Opening season ｜ Message from President of Peking University： Listen to the voice of learning and ＂learn to be an adult＂

"Don’t imprison curiosity because of grades. Every course and every topic is an opportunity to explore the mysteries of nature and human beings." Lin Jianhua, president of Peking University, delivered a speech on the topic of "Listening to the voice of learning" at the ceremony on September 8th.

On the same day, more than 3,000 freshmen from 2017 Peking University gathered in Peking University Qiu Deba Gymnasium for the opening ceremony. Zhao Lanxin, who won the first place in the Chinese Women’s Mathematical Olympiad, spoke as a freshman representative. The "mathematical genius" said that writing is also her inner passion. She used "Why don’t teenagers dream of catching stars?"? Dare to shoot the jade scale with a mulberry bow. Don’t be too smart today, and invite him to see the sea level tomorrow. " Poems to express their outlook on college life.

Before the ceremony, Professor Hao Ping, secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, read out the decision of commending doctoral students, and more than 500 doctoral students won this honor. In order to encourage doctoral students to engage in high-level scientific research and improve the quality of doctoral students’ training, since 2009, Peking University has established a doctoral student principal scholarship, which is the highest honor, the largest amount and the most influential postgraduate scholarship established in Peking University. Professor Hao Ping called on the students to follow the example of the commended students, study hard and concentrate on scientific research.

Principal Lin Jianhua: Learn to be an adult.

"Don’t imprison curiosity because of grades. Every course and every topic is an opportunity to explore the mysteries of nature and human beings." President Lin Jianhua said to the students, "I want to remind everyone not to be too utilitarian and short-sighted, and not to go with the flow;" Follow your heart and find your own interests. In fact, professionalism is hidden behind every major. "

He said that in order to encourage students to develop freely, Peking University supports the free transfer of majors within the department and the free selection of courses in the whole school. The interdisciplinary training plan also gives students a very broad choice, and the way of thinking and values are more important than knowledge. "Knowledge can be out of date, but the way of thinking, social responsibility and spirit of exploration that you feel will flow in your heart like blood and accompany you all your life."

Lin Jianhua mentioned that in the face of the rapid development of science and technology in today’s society, some people will wonder whether science and technology will shake the cornerstone of human society and human civilization. He quoted Apple CEO Cook’s speech at the MIT graduation ceremony: "I am not worried that artificial intelligence can give computers the ability to think like humans. I am more worried that humans think like computers."

"Our education is not about turning people into machines, but about learning to be human." Lin Jianhua said, "Learning is not to passively accept knowledge, but to form one’s own experiences and opinions through comparison, speculation, debate and practice, so as to truly grasp the law, seek the true meaning and establish socialist core values."

He said: "Learning to be an adult is also a process of discovering your own ignorance. Being brave in discovering and admitting your own ignorance is the real performance of self-confidence. Always keep an open mind, be brave in questioning and learn with an open mind. I hope that students can explore, think and listen in silence and experience the joy of growth and creation. "

For a long time, rational humanism in the west has always occupied a dominant position. Facing the challenges of globalization and resources and environment, Lin Jianhua believes that the concept of "all things are one, and heaven and man are one" in China’s traditional culture, as well as the benevolent way expressed by "don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you" and "stand up for others if you want to stand up, and achieve what you want", will provide a more solid ethical foundation for the development and progress of mankind.

President Lin Jianhua spoke at the ceremony.

Zhao Lanxin, a new student representative: Why shouldn’t teenagers dream of catching stars? Dare to shoot a jade scale with a mulberry bow

Zhao Lanxin is a 2017 undergraduate freshman from Yuanpei College of Peking University, and ranked fifth in science in Chongqing College Entrance Examination. She once won the first place in the Chinese Women’s Mathematical Olympiad and the gold medal in the all-China Mathematical Olympiad. The "mathematical genius" said in her speech that mathematics is certainly a fascinating road, which always echoes the flow of everything with concise laws, but she has a longer and tougher string in her heart, and writing is her inner passion.

"When I look around my world, I find that the world is moving rapidly. Ordinary people also have vivid joys, sorrows, loves and hates, and they are separated. Many people don’t care about these, but I have a sense of responsibility that must be recorded in my heart. What I hope is that I will write and leave a soft inscription for our times. "

"Peking University has the best mathematics major in China, and I can continue to explore the mysteries of human rationality. Peking University also has the best Chinese major in the world, so that I can use the pen and ink of interest and love to describe the world."

Different from the life ideals of most competition students, Zhao Lanxin doesn’t want to follow the ready-made model, but wants to choose a road she loves. Although she hasn’t won a gold medal in the field of literature, she has enough enthusiasm for literary creation from her heart. For her, "go out of her comfort zone and explore an unknown but desirable distance." Is the best way to realize your dreams and values. She also wishes everyone present can find and realize their dreams.

Finally, she ended her speech with a poem of her own, "Why don’t teenagers dream of reaching for stars?"? Dare to shoot the jade scale with a mulberry bow. Don’t be too smart today, and invite him to see the sea level tomorrow. "

Teacher Representative Sun Qixiang, Dean of Peking University Institute of Economics: Cherish.

"When youth dies, you lose your health without vitality, elegance and wisdom. Even if you are still young, what is the use of youth, wealth and time?" On behalf of the teacher, Sun Qixiang, Dean of Peking University Institute of Economics, warned the students to cherish their health and not to overdraw your body just because you are young. Students are required to be young people with all-round development in morality, intelligence and physique, and to balance the relationship between study and exercise.

