With the arrival of autumn, a new journey begins. As the new academic year starts, everything takes on a fresh look. On the morning of August 27 at 9:00 AM, the 2024 Freshman Opening Ceremony of the School of Foreign Languages at Northwest University was held at the Taibai Campus. The ceremony was attended by all undergraduate and graduate freshmen of the 2024 batch, along with the school’s Dean, Cao Ruonan, Deputy Party Secretary, Liu Jianbo, Vice Dean for Research, Su Rui, Vice Dean of Administration, Yang Ying, Director of the MTI Program, He Hua, Deputy Director of the English Department, Li Siyuan, and counselors Zhao Mingxing and Ma Shengbo. The ceremony was hosted by the school’s Party Secretary, Zhao Zhihou.
After the national anthem was played and sung, Dean Cao Ruonan took the stage to deliver a speech. In her address, Dean Cao warmly welcomed the 2024 freshmen on behalf of all faculty and students of the school. She outlined the development history of the university and the school, expressed high expectations for the new students, and urged them to make full use of the school’s platform and resources to enhance themselves. She encouraged them to embrace the developments of the times with their professional knowledge, maintain a deep sense of patriotism while having a global perspective, and strive to become foreign language talents for the new era.
Next, Li Siyuan, the Deputy Director of the English Department, spoke as a representative of the faculty. With heartfelt emotion, he shared stories of his own growth alongside the school, and expressed his hope that the students would take root in the Northwest while embracing the world. He also encouraged them to quickly find their academic focus and goals, to persist in their studies, and to achieve success.
During the speech by the representative of the senior students, Ding Yangyang from the Japanese Department of the Class of 2022 shared her journey of growth. She encouraged the younger students to diligently pursue their studies while exploring university life and enjoying their experiences, striving to become the best version of themselves.
Wang Chenxi, the representative of the undergraduate freshmen, and Xue Fen, the representative of the graduate freshmen, reflected on the history of Northwest University and looked forward to university life. They expressed their eagerness for the learning and experiences ahead and pledged to strive for excellence and make the most of their youth.
As the ceremony neared its conclusion, Party Secretary Zhao Zhihou, on behalf of the School’s Party Committee, once again welcomed the 2024 freshmen to the School of Foreign Languages family. He urged the new students to deeply understand the meaning of Northwest University’s motto: “Serve the common good, be sincere, diligence leads to abundance, and maintain simplicity and truth.” He encouraged them to cultivate a strong sense of patriotism, enhance their overall abilities, and closely align their personal aspirations with the needs of the country. He urged them to study diligently, strive boldly, and embody the resilient spirit of a Northwest University student, working together with the School of Foreign Languages to write a new chapter of excellence.
Reviewed by: Ma Shengbo