Shang Ning' Speech on 2009 ETIE graduate ceremony

Shang Ning

Hello,everyone. I'm very fortunate and honored to stand here as the representative of UESTC.

 Recalling the past year,everything emerging in my mind is unbelievable and fantastic. This long long story began from two mystic words, two words that countless Chinese are chasing, imagining, and dreaming day and night.  Yes, that is "American dream".  Unless you live in China, you can't imagine how much these two words mean to a person. They mean honor, fortune, success, and a bright future, even during this time that China is developing at an unbelievably high speed.  Without any doubt that ETIE program is like a bridge that crossed over the gigantic Pacific Ocean, connecting dream and reality, and fulfilled this kind of ridiculous and crazy "American dream" for us. I still remember the first day when I came here, roaming on the tranquil path, and almost lost my way, breathing the fresh air mixed with mud and grass which I never smelled in China. I starred at squirrels and rabbits near the bushes,and several deer were rushing into the woods nearby. I still can't forget the beautiful and grand skyline of Chicago when I was standing on the South Bend, with pleasantly cool wind blowing through my hair. At that time, I felt that I was living in paradise, and never wanted to leave. But a dream is still a dream if we are not ready to land on this mysterious new world. In those days it felt like my mind was floating on air although my feet were touching the ground, and I was soaked in a fake, successful atmosphere and almost lost my ambition to go forward.  However, this situation did not last a long time. When I really needed to start caring about my schoolwork, food, traveling, and a presentation in front of so many students and professors with my awkward and tongue-tied English, I felt terrible and embarrassed. Language problems, communication breakdowns, culture differences, and distinct habits and life styles.It's just like so many problems occurred in one night and I was in a complete daze.That time was the hardest I had experienced in my whole life, and I doubted myself once and once again after every trivial failure. But fortunately a constant and warm concern was always there and helped me get out of that dark time. This concern comes from the campus, from  the chancellor, from the ETIE program, from professor Zhou, from professor Pierson and his nice wife, from every other professor, and from everyone that has helped us and smiled to us. This concern gives us a feeling like in our hometown. It gives us a strength to conquer frustration and hesitancy, and it gives us the determination to step up and never give up. Without your help, we could never achieve today's accomplishment. This ceremony is not only a festival for our graduation, for the successful ETIE program, but a beautiful melody we composed together which stands for resolution, mutual-understanding, friendship, and loving-care.

 PUC is the place where we started our American dream. Maybe 5 or 10 years later, some people here will have made a lot of progress in their career, but none of us will forget this precious year in our life. A bunch of unpredictable challenges are still waiting for us, like graduate study, jobs, and careers in the future. The American dream is only a dream without intense study and hard work. The American dream is only a dream without ambition and resolution. The American dream is only a dream without your help and care. Thank you everyone here, thank you PUC. Our story has not ended yet, and our "American dream" is just beginning.