Dear students 各位同学们:

Long time no see, you have been missed.

好久不见，甚是想念。

Young people of your generation have spent nearly a fifth of their lives experiencing a devastating global pandemic as well as the trying journey of coping with its effects. This life experience is not only a challenge, but also a spiritual experience. With the decline of the epidemic, I hope that we can now warmly embrace life more energetically once again.

你们这代年轻人花了生命近五分之一的时间经历了一场特殊的人类与自然的抗争。这份生命体验是危机，更是一场心灵的历练。随着疫情的势衰，希望这一次我们能重新热烈地拥抱生活。

In the past three years, there have been delays and unexpected changes in our lives. Perhaps the many uncertainties brought about by home learning have caused many of us to experience ups and downs, but we have also seen many highlights; during these times of uncertainty, we have been able to experience downtime from a fast-paced society, and the moments of peace have brought us opportunities for spiritual meditation.

过去三年里，有耽误，也有惊喜。可能居家学习带来的诸多不确定因素曾让我们很多人都有过心情起伏。但我们从中也看到了许多亮点：褪去浮躁快速的生活，世界的安静带来心灵沉思的机遇。

Learning to be alone is also an extremely important life lesson. In the same three years, you and your classmates and friends could not get together and play freely, like before the epidemic, but it also gave us a lot of opportunities to spend time with our families. Have you learned more about your parents, siblings, grandparents?

学会独处也是人生极为重要的一课。同样是这三年里，你们和你们的同学们朋友们不能像疫情前那样自由地相聚玩闹。但是这同样给我们很多和家人们在一起共处的机会。你们有没有更多地了解你们的父母、兄弟姊妹、祖父母呢？

Change is the only constant truth in the world. We need to practice a balanced mind in the face of changes. Regardless of whether we are physically confined to the same room or not, each of us is constantly accumulating and growing, both mentally and emotionally. As you grow up, have you noticed that the wrinkles on your parents’ faces are quietly increasing, and have you realized that, even when you grow weary of their complaints, the time you can spend with them is also passing quickly. When we have an opportunity to experience things together, let us remember to open our hearts and cherish each other.

变化是世上唯一不变的真理。我们需要练就一颗平常心来看待变化。不管物理上我们有没有拘于一室，思想上、情感上我们每个人都在不停地积累成长。你长大的同时，有没有留意到父母的皱纹悄然增加，有没有意识到你在烦厌他们的叮咛和牵挂的时候，你和他们能够共处一室的时间也在迅速地流逝。有机会一起经历的时刻，请敞开我们心扉，珍惜彼此的拥有。

Both the teachers at the school and your parents know very well how much you dislike our preaching, our demands, and our criticism, but we will continue to repeat these actions tirelessly, because we hope that some of the words we say to you every day will be heard and remembered; someday, after a few years, they will be remembered and put into action. If so, you may not see our smiles, but please believe that we will laugh out loud from the bottom of our hearts.

学校的老师们和你们的家长都很清楚你们有多么不喜我们的说教，我们的叮嘱，我们的批评。但是我们还是会不厌其烦地重复这些动作，因为我们希望我们每天叮嘱你们的话里有那么几句被听到，被记住；若干年后的某天会被想起，被付诸于行动。如果是这样，你也许看不到我们的微笑，但是请相信，我们会由衷地笑出声来。

Education is a very hard job. The teachers and parents have devoted huge efforts to achieve results through you. I hope that you will remember the loving meals cooked by your parents, the steps taken with Ms. Imogen around the school track, playing sports with Mrs. Allen and Mr. William, and of course Mrs. Peggy's constant reminders to complete the homework assigned by the teachers, because the most important thing in our teachers' hearts is your well-being. This is not only their job, but also their concern and care. Because of that care, they are actively by your side, giving you guidance and teaching. If you have the ability to see past their nagging and stern appearance, please keep them in your heart, as their actions come from a place of love that is intended to accompany you as you move forward bravely.

教育是个很辛苦的活计，老师们，家长们花尽心思的努力却要通过你们来实现成果。我希望你们能记得父母煮的爱心餐食，记得Imogen老师陪你们跑过的步，Allen老师、William老师陪你们打过的球，当然还有Peggy老师凶巴巴地提醒你们完成老师们布置的作业。因为我们的老师心中最重视的永远是你们的福祉，这不仅仅是他们的工作，更是他们的牵挂和在乎。因为有了那份在乎，他们才如此积极不计较付出地去到你的身边，给你指引和教导。如果你曾从他们的唠叨，凶巴巴的外表下发现过他们的柔软，请把它们珍藏于心，那是可以陪伴我们勇往直前的深沉的爱。

After we send you to your favorite university, we will not feel too sad about you leaving because our work will continue with a new set of teenagers to worry about, to nag, to help them to realize their dreams. Even so, I still hope that we can cherish each other's presence together.

在我们送你们去到各自心仪的大学之后，我们不会太伤感你们的离别因为我们有新的一批熊孩子去操心，去唠叨，去帮助他们实现梦想。尽管如此，我依然希望我们彼此都可以珍惜我们不期而遇的惊喜，我们彼此的陪伴。

I wish everyone safe and healthy, and a happy new year!

提前祝大家新年快乐，平安喜乐！

J. Li 李家瑞

2022年12月12日