Time flies. Thirty years have passed since the graduation of alumni of English for science and technology (EST) in 1979. In 27th, July, School of Foreign Languages (SFL) hosted a Return-to-School activity for alumni entering in 1979, and warmly welcomed the first graduation of EST class coming from all corners of the country. The dean of SFL Yang Ruiying,secretary of the Party Committee Yang Xiaowei, the deputy dean Chen Xiangjing, retired teachers from SFL like Hao Keqi, Pan Neng, Zhou Guangfu, their Chinese teacher Wang Yannan, their physics teacher Yao Guowei, their former instructor Gu Weihui and some alumni of years 1983, 1984 and 1989 also attended this gathering. And this meeting was presided by alumni Li Renzhi who entered in 1979, and now a professor in Shantou University in Guangdong province.
Secretary of the Party Committee, Yang Xiaowei, on behalf of the school, delivered a welcoming speech to extend his warm congratulations to the reunion of alumni of the class of 1979, and he sincerely wished that they could keep close contact with our school and come back frequently. Dean Yang Ruiying passionately introduced the achievements that SFL had made in the past thirty years, especially the rapid development in subject construction as well as in teaching and research in recent years. The deputy dean Chen Xiangjing introduced the revolution and current situation of the talent training program of the school, and sincerely invited alumni presented to give advice to improve school`s talent training programs combining with their own work experience. All alumni presented were amazed by the great changes in the SFL.
Senior teachers recalled the time when alumni spent in SFL, and they felt delighted and proud of the achievements their students had made. Besides, they also encouraged their students to reach new height in their own career with the best wishes given from their school. Professor Zhou Guangfu, who is eighty-seven years old, emphasized the importance of life-long learning. He hoped that alumni could keep learning and improving themselves constantly. Professor Pan Neng brought an old photo that he treasured for thirty years, which records the scene that the students of the class of 1979 were giving splendid performance in the "English Night". This photo aroused alumni’s joyous memory of their old days.
Alumni introduced their own experience after graduation. They passionately expressed their deep attachment to the school and love to teachers and classmates. They also paid tribute to the careful cultivation given by school and industrious work of teachers. They hoped all the teachers a happy life and longevity. Some alumni of the class of 1979 are now working in the research, teaching and administration posts in many famous colleges and universities at home and abroad; some holding advanced translation and international trade positions in multi-national enterprises; some making achievement in their own companies. They work hard in plenty of famous companies and agencies like Citibank, Boeing, Hilton Hotel, Nottingham University, Tsinghua University, Shantou University and XJTU. Coming from different countreis and professions, all alumni promised that they would carry forward the spirits and good traditions of XJTU, concern and support the development of the school and university as they always do.
Coming back to school, Alumni felt greatly inspired when seeing the great changes, developments and achievements the school had made in the past three decades. They donated three fabulous calligraphy and painting works to the school. Alumni Li Renzhi and Shi Tiantao appealed to set a "Scholars and Grants for Foreign Language Fund", and called on alumni to donate actively to contribute to the sustainable development of SFL by assisting the talent cultivation of the school through their constant efforts.
The welcoming banquet was held at the noon. It was a joyful reunion with warm atmosphere. Alumni were in high spirits, recalling their past days of youth, sharing their gains, and looking ahead the future. The banquet was filled with love to the school, love between teachers and students as well as love among classmates. In the afternoon, alumni visited the Westward Migration Memorial Hall in our school, accompanied by the leaders and teachers in SFL.
Before the leaving of alumni, SFL presented them souvenirs and invited them to revisit here if had chance to encourage fellows in XJTU by sharing their struggle experiences.
Everyone was unwilling to part, and they made an appointment to meet in XJTU thirty years later.
