A Soochow University retrospective trip

Soochow University’s 116th anniversary celebration was held on March 12^th. A series of anniversary events were planned and organized by Ming-I, Ku, the director of the Office of Social Resources. He planned a series of activities involving the coming back of alumni to their alma mater, a micro trip to Soochow University, and also a class reunion. To take part in these events, he invited members of the class of 1986 who had a chance to reminisce about their old times and also experience firsthand differences undergone by their alma mater.

In order to organize and prepare for the anniversary events, the Office of Social Resources recruited 30 volunteers. In addition to hosting a photograph exhibition and selling of anniversary souvenirs on the first floor of the Second Academic Building, a class reunion party was held in the Music Hall. To start things off an acapella chorus revived old-time classics as the audience lost themselves in the music. The  following act featured Han-Che, Hsieh and Hsun-Ten Cheng from the Chinese Literature Department. They reminisced about humorous events from 1986 while interacting with the audience, creating a most enjoyable atmosphere. Their humorous skit elicit non-stop applause  and laughter.

The opening parade was rousing.  Representatives from the University’s offices and departments as well as students and teachers and  alumni all came together to march in the parade. Among those marching, there was not much of a generation gap between the students and alumni.

Even though the alumni have a few years on us,  an almunus of the class of 72 from the Department of Chemistry, Huai-Tsung, Pan, once remarked, no matter how the environment changes, one thing will never change - no matter what you encounter, you need to try your best and you will have something to show for it. Nowadays, we have more resources at our disposal than the previous generation did, but this is not what is the most important. What is most important part is the spirit of Unto a Full-grown Man, which tells us that the key to pursuing perfection is to make an effort in all the things we are doing. Perhaps, we may also pass on this important spirit in another thirty years.