New Students, Things I'd Like to Say to You

Dream big and stay down to earth with solid efforts.

(From Liu Jing, Professor of the School of Earth System Science)

Dear New Students,

Warm greetings from Tianjin University! Your long-awaited college life is kicking off in this August. As a teacher and researcher, I have a few suggestions to share with you:

First, keep curiosity alive in both scientific research and new knowledge. Only by immersing yourself in the unknown but fascinating world, can you find what you truly love. Hopefully you will open yourselves up to explore the world and enjoy sharing something with others.

Second, establish a mode of self-awareness and self-management. You need to consider your strengths, identify long and short-term goals and the way to achieve them and focus on the current situation and implementation. Clear goals move us forward and can be set in all areas of our study and life, such as having a sport, studying hard, joining clubs and taking exams for some certificates. Once you have goals and ideas, it’s important to put them into action and insist on them.

Third, strike a good balance among research, study and leisure time. It is suggested to stay in a good mood and have a positive attitude towards life by regulating your personal emotions reasonably. For example, if something upsets you, put it down and go play for a while, like having an ice cream or going in for sports.

Fourth, cherish time. Doing something meaningful and managing effectively fragment time is of importance. You can spend this short time period participating in voluntary activities to help others as well as enriching yourself or in more physical activities for sports is the best personal investment, which help you keep fit and energetic.

Fifth, make intelligent, curious, knowledgeable and enthusiastic friends. You can find and meet interesting people and become a part of them. And remember to be sensible and act rationally.

The development of the School of Earth System Science contributes to Tianjin University’s focus on major strategic needs and optimization of the layout of relevant disciplines, as well as our commitment to the original mission of "promoting education for the ultimate improvement of national strength and prosperity". After seven years of tireless efforts, we have built a solid and broad platform for students’ study and research. Tianjin University has many colleges and schools with strong faculty team, advanced platforms and remarkable achievements, where students will realize their dreams through solid efforts.

As you may start your new life with curiosity or a bit of anxiety, please remember that teachers and seniors at Tianjin University are ready to help you. We believe that you are all the best in facing new challenges in the new era and starting a new chapter in your life with courage and perseverance.

(Liu Jing, Professor of the School of Earth System Science, is the winner of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars.)

A dream in your heart, a light in your eyes, a path under your feet

(From Cui Shuo, a postgraduate student from the School of Civil Engineering)

As a group of new students enter this 127-year-old university, I also start my seventh year at Tianjin University. I have participated in the live broadcasting observation of the university at the beginning of new semester and enjoyed the sea of flowers with students as a live streamer in the Crabapple Blossom Festival. Today I have some words of encouragement for all new students.

I was 16 years old when I entered Tianjin University. The "Construction and Civil Engineering" has become a label I am proud of, and the slogan "remove hills and fill gullies, make contributions and achievements" has gradually become a motto to inspire me. The School of Civil Engineering has been a fertile ground for generations of engineering and management talents to grow up, and projects such as the National Facility for Earthquake Engineering Simulation and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, all have demonstrated the patriotism of the civil engineers of this school.

All efforts are for progress. As we bid farewell to the past and embark on a new journey, we must be determined to move forward with dreams in our hearts.

To have a dream in our heart is to set a goal and make plans. We are on the stage of our time, and there is no fixed formula for success. The approach to learning varies from person to person, and the prerequisite for achieving success in a particular field or all-round development is good planning. Whether it's a semester goal, a career or further education plan, we need to think ahead and make plans before we act.

As young people of this new era, it is all the more important for us to work hard. We need to be brave in the face of difficulties when there are inevitably times of confusion and frustration in our university life. We can self-deprecate once in a while, but we don't have to belittle ourselves, because "Long and difficult as the journey is, sustained actions will take us to the destination”.

That the path forward is under our feet means we should take responsibility and move forward with determination. We should promote our tradition, and bear in mind our passion for learning as well as our commitment, enhancing skills and being consistent in words and actions.

"With dreams in our heart and strength in our action, we will create a meaningful life by perseverance and continuous efforts." Let's try our best to move forward at Tianjin University!

(From Cui Shuo, a postgraduate student of Grade 2020 from the School of Civil Engineering. He was the president of the Student Union of the school and a member of the Tianjin University Postgraduate Association. He was awarded the "National Scholarship", "Tianjin Outstanding Student Cadre" and Special Prize of "Tianjin University Postgraduate Academic Award”.)

A New start—— Meet the best version of yourself at Tianjin University

(From Gong Zhihao, an undergraduate student of Grade 2019 from the College of Intelligence and Computing)

Dear students,

Welcome to Tianjin University! Here you can create the best of yourself.

First of all, try to bravely step out of your comfort zone, push the limits and not to deny easily who you are. When I entered TJU, I couldn’t choose my favorite major because of my unsatisfactory score in the college entrance examination. But I first majored in the Intelligent Machine Platform in the Qiushi College and then turned to the Software Engineering major in the College of Intelligence and Computing and minored in English, finally achieving my academic dream and getting the outstanding award in the summer camp of the School of Computer Science of Peking University.

Second, persist in and pursue what you truly love, and love the place where you are studying. The university is like a big family and the free, inclusive and active atmosphere that I have felt here since I joined the College of Intelligence and Computing has impressed me. In this new environment, I have met my instructor who is like a close friend, knowledgeable teachers and made many friends with different personalities. At the same time, I also discovered more possibilities in myself. I started research in labs, did practical training in a company, and participated in volunteering activities to meet a better version of myself.

As young people in the new era, we have to shoulder our responsibilities to let our youth shine. The era of great change is inspiring.

My fellow students, when you enter university, I hope that you will remain true to your original aspiration and keep your mission firmly in mind, be committed to innovation and excellence, so as to achieve your blossom of success in every field!

I sincerely wish you all success in your studies on the campus of Tianjin University!

(Gong Zhihao, an undergraduate student of the Grade 2019 from the College of Intelligence and Computing, is the winner of China National Scholarship and awarded Finalist in MCM/ICM)

By Dong Jia’ao

Editor: Sun Xiaofang