On the afternoon of May 14, the 23rdGraduate Forum, hosted by the Publicity Department of the University Party Committee, the Office of Student Affairs of the University Party Committee, and the Office of Employment and Alumni Affairs, and organized by the Student Press Corps, was held at the Academic Exchange Center. Ten groups of outstanding 2026 graduates from various schools presented their unique growth trajectories and shared diverse experiences. Ma Yutang, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee and Vice President of SCMU, together with heads from the Publicity Department, the Office of Student Affairs of the University Party Committee, the Youth League Committee, the Office of Employment and Alumni Affairs, the Undergraduate School, the Graduate School, and various schools, along with faculty and student representatives, gathered to witness the striving youth of these outstanding students.
Yang Yang from the School of Literature, Journalism and Communication, who was recommended for graduate admission to Chongqing University without entrance exams, served as the host and engaged in in-depth conversations with the guest speakers. Cheng Rusi from the School of Economics, who joined the Pingguo Municipal Tax Service, the State Taxation Administration, shared practical job-hunting tips based on two of her interview experiences. Zhu Ling from the National Security School, who was admitted to South China University of Technology for graduate studies via the national postgraduate entrance examination, illustrated her unique approach to steady improvement through her journey from confusion to determination. Tang Yuxin, a master’s student from the School of Marxism who advanced to doctoral studies at Tongji University, described her graduate life combining dedicated academic immersion with active community engagement in theoretical outreach. Four members of the Postgraduates Voluntary Teaching Corps shared their original aspirations and expectations for their volunteer teaching experiences. Fang Ke from the School of Computer Science, who joined Huawei, conveyed a spirit of courage and drive through his willingness to try and his resilience in the face of mistakes during his internship...
The forum opened with a spirited performance by the Dragon and Lion Dance Team, which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience. During the interview, three members recalled unforgettable team moments: the sweat-soaked belts worn during summer training, the dedication to analyzing every frame and refining movements before competitions, and the bonds of mutual encouragement and shared growth — all of which wove together their collective memory. “Joining the Dragon and Lion Dance Team has been incredibly rewarding for me,” said Cao Ying from the School of Literature, Journalism and Communication, who was recommended for graduate admission to Shanghai University, with deep emotion. Coming from a non-sports major, she had forged resilience through persistent training and continued to improve through peer exchange, using her own experience to encourage the students present to find self-fulfillment within a collective.
The 23rdGraduate Forum.(Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the University Party Committee)
“Go to the western regions, go to the grassroots, go where the country and its people need us most,” declared Pan Pinguan, a master’s student from the Law School who had been selected under a targeted recruitment program to work in Enshi, Hubei Province, voicing his passion for serving at the grassroots level. He integrated his military spirit into his studies and practice, earning the title of “Outstanding Retired Soldier” at the university level. Drawing on his own experience, he encouraged the students present to aim at serving the people and venture into the vast grassroots landscape.
“Settle, Explore, Shoulder responsibility”— with these three words, Yuan Lan from the School of Foreign Languages sketched the transformation she underwent during her four years of undergraduate study. As a translation major, she had won multiple national and provincial awards in English speaking competitions, served as an escort interpreter for visiting foreign professors, and successfully completed an on-site exchange program at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, receiving an official letter of recommendation. Firm in her belief in the “power of belief”, she realized her dream of entering Fudan University through dedicated effort and the courage to challenge herself.
“I no longer panic or retreat when faced with difficulties; I’m willing to calm down and think my way through them,” shared Li Yingying, a master’s student from the School of Resources and Environment who now works at Sinopec Sales Co., Ltd. Guangxi Petroleum Branch. From not knowing how to read academic literature and being afraid to start experiments, she progressed to independently designing research projects and publishing papers. “Allowing myself to fail, allowing myself to pause — that actually helps me bounce back faster and approach my experiments in a more stable state,” she told herself.
The 23rdGraduate Forum.(Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the University Party Committee)
“Don’t blindly compare your progress with others,” said Zhu Ling, who was admitted to South China University of Technology via the national postgraduate entrance examination, summarizing practical preparation experience. She had once felt anxious seeing others far ahead of her, but eventually realized that her own pace was not behind. She advised against setting overly strict daily schedules and instead recommended setting a minimum monthly target, leaving ample flexibility. On days when she was not feeling well, she would relax a bit and make up for the lost progress the next day. This approach not only relieved study pressure but also ensured steady progress toward her overall preparation goals.
At the forum, the 28thPostgraduates Voluntary Teaching Corps performed a poetry recitation titledTo the Seas and the Mountains: Once Again, We Set Off. Their passionate tone and deep emotion declared their resolve “spend one year doing something unforgettable for a lifetime”.
In his address, Ma Yutang reflected on the 23-year legacy of the Graduate Forum. He noted that what made the forum most inspiring was its consistent orientation of “standing with the Party and taking on the responsibility to strengthen the nation”, educating through the stories of real people and inspiring students through the experiences of peers. On the occasion of the successful convening of the Ninth Party Congress of SCMU, he encouraged all graduates to carry forward the university motto of “sincere belief and diligent study, broad vision and gentle harmony”, to take root in the vast expanses of the motherland, to tackle challenges at the forefront of technological innovation, and to persevere in grassroots posts, so that their youth may shine brightly in the great process of Chinese modernization.
Ma Yutang Poses with the Guest Speakers. (Photo provided by the Publicity Department of the University Party Committee)
“The dedication and efforts of our seniors in their academic pursuits are truly worth learning from — they are my role models,” said Zhang Wenjuan, a 2025 graduate student at the School of Economics, with sincere earnestness. Li Yuanxing, a 2023 student at the School of Literature, Journalism and Communication, said openly that Zhu Ling’s experience in preparing for the graduate entrance examination had greatly inspired her: “Her approach to planning her time and studies was eye-opening for me, and it has strengthened my confidence in my own preparation for graduate school.”
It is reported that since its launch in 2003, the Graduate Forum has sought out SCMU graduates with compelling stories and engaged them in dialogue, presenting a wonderful picture of campus life for the entire university community. Through the authentic experiences of multiple outstanding students, the forum has vividly brought to life the spirit of the university motto and the virtue of striving, providing current students with growth pathways and value choices they can learn from. The event has become a highly influential brand of student activity on campus.
