On the morning of April 24, “Reunion: Xinya’s Talk with Alumni of 2016” was held at Meeting Room 212 of the central main building in Xinya College. In order to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the establishment of Tsinghua University and the 1st anniversary since the graduation of the first students enrolled in 2016, alumni of 2016 received a warm invitation from Xinya College to gather together, share their own stories and growth in different fields and talk about their own reflection and achievement in terms of undergraduate education. The talk was attended by Jiang Kaili and Gao Jin, form teachers of classes of 2016, Gan Yang, Dean of Xinya College, Ruan Dong, Head of Party Working Group, Zhao Xiaoli, Deputy Dean of Xinya College, Zhang Weite, Assistant to the Dean, and some teachers fromthedeans' office.

Ruan Dong extended a warm welcome to all alumni on behalf of Xinya College for their return on the special day which also marked the 110th anniversary of the establishment of Tsinghua University. He said that all members of Xinya College were paying a close attention all alumni’s growth and development and would like to take this opportunity to have a deeper communication with all graduates and learn more about their study and life as well as their experience and feelings about the four-year undergraduate study in the college on the day of the 1st anniversary since their graduation.

Subsequently,nine alumni shared and exchanged their experiences with teachers and friends as representatives of different directions, including academic exploration in engineering, employment development in engineering, exploration in sciences, academic exploration in liberal arts, employment-orientation in liberal arts, academic exploration in economics and management, employment-orientation in economics and management, being waiting for study abroad and being assigned to work at alma mater.

Chen Weihao mentioned that many people had feelings about the cultivation of humanistic care in Xinya College and general education not only enriched our knowledge and broadened our horizon but also enabled us to accept more creative ideas. Besides, he also suggested that more efforts could be made in terms of professional guidance and promotion of cross innovation in multiple disciplines. Wang Yilin shared her experience of working inthedepartment of terminal technology of a company for one year, such as transformation ofthethinking mode, more responsibilities and pressure born in work, etc. She also mentioned that her views on general education changed greatly when she was at school entry and after her graduation, and the general education in Xinya College provided a possibility fortheability of development differentiation. The subject would have long-term effects on learners, which might not be noticed in a short period, and Wang Yilin had felt the impacts of general education on herself during her work.

Liu Yutong talked about her pressure as a cross-disciplinary doctoral student of humanities after her undergraduate study, but her mentality and life were less impacted by the pressure thanks to her passion for the subject and tutors’ guidance. At the same time, she was able to make positive and active adjustments when being in face of new professional study after receiving training of Xinya’s PPE specialty. Likewise, Wang Jingshu, who graduated from PPE specialty and was dedicated to public services, said that she had attained the awareness of transpersonal concerns and cares for serving the society in Xinya College and would carry forward such awareness in her further study and internship; meanwhile, she would also adjust herself to fit into a complex labor division system in order to adjust her working methods in a flexible manner.

Zhang Zhao, who was studying attheUniversity of Zurich, Switzerland, said hello to all teachers and studentsvia video link. As he mentioned, fewer students in Xinya College chose to study science and would face greater challenge on their individual ability when encountering problems, so in this case, he suggested that more communication opportunities could be provided for students of the same major but from different grades in the college so that junior students could receive more suggestions and help from senior students. In addition, he highlighted that general education in Xinya College could help students to look upon future development from a higher perspective and get rid of reliance on traditional path, so that all could consider carefully whether the path was suitable for themselves and what else could they do if the answer was no.

Hu Pan, who was working at a financial platform, said that the professional knowledge used in work was rather limited and the individual abilities of thinking and solving problems would be the most important aspect to be evaluated, and in these regards, she benefited a lot from learning general education in Xinya College. Xie Chang talked about his views on undergraduate education and Xinya’s general education fromaneconomic perspective. He believed that undergraduate education should take individual multi-dimensional nature and complexity into consideration when it was playing its screening and matching mechanism; while in Xinya College, the freshmen would not choose a specific major, which made it more likely that students could find themselves a suitable field for further study.

As a representative of students who were to study abroad, Xiao Ziyan talked about her online study and thinking about overseas study. She believed that students who intended to study abroad might have a much clearer sense of purpose, for example, making decision to study abroad forthepurpose of academic exploration, and they should also be prepared for paying the due price. Chang Wenzhi, who participated in Tsinghua University’s “Talent Cultivation Program (Shen Geng Ji Hua)” and now was working attheCareer Development Center in the university, shared his views on employment guidance in schools and departments. He thought that it’s of great significance to organizeanactivity of this kind and invite graduates to share their experience with current students, which could give it a full play to the college’s advantages of graduates of multiple disciplines. Additionally, he also reviewed his life and study in Xinya College, especially the scene when he watched and discussed movieGattaca with his fellows from different majors, believing that he could be more patient and show more humanistic cares for people when providing employment guidance because of the cultivation of general education.

After personal sharing, Kong Xiangrui made a brief report on the questionnaire survey spontaneously carried out by the schoolfellows. Information about life review in Xinya College, professional development and personal life was amassed and summarized from 40 questionnaires collected. Notably, what alumni of 2006 would like to say most to the junior students was “be brave” and “be happy”.

Kong Xiangrui also mentioned that the memories of Xinya College left in all students’ heart were more about the life beyond classes, such as making friends and participating in group activities. And the alumni of 2006 had developed into a common community of friendship, study and life. However, looking from another perspective, such spontaneous order was somewhat vulnerable and it would become much more difficult to maintain it once the schools and departments developed larger and larger.

Next, Yu Tianyu also introduced more than 20 students who were enrolled in 2016 and not yet graduated because of their five-year study or were in delayed graduating and their development. Zeng Zheni, Li Guangpu, Zheng Yawen and Feng Lichen shared their own opinions from different perspectives and everyone was in a free, sincere and exciting atmosphere.

After listening to alumni’s speeches,form teacher Jiang Kaili was pleased and said that the students of 2016 became more confident after their graduation, and he also hoped that everyone could return totheschool for visits and turn to teachers for help if there were any difficulties or troubles.Form teacher Gao Jin said candidly that all alumni would stepped into the society after graduation; however, it seemed that the mentality of “providing personal services” for the society had not yet formed, and the ability of realizing such mentality transformation would have a direct association with personal development in the future, such as how to deal with the setbacks ahead.

At the end of the activity, Dean Gan Yang made his closing remarks. In his speech, he recalled the scene when he was lecturing to students of 2016 in his classSelf·Others·Society five years ago.He said that both Tsinghua University and Xinya College were working hard on talent cultivation. A talented person’s growth was a long process and he hoped that all students of 2016, no matter they were studying or working, should have mental fortitude, because everyone would have his own setbacks. It’s important to review one’s original aspiration and remain resolute to his or her choice when being in face of difficulties. He also encouraged that everyone was born with a special talent and all should stay firm instead of getting stuck in self-doubt when difficulties came.

Dean Gan Yang also made a report on Xinya College's "14th Five-Year Plan" and expected that all alumni could return totheschool and keep in touch, as Xinya College was another permanent home for them.