In his speech last week, titled “Aspiration, vitality, collaboration, and resilience: Shaping a meaningful life,” President Feng Donglai encouraged the Class of 2030 to embrace their responsibilities and find their own mountains worth climbing as they begin their four years at ShanghaiTech.
Feng Donglai gives his speech to freshmen
Feng structured his speech around three themes: China’s historical and future development; ShanghaiTech’s mission and what students can learn and contribute; and how to put that mission into action. He explored the historical context in which today’s younger generations are growing up, the responsibilities they carry, and the capabilities they need to develop.
He highlighted the importance and urgency of technological innovation, comparing developments in China and abroad in areas including new-energy vehicles, aerospace, deep-sea equipment, and artificial intelligence. Feng noted that ShanghaiTech students should direct their efforts toward making breakthroughs in key and core technologies.
Feng introduced ShanghaiTech’s approach to student development, including its residential-college-and-school collaborative model, which prepares students to excel in scientific discovery, high-tech innovation, and entrepreneurship in emerging industries. He also emphasized the university’s role in supporting Shanghai’s development in science, technology, and emerging industries through innovation.
An expert in synchrotron radiation, Feng used the synchrotron radiation light source as an example to show students how large scientific facilities are built and used as platforms for scientific research, giving them a direct and tangible sense of the importance of such facilities.
Feng expected the freshmen to climb the mountains they find worth climbing and offered four pieces of advice.
First, aspire to make a difference. Become the person you aspire to be while contributing to society.
Second, embrace youth and vitality. Face the challenges of the future with courage and forge a path of your own.
Third, collaborate. Bring your individual strengths together with those of others to achieve what no individual could accomplish alone.
Finally, develop resilience. Keep a long-term perspective, build a sustainable way of life, and move steadily forward.
Feng encouraged the students to make these four qualities part of their daily lives at ShanghaiTech and carry them with them beyond campus as they pursue the meaningful lives they aspire to lead.