Honorable faculties, classmates, guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
It’s my great honor to deliver a speech in the Graduation of Hopkins Nanjing Center, representing class 2009. Concerning I am the first student speaker who stay here for two years, I am going to use double time as normal. (I am just kidding.)
Last year, when I was a first year MA student in the center, lots of applicant to the center asked me that what you could learn from here and what kind of job students could find after graduation. My answer was not convincing during that time. But now, I will quote another graduate’s word to answer this question. She said, in the center, she found herself such as normal and ordinary person, however, when she was in the job interview in this year, she found how distinguish and outstanding herself comparing with other interviewees.
I perceive the uniqueness of the center is the resource of specialty of the students. Although it is a center of Chinese and American culture studies, we do not only learn things about China and America, we are learning the global knowledge. Some of our American faculties have been to every places with oil, some from British, some could speak 6 languages including Chinese, Hindi and Arabic, some have spent years in Southeast Asia, some from Latin American, some have taught in Middle East and someone herself learned Chinese in Taiwan. Our Chinese faculties are also outstanding; most of them have oversea education or research background. My favorite one is still a visiting scholar in Harvard University. Because of their profound knowledge, broaden view and patient teaching we could have a tolerant mind and deep understanding between the East and the West without bias, ignorance, pride or prejudice.
Moreover, we learned academic honesty, independent research and critical thinking. The center has strictly punishment against plagiarism. As one professor said in class, the reason why you go to school is because you need to learn how to prevent making mistake before you go to society. During the academic conference co-hosted by the center and Fudan University, their students felt very embarrassing when we criticized their opinions, but very soon, they found we were more strict and harsh to our own students. We really like 窝里斗.
MA students know more about the importance of academic spirit, ‘cause beside 19 courses, we need to find the most interesting topic, which could trigger the fire of our enthusiasm and then we need to de-construct the beauty into a thesis. But, most of the time, we were waiting for the muse desperately and dreamed the 80-page thesis written in target language would on the desk from the heaven in the next morning. Almost at the same time, we found our drafts piece of shit but finally they became masterpiece with potential value of research.
However students in the center are not geeky, we really enjoy our life. Lots of students have been to the forum hosted by the United Nations, lots of us are voluntary teachers in Sichuan and in the school of second generation of migrant workers. We have happy hour, kara OK competition and Dragon Boat. We also have numerous pianists, singers, and table tennis players. All these techniques are generated hand by hand from masters to apprentice. While, the most lovely thing is sitting nearby the pool and feed the fish after having a roasted chicken leg at very Friday lunch. But actually, all of us are planning how to catch some fish in a night without moon.
After two years, we are survivals just as those fish in the pool. Benefited by the inter-discipline education in the center, we are diplomats, journalists, lawyers, scholars, future judges and potential bankers. I want to represent class 2009 to deliver our sincere appreciation to Huang Mama, Director Yan and all faculties.
Last but not least, I hope all of our dear friend would have a bright future and frequently come back to the center just as our alumni.
Thank you!
Wang Yu 王宇
