goodbye to your classmates, friends and teachers, though fresh memories still remain. At this special moment, I would like to propose all graduates give your warmest applause with your sincere gratitude to your mentors, staff members of the school and your family members who always care for you, your classmates and friends supporting you!
From today on, you will be on a new start line of the life journey. Upon your departure, I would prefer to share my ideas with you on life as well as study.
I am over 50 years old, and at this age, inevitably I sometimes feel nostalgic and deep in thinking as well. The duration of life, properly speaking, is reflections in the vast sea of people, getting out of one’s self psychological barriers to enjoy the blossom of flowers in life. As a saying goes: life is like a dream. However, life also speaks the fate, and the fate as classmates is deep and special. You sigh for the craziness when you were once young, cherish the university time when you were innocent, and love the sentimental bitterness of your youth. Later on one gets to know that pardon and forgiveness are a virtue. Only by maintaining a good mindset can one live life to its fullest. The true meaning of life is benevolence, beneficence and love. After realizing these, your horizon is significantly broadened, and instead of being restricted to only a small circle of friends, the whole universe will be within your grasp in heart.
As is known to all, life is a long journey. Noble character is definitely very important, however, with the development of modern society, “learning society” has become a feature and new focus. As a result, education has gradually evolved into an open, life-long and global self-improvement process. Hence, life-long learning has become the urgent need for individuals, organizations and the society.
Madam Yang Jiang, a famous writer, dramatist and translator, once said, “To train a person bound for great tasks, the character of perseverance must be formed through hardships. People going through different levels of training will reach different degrees of accomplishment and efficiency. Just like fragrance, the more it is smashed, the more fragrant it will become. There is definitely power for those managing to achieve constant self improvement, which may account for people’s being fond of and sparing no efforts in reading as well as taking timely notes. In general, for those outstanding people, the efforts and accumulation behind must be several times that of ordinary people. The key to success lies in your efforts.” I totally agree with Madam Yang. This is also my hope that all of you can become life-long learners in the future, which will be greatly beneficial to your career and personal development.
Of course, everyone has his different choice and life path. Just like the story of the 5 girls from the TV series recently on show called “Ode to Joy”. They are from different family and educational backgrounds, obviously their personalities are different, too. However, they manage to become close friends from strangers in the beginning. It reminds me of your roommates and classmates, who are from all over the country, you are gathering together in the big family of the School of Foreign Languages, and you are close friends now. For those who long for a free and unrestrained lifestyle, they will say. “The world is so big. I’ll have a look”. Also there are many, “明明可以靠脸吃饭，偏偏要靠才华”的小鲜肉 ( Straight-A boys and girls who can “rely on their appearance instead of their ability to earn a living”). What’s more, there are Prince Charmings and Snow Whites distinctive from others“主要看气质”( “mainly seeing their temperament”). Since “we belong to a big family”, the gate of the School of Foreign Languages remains open for you forever, and we always cherish your beautiful memories here. Welcome back, warmly welcome back, and you are warmly welcome back as a popular Chinese phrase indicates that important issues have to be said three times”
In conclusion, I would like to say “happy graduation, my dear graduates!”
2016届毕业典礼致辞
陶文好
2016年6月29日
各位亲爱的毕业生、各位家长、各位来宾以及我院全体教工：
大家下午好！
今天我们相聚于此，共同见证这个特别的时刻。首先，我谨代表全院师生向所有毕业生表示衷心的祝贺！你们毕业了！几年来，你们在北京师范大学珠海分校这所美丽的南国山谷大学里经历了许多，收获了许多。时光飞逝，你们从一入校时的懵懂少年，变成如今即将踏入社会的栋梁之材。往事依然历历在目，转眼间就要各奔东西。在此，我提议，请全体毕业生以最热烈的掌声，向培育你们的导师、服务你们的教职员工、关爱你们的亲人和支持你们的同学朋友，一并表示诚挚的感谢！
从今天开始，你们将位于人生跑道的新起点。在启程之际，我想跟诸位再聊一聊人生和学习。
到了这个年龄，经过了人生半百，不免怀旧，常陷思考。人生这一场经过，恰当地说，是在人海茫茫中思考，走出自我心地的藩篱，去欣赏这世界花开的经过。都说人生如梦，人生何尝不是一段缘，同学就是一种深缘。叹年轻时的痴狂，惜大学时光的幼稚，爱青春的苦涩。后来深知包容是一份品德，放生是一件功德，心地的晴朗，才是人生恰当的改变。善心善行及博爱才是人生真谛。这样的世界就博大了，朋友圈就不再是小圈圈，乃宇宙浩淼！
众所周知，人生是一场很长的旅行。崇高的品质固然重要，然而现代社会集中呈现出“学习型社会”的发展特征，教育也逐步演变成融开放性、终身性、全球性于一体的自我增值过程，因此，终生学习成为个人、组织和社会的迫切需要。
著名作家，戏剧家和翻译家杨绛先生曾说过“如要锻炼一个能做大事的人，必定要叫他吃苦受累，百不称心，才能养成坚忍的性格。一个人经过不同程度的锻炼，就获得不同程度的修养，不同程度的效益。好比香料，捣得愈碎，磨得愈细，香得愈浓烈。有些人之所以不断成长，就绝对是有一种坚持下去的力量。好读书，肯下功夫，不仅读，还做笔记。人要成长，必有原因，背后的努力与积累一定数倍于普通人。所以，关键还在于自己。”对于此，我本人非常同意。希望大家在今后的人生道路上能够做一名终身学习者，这将对今后的人生发展大有裨益。
当然，每个人都有自己不同的选择，每个人的人生道路是不一样的。正如最近上映的《欢乐颂》中五位家庭背景，教育背景不同，性格迥异的姑娘相识相知的故事。这不禁使我联想到大家的舍友，同学。大家来自五湖四海，却有缘聚在一起，聚在外国语学院这个大家庭，成为朝夕相处的好伙伴，人生路上的好帮手。其中不乏洒脱奔放的同学，一心想着“世界那么大，我想去看看”；也不乏“明明可以靠脸吃饭，偏偏要靠才华”的小鲜肉、小美女学霸们；更不乏大家心中“主要看气质”的男神、女神们。这些都将在以后成为大家青春道路上的美好回忆，而外国语学院的大门也永远为大家敞开，“we are伐木累”，欢迎大家毕业了还能够常回来看看, 一定要常回家看看，千万记住常回家看看，重要的事说三遍！
最后，我想跟大家说一句：毕业快乐！
