Under the gentle autumn clouds and against the verdant backdrop of the Qinling Mountains, the Opening Ceremony for the Class of 2025 was held on the morning of September 8 at the East Sports Ground of the Huyi Campus. University leaders Wang Jinfu, Zhang Mu, Wang Huiqiang, Cheng Yongqing, Su Wenfu, Zhang Rongjun, Zhang Juntao, Zhang Xiaoyong, Zhao Jian, and Chong Yuhong attended the ceremony. Theeventwas also attended by heads of various schools (departments) and relevant functionaldivisions, faculty representatives, alumni representatives, and all new students of the Class of 2025. Vice President Chong Yuhong presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony commenced with the solemn national anthem.This was followed by theceremonialentrance of the university emblem.
President Wang Jinfudelivered a speechtitledBreak, Transform, Emerge: A Butterfly’s Journey of Growth. On behalf of all faculty, staff, and students, he extended a warm welcome and sincere congratulations to the 6,710 new students embarking on their new journey, encouraging them to reflect on their original aspirations and contemplate why they have come and where they are headed. Sharing insights from his summer journey spanning 16,400 kilometers across the country’s energy landscape, visiting over 30 enterprises, and meeting more than 200 XSYU alumni working at the forefront of the petroleum industry, he shared three maxims for university growth: anchor your life’s coordinates, achieve a cognitive leap, and empower national rejuvenation.
PresidentWang pointed out that the“study”in university is about letting knowledge take root in questions and allowing thinking to branch out through inquiry.The“growth”in university is about forging resilience through failure and understanding responsibility through collaboration. The“establishment”in university is about using the axe of expertise to break the hard ice of reality and riding the boat of humanities to cross the torrent of the times. He hopes everyone would achieve splendid advancement on their spiraling upward university path with the courage to break the cocoon, the wisdom to transform, and the responsibility to become a butterfly. First, break the cocoon: use the sharpness of thought to penetrate growth barriers. Break the“cocoon of methodology”to escape mental shackles; break the“cocoon of temperament”to conquer inner fears; break the“cocoon of perspective”to transcend self-centered limitations. Second, transform: reconstruct your core to solidify the foundation for growth. Transform from a“exam-problem solver”to a“problem-definer,”from an “outstanding student” to a “resilient individual,”and from a“self-interested person”to a“change-maker.”Third, become a butterfly: use the spark of youth to ignite the torch of national rejuvenation. Leap from a“learner”to a“contributor”, from a“follower”to a“pioneer”, and from an“dreamer”to a“achiever”.
Xiong Zekang from theCollege ofMechanical Engineering, speaking on behalf of all doctoral students of the Class of 2025, called on his fellow students to courageously explore the unknown, dare to push boundaries, and demonstrate the mission and responsibility of XSYU students.Wang Xinwei from theSchool of Material Science and Engineering, representing all master’s students, shared her experience in the Post-Graduate Volunteer Teaching Corps for the Western Region, hoping classmates would strive to grow into confident, self-assured, responsible, and accomplished individuals of the new era. Wang Yuekai from theCollege of Petroleum Engineering, speaking for all undergraduate students, expressed his longing for university life and firm belief in serving the country through the energy sector under the theme“With My Youth, I Will Build the Dream of a Powerful Energy Nation”. International student Han Muen from Russia shared his story of traversing mountains and seas, coming for his dreams, and pledged to master both Chinese and international knowledge to foster global unity.
WeiShijun, an alumnus from the Class of 2003 of theCollegeof Mechanical Engineeringand a parent representative of the freshmen, delivered a speech.“My wife and I were among the first graduates of our university after it was upgraded from an institute to a university, and now our son is in the inaugural class of the newly establishedSchool of Pipeline Engineering.”He emotionally recounted the deep connection forged through XSYU, fondly recalled his youthful memories at the university, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to his alma mater. He hopes that students, in this new“game level”of university life, will not only focus on the“main quest”— diligent study and solidifying professional foundations—but also explore various“side quests”—joining clubs, developing interests, and making friends—urging them to ride the waves and make the most of their youth.
ProfessorLI Fei, Dean of theSchool of Electronic Engineeringand a faculty representative, addressed the Class of 2025. He encouraged students with the university motto“Diligent learning, purposeful action and striving ever onward”. Firstly, to be eager to learn, continuously broadening the depth and scope of their knowledge. Secondly, to practice diligently, always maintaining the courage and sense of responsibility for action. Thirdly, to constantly strive for self-improvement, enhancing mental resilience and stature. He mentioned that“eagerness to learn”provides wisdom for“diligent practice”, while“diligent practice”validates the value of“eagerness to learn”, and“constant self-improvement”offers an inexhaustible spiritual drive for it all. He urged students to strive to become outstanding individuals endowed with the wisdom to explore truth, the drive to prosper the nation through action, and the character of perseverance.
Alumna representative ProfessorZhaoLiang, a 2001 graduate from theCollegeof Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, now a doctoral supervisor atChina University of Petroleum (Beijing)and a recipient of national-level youth talent awards, sent her blessings. She shared memorable experiences from her student days at her almamater and her involvement in leading teams for R&D in new refining technologies. She noted that the students’four university years coincide with a critical period of“breaking molds and transitioning”in the petroleum and petrochemical industry. Facing opportunities to“rewrite industry rules”on the intense“main battlefield”of technological innovation, she called on students to become“Three-Have”petroleum professionals: have the courage to“renew traditions”, have the capability to“master cross-disciplines thoroughly”, and have the passion to“research for national needs”.
More than ten years of diligent study would not have been possible without the everlasting parental love and support like spring sunshine. The university arranged a surprise segment by inviting 15 representative freshmen parents onto the stage to receive flowers and take photos with their children, without prior notice to the students. Parents and children shared emotional embraces on stage, and it is believed that families will witness more shining moments from the students throughout their university journey.
University leaders and distinguished guests pinned the university emblem onrepresentatives of the freshmen.
As the university anthemGlorious Tomorrowresounded, the Opening Ceremony for the Class of 2025 ofXi’an Shiyou University (XSYU)successfully concluded.
