Graduates say goodbye to their Alma Mater

The 109th Commencement Ceremony of Shaanxi province’s Xi’an Jiaotong University (Xi’an Jiaoda) -- one of China’s top universities -- was held on June 23.

A total of 3,302 graduates attended the ceremony and 70 percent of them will continue their study for master degrees.

Among the postgraduates-to-be, 71.55 percent have received offers from universities such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.

At the ceremony, Zheng Qinghua, vice president of the university, said 70 graduates will devote themselves to China’s national defense and military industry and many others will actively participate in the practice of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Chen Qihan, one of the graduates who will go to Harvard University to study children's education, said she learned how to bravely pursue dreams with an optimistic and hot heart through the learning experience in Xi’an Jiaoda.

Elena, a graduate from Pakistan, said the university had provided her a platform to not only experience Chinese culture, but also to showcase her own.

"It has also established a way for us students to broaden our horizons by learning about other different countries and cultures," she added. "From year one to year six I have witnessed that as we have grown so has the university in its target to improve."

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi’an Jiaoda, expressed his hope of seeing the graduates continuously work hard and contribute to the country’s development and prosperity.

The 109th Commencement Ceremony of Xi’an Jiaotong University (Xi’an Jiaoda) -- one of China’s top universities -- is held on June 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]