On September 23rd, 7102 freshmen gathered at Optics Valley Stadium to attend their opening ceremony, officially starting their journey at HUST.

The ceremony began amid the solemnity of the national anthem. University badges were bestowed upon freshmen representatives by HUST's leadership and guests.

Dingyu Zhang, winner of the national honorary title of "People's Hero", a 1981 alumnus of HUST, and Yu Hu, President of Wuhan Union Hospital (Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of HUST), President of the First Clinical School (Affiliated Union Hospital), gave students their first lesson in the university with their own experience and insight.

Both Zhang and Hu played a crucial role in the fight against Covid-19, charging themselves fearlessly at the front line. Standing on stage, they both shared their stories of struggles during the epidemic and conveyed great encouragement and expectations to new ‘HUSTers’.

President Yuanyuan Li adopted the university motto Virtue Erudition Truth Innovation as his speech's theme, saying that students should strive to be exceptional, be motivated to work hard, devote themselves to academic study, and carry forward the spirit of "studying hard at HUST". He stated that ‘HUSTers’ should think of it as a habit, to have the courage to explore the unknown, not only learn the established knowledge well, advocate the truth, have respect for laws, and seek truth from facts. Li also hopes that students will be ever thirsty for knowledge, possess undying curiosity, pursue knowledge and truth, dare to shoulder great responsibilities, and climb to great academic heights.

Teacher representative Longjiang Yu, a professor from the School of Life Science and Technology, said that teachers would adhere to the original aspiration of cultivating people by virtue and fostering talents for the good of the country. He expressed wishes that students would dare to tread into difficult fields, to strive, to constantly be inspired to reach their potential, and to pursue excellence in the golden age of life.

Zixin Zhang, a representative of senior students in Class 2017 from the School of Humanities, told of inspiring stories that have happened on campus and called on freshmen to adopt a persistent and modest attitude to their studies and learn from national heroes and surrounding models so as to open infinite doors towards future possibilities.

Zongxi Yu, a representative of the undergraduate freshmen in Class 2020 from the School of Optical and Electronic Information, came to HUST with an interesting and inspiring story. In April this year, his mother Congling Li, a member of the medical team from Anhui province, which had come to aid Hubei during the epidemic, took a picture in front of HUST's gate. This picture served as encouragement for her son to get a great grade in the National College Entrance Examination. Later, Yu obtained that great score and gained admittance to HUST. In the ceremony, Yu went on stage and said that he would endeavor to achieve excellence, seek out his direction and bravely embrace the challenges of the new era.

The ceremony was presided over by the vice president Qian Liang. Chuanzhong Wang, liaison officer of the Ministry of Education, HUST's leadership of Xinyu Shao, Yuanyuan Li, Yiqing Zhan, Jianbo Zhou, Xiaodong Xu, Jianguo Chen, Zhengxue Xie, Xinliang Zhang. Among other staff, representatives of teachers and students, and all military training instructors attended the ceremony.

Written by: Yutao Cao

Edited by: Rong He, Scott, Yumeng Peng

Source: Office of Publicity