What's the biggest mistake? Yao Ming answered this at the graduation ceremony of this university. In life
At two o'clock in the afternoon on May 19, the graduation ceremony for the 2024 undergraduate students of NYU Shanghai was held grandly at the Grand Theater of Qiantan 31 Performing Arts Center. More than 400 graduates of NYU Shanghai and NYU study abroad programs from 29 countries and regions around the world gathered together to open a new chapter in their lives under the witness of their alma maters, teachers, friends, and parents.
243 Chinese graduates from 28 provinces across the country, as well as international students, received two Chinese and American degree certificates issued by New York University Shanghai and New York University. Among the more than 1,400 parents of domestic and foreign graduates present that day, there were 654 parents of international graduates from more than 20 countries and regions.
After unremitting efforts, the graduates of the Class of 2024 have delivered a remarkable result for their four years of college. Graduates who chose to continue their studies have received admission notices from major universities around the world, including Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University, Oxford University in the UK, etc. One graduate was selected for the Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University. Some students are directly employed and will soon work in world-renowned companies such as L'Oréal, Unilever, UBS, ByteDance, PricewaterhouseCoopers, etc., or participate in voluntary organizations.
Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and founder of the Yao Foundation, attended the graduation ceremony as a guest speaker. He used the inspirational story of basketball star Andre Ingram to remind the graduates of the importance of "calibrating the direction and starting again after failure."
"On the basketball court, the easiest way to avoid making mistakes is to hold the ball in your arms or pass it to your teammates. Although you will avoid mistakes this way, you will never score. This The same principle applies to our lives, the biggest mistake is never how stupid your decision is, or how reckless your actions are, but stopping there and doing nothing." Yao Ming encouraged everyone to have the ability to face and overcome mistakes. Courage, take every step of life bravely.
“Our journey at NYU Shanghai is unique.” Christine Wijaya, an international student representative from Jakarta, Indonesia, is a first-generation college student in her family. “During this period, we have built a strong character, improved our ability to adapt to changes, and developed self-growth. These qualities run through every aspect of our four years.” She believes that her time at NYU Shanghai not only helps graduates cope with the challenges of the outside world, but also gives them diverse skills and perspectives. “From working across cultural differences to collaborating across borders, we honed our ability to thrive in a connected global system.”
Chinese student representative Li Yutong majors in finance and world history. In her view, NYU Shanghai is a dream-building place that cultivates people's global vision, breaks boundaries, and assumes leadership and service roles.
“From today on, you will become the object of imitation or following by your junior students; from today on, you will often be asked by people who have never participated in such a graduation ceremony, why you do this and not do that. In my opinion, starting from today, whether you can always answer such questions in your life journey will be the most important 'competition' you will participate in in the future," said Principal Tong Shijun.
Executive Vice President Raymond reminded the graduates: “The classes you have taken, the books you have read, and most importantly, the classmates who come from different growth environments and have been with you day and night for four years, these experiences will give you special power. "He wished the graduates to embark on a new journey of pursuing a meaningful and valuable life and contribute their enthusiasm and talents to the world.
In his speech, Dean Wei Zhouan talked about the definition of human nature and the uniqueness of human beings based on the currently popular artificial intelligence. She believes that the core of human nature lies in the ability to continuously establish and develop connections. Empathy, creativity, humor and moral judgment are the four most important qualities of human beings. They are also the key to the multicultural efficacy that NYU Shanghai students develop during their time at school. component.
The future is thousands of miles ahead, chasing your dreams. The end of the graduation ceremony does not mean the end, but a new starting point.