When talking about the dream and desire of youth, Sun Qixiang said, "Please cherish your inner desire, and don’t ignore and suppress it, or even snuff it out, and do what you like, instead of following others’ advice and being impetuous. Don’t compare with others, it’s enough to be the best yourself. "

Combined with his study experience, Sun Qixiang said, "This era has given everyone a chance. However, any beautiful era did not come out of thin air, but was created by thousands of builders through hard work, and the best treasure is to make due contributions to this era. "

In addition, Sun Qixiang told the students to cherish the present, others, teachers and students, friends and parents’ efforts and hard work.

【President Lin Jianhua.Full text of speech】

Good morning, dear classmates!

In the most beautiful season in Beijing, Peking University welcomed the new students of 2017, and the youthful vitality filled the beautiful campus with joy. We often compare a university to a big family, in which students, teachers, employees and alumni are all important members. Whether you are new to Peking University or continuing your studies here, we are soul mates, simple and pure, and strive to move forward. Welcome! Welcome to join the big family of Peking University!

Looking at everyone’s youthful smiles, I think of the first time I came to Peking University. It has been forty years since. The past 40 years, like a realistic version of the travel drama, have changed so much that people can’t imagine.

Zhongguancun Street was called Baiyi Road at that time, which was a rural road, with thick and towering Populus tomentosa and rice fields on both sides full of rural interests. At that time, it was still a big thing to go to town. There was only one bus No.332, or a bicycle that was still a luxury was about to be borrowed.

Forty years have passed, and everything is changing, but one thing remains unchanged, that is, Peking University people’s feelings for home and country, their fearless spirit of being the first in the world and their unremitting academic pursuit.

What will happen in the future? What kind of world will you face? This may be a doubt in the hearts of many young people. The rapid development of science and technology has changed people’s way of life and work, and the rapid rise of China has changed the traditional world political structure. These things sound great and far away, but they have already happened to us.

Making students become people who can lead the future is the talent training goal of the school, and it is also a challenge to educational concepts and traditions. The school is carrying out undergraduate education reform and postgraduate training mechanism reform, with the aim of providing you with a better learning and growth experience.

Everyone will soon enter the first grade course. Some students will be very concerned about grades, but don’t imprison their curiosity. In fact, every course and topic will give you an opportunity to explore the mysteries of nature and human beings.

University is a journey of exploration, discovery and creation by teachers and students. Follow your curiosity and explore the way of thinking behind knowledge with innovative and critical eyes, and you will surely gain more.

People often say that "interest is the best teacher", and the free transfer of majors in the department, free course selection in the whole school and interdisciplinary training plans will provide you with broad choices.

I want to remind everyone not to be too utilitarian and short-sighted, and not to go with the flow; Follow your heart and find your own interests. In fact, there is a professional spirit behind every major. Knowledge can be out of date, but the way of thinking, social responsibility and spirit of exploration you feel will flow in your heart like blood and accompany you all your life.

As we all know, AlphaGO defeated the top human Go player and made a major breakthrough in gene editing technology. This makes some people worry that science and technology will shake the cornerstone of human society and human civilization. That’s not how I see it.

Apple CEO Cook put it very well. He said, "I’m not worried that artificial intelligence gives computers the ability to think like human beings. I’m more worried that human beings think like computers-abandon compassion and values and be reckless."

Our education is not to turn people into tools and machines, but to "learn to be adults".

There will be an important international conference in Peking University next year-the 24th World Philosophy Conference, with nearly 5,000 philosophers from all over the world attending, which will be a grand gathering where eastern and western civilizations collide and blend. The theme of the conference is "Learning to be human".

For a long time, rational humanism in the west has always occupied a dominant position. Facing the challenges of globalization and resources and environment, I believe that the concept of "all things are one, and heaven and man are one" in China’s traditional culture, as well as the benevolent way expressed by "don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you" and "stand up for others if you want to stand up, and achieve what you want", will provide a more solid ethical foundation for the development and progress of mankind.

"Learning to be an adult" is a proposition that accompanies us all our lives. Philosophy considers "learning to be an adult" from the theoretical level, while education is the practice of "learning to be an adult".

Learning is by no means a passive acceptance of knowledge, and you can’t swallow dates and follow others’ advice. Instead, you should form your own insights through comparison, speculation, debate and practice, so as to truly grasp the law, seek the true meaning and establish the core values of socialism.

General Secretary of the Supreme Leader said: "Active thinking is an important feature of colleges and universities, where various ideas and viewpoints meet and various values collide. Taishan does not let the soil, so it can become a big one; Rivers and seas do not choose small streams, so they can be deep. We must uphold the attitude of respecting differences and accommodating diversity, lead by pluralism and neutrality, seek consensus in diversity, set the direction in change, and let all the trickle of beneficial ideology and culture merge into the vast sea of mainstream ideology. "

"Learning to be an adult" is also a process of discovering your ignorance. In ancient Greece, there was a philosopher, Zhi Nuo, the father of paradox. Students once asked him, "Teacher, you are knowledgeable, why do you always question your own conclusions?" Zhi Nuo drew two circles and said, "The big circle is me and the small circle is you. If the area of the circle is the knowledge we have, the outside of the circle is unknown, and the circumference is the unknown we can contact. The more visible knowledge, the more unknown we contact. "

The courage to discover and admit your ignorance is a sign of true confidence. You are all excellent. I hope that you will not be afraid of problems and difficulties, be dogmatic and inflexible, and always keep an open mind, be brave in questioning and learn with an open mind.

German philosopher Garf once said: "The voice of conscience is silent, and it is hard to be heard in the hubbub." The same is true of learning, which requires us to forget the worldly customs and explore, think and listen in silence.

I wish you all can calm down, listen to the voice of learning and experience the joy of growth and creation during your time at Peking University.

Thank you!