Lingnan Leadership Plan Sets Off
November 2nd 2017 saw the celebration of the Apprenticeship Ceremony of the Lingnan Leadership Plan. Taking place in Lingnan Hall, the ceremony was hosted by Huang Tao, the associate director of Lingnan College along with other honored guests including Wu Yingxin, Associate Professor of Lingnan College, Zhuo Ou, Associate Professor of Lingnan College, Yang Yun, Director of the Retirement Department, Chen Zhenying, Member of the Committee of Care for the Next Generation, Zhou Yun, Associate Director of the Student Affair Office, Huang Shan, Party Secretary of Lingnan College, and Liu Xiangchun, Student Counselor.
The “Yat-Sen Leadership Plan” is co-hosted by the Committee of Care for the Next Generation of Sun Yat-Sen University and the Student Affair Office that aims to provide guidance and care for freshmen who are struggling financially. Once involved, each student will be assigned a retired professor as a mentor. This year sees Lingnan College piloting this experimental program. With Prof. Wu Yingxin and Prof. Zhuo Ou taking the mentor roles in the plan, ten students of Lingnan College have been selected to participate this year.
Prof. Zhuo Ou
Prior to the ceremony, Yang Yun made a brief introduction about the Committee of Care for the Next Generation and the “Yat-Sen Leadership Plan.” As he pointed out in his introduction, “the Yat-Sen Leadership Plan is a win-win plan where a mutually beneficial relationship can be established between students and professors. On one hand, students can start college on the right foot and be more informed about their future path under the guidance of professors. On the other hand, retired professors’ frequent contact with the students could also be beneficial for them to reclaim their vigor and enrich their retired life.” After the introduction, he made the formal announcement that the “Yat-Sen Leadership Plan” has started to sail on course. After that, the ten selected students, dressed in Lingnan College’s uniform with its two representative colors, red and grey, took to the stage. With their invitation cards in hand they read aloud their cards, bowed, and handed the cards to the professors. At the same time the two professors, dressed in formal clothes, accepted the invitation cards and sent out their gifts to the students.
Next, Lan Rong, as the representative of students from rural areas, expressed her gratitude to the professors and her determination to study hard for her dreams. After that, Professor Wu gave a speech, in which he quoted Rousseau’s words to galvanize students to learn perseverance and patience: “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Following, Professor Zhuo Ou focused on his own life experiences to illustrate that poverty could be precious in the sense that it propels people to struggle upwards and acquire a stronger will. Both professors were clear in expressing their devotion to this program, saying they will try their best to develop friendships with the involved students. 83-year-old professor Chen Zhenying was also impressed by the successful pairing, pointing out that guidance and skill-learning can be of critical importance to university students nowadays.
Director Huang Shan also shared his approval of this plan, and encouraged the involved students to seize this opportunity to learn from professors in terms of both study tips and life-long lessons. Moreover, Professor Chen Zhenying’s workout tips could also be useful to the students. After the ceremony, professors and students took a collective photo in front of Lingnan Hall.
The prosperity of youth signifies the prosperity of a nation, and the more powerful a nation’s youth are, the more powerful the nation will be. Though the apprenticeship ceremony of the “Yat-Sen Leadership Plan” has come to an end, the students are just beginning a new journey, sailing ahead to their own dreams with the help of professors.
