Dear students and teachers,
Good morning, everyone! Welcome back to the beautiful and warm home of Tsinglan. I believe you've had a restful and relaxing summer break, and your steps have followed various learning journeys across the Earth. Today, with full energy, the entire faculty and student return to Tsinglan to embark on a new chapter for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Let me start by asking some questions. During this summer break, have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered: Why is the sky blue? Why do flight paths always take a perfect arc instead of the shortest straight line? For those of you who went on the New Zealand study trip, have you ever wondered why snowflakes in winter have a perfect hexagonal structure? Similar geometric patterns appear in beehives and pomegranate seeds. Students who love mathematics, have you ever considered if this might be a manifestation of some geometric efficiency?
These questions have intrigued generations of great scientists since the time of ancient Greece, including figures like Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Newton, Kepler, and Einstein. Some phenomena might seem ordinary, but do you carry curiosity and dare to ask questions?
So, how can we do that specifically?
If you've pondered these questions, you'll discover that the question of why snowflakes have a hexagonal structure actually drove the development of modern atomic theory.
A tiny snowflake managed to intricately connect the atomic world with broader sensory experiences. We don't need endless accumulation; on the contrary, when we focus on each moment, harness our own power to establish connections, you'll find yourself unlocking geometric levels of energy.
This energy will spread throughout Tsinglan School.
This year, we have revised the school's mission, core values, and also painted a portrait of a Tsinglan student. I hope Tsinglan School embodies the essence of Tsinghua, but what does that mean? In simple terms, it's about having "righteous school culture, strong academic atmosphere, and emphasis on sports."
Just as Confucius said, "A true person, like a gentleman, if there were no gentlemen in the state of Lu, from where did he acquire these virtues?" School culture and academic atmosphere are the key factors where everyone here interacts and influences each other.
I hope every Tsinglan student becomes a refined and cultured individual. I also hope to see students sweating it out on the campus, in various sports venues, because without sports, there's no Tsinghua.
And for the 2023-2024 academic year, "connection" is our keyword.
Links are embedded in the myriad worlds, blended within each of you—your bodies, minds, and passions. Thus, I look forward to seeing each of you with agile postures on the sports field. Strengthen your body, aspire to excellence, strive tenaciously, and transcend your limits. In stillness, immerse yourselves in a sea of books, bathe in the fragrance of knowledge, and let your spirit flourish through poetry and literature.
Zhongyong says, "Minor virtues are like flowing rivers, continuously moving; significant virtues are deep and nurturing, leading to the development of all things."
I believe each of you will eventually exhibit "greatness with dignity", embracing society, the era, and the future. You'll establish lofty ideals through openness, acceptance, unity, and embracing differences, forming a unique network of connections while showcasing your distinctiveness. Being virtuous individually while contributing to the world.
While walking alone is fast, walking together goes far. Tsinglan will provide the strongest platform for all of you. I wish you all the best in the new academic year, may you find your inner passion and explore genuine joy in learning through connections.
A person possesses a rich and expansive inner world, it is reflected in their facial expressions. With ambitious aspirations, soaring like an eagle; with unwavering gaze, the journey stretches like a rainbow. Just as the valleys and rivers, we construct ceaseless pursuits and endeavors within our hearts. Let's move forward courageously, hoist the sails of our ideals high, steer the helm of destiny, making every step a bold stride across mountains and rivers, and each gaze an intense exploration of the valleys. In this moment brimming with boundless possibilities, let's advance hand in hand, crafting a brilliant chapter for the distinguished scholars of Tsinglan!
Happy new school year!
