During this past vacation, Xinya College students traveled far and wide: some navigated the multicultural landscapes of Southeast Asia, exploring the world's complexity and diversity; others returned from the mists of the British Isles, reflecting on history and contemporary realities; some strolled through the Renaissance cities of Italy, experiencing the vibrancy of art and life; and some stayed rooted in rural areas, witnessing social transformation and personal growth in rural classrooms. When students brought their diverse stories back to the Collective Talks, a much-anticipated dialogue on "change" and "constancy" naturally unfolded. On February 26, at the invitation of Dean Mei Ciqi of Xinya College, together with Deputy Dean Zhang Weite and Assistant Dean Jiao Yang, nearly 30 students from inside and outside the college gathered in the Hall to share their experiences and reflections from their winter vacation.

Jiao Yang, who served as the faculty advisor of Xinya College's Singapore-Malaysia overseas practice team, reflected on the journey. He was particularly impressed by participating in academic lectures and visiting laboratories at universities in Singapore, and attending classes and engaging in lively discussions with local students. Among the activities, the design workshop at Singapore University of Technology and Design involved brainstorming to address real-world problems within a short period. This problem-driven learning approach perfectly aligns with the educational philosophy of the Creative Design and Intelligent Engineering (CDIE) program at Xinya College, bringing new inspiration to CDIE's curriculum design. Tan Zhenhai, a member of the Singapore-Malaysia overseas practice team, shared his dual experiences. He observed a strong encouragement of innovation and entrepreneurship within Singaporean universities, fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial atmosphere on campus. As a birdwatching enthusiast, his experiences with birdwatching in Singapore gave him new insights into the local natural environment and transportation. Wang Xiaowen, passionate about history and culture, sensed Singapore's distinctive heritage built upon its rich history. Through exchanges with local students, she gained further reflections on Singapore's educational system. Wu Hongyu directly observed the sharp contrasts in urban landscapes between Singapore and Malaysia. His observations on how people of different ethnicities coexist also deepened his understanding and perception of society.

Wang Zhi'ang, a member of the UK-Ireland overseas practice team, shared two messages from diplomats at the Chinese Embassies in the UK and Ireland to the Xinya College's practice team: "Keep your eyes open" and "Seek common ground while reserving differences." He pointed out that while we can learn about foreign societies and cultures from home, seeing them firsthand can still overturn many established beliefs. In cross-border exchanges, it is important to respect cultural differences while also actively discovering the universalities behind those differences, and to use goodwill as the foundation for good relationships. Li Peicong added that interacting with students at the London School of Economics and Political Science made him realize the diversity of life paths, giving him greater confidence in facing life's changes and the courage to step out of his comfort zone to embrace the unknown. Cui Mingchen shared two unforgettable moments from the trip to Ireland: on a whim, several of them took a walk through the streets of Dublin to enjoy the sunset and evening glow after the rain; and sitting with a few friends in a renowned local café, chatting freely and listening to traditional folk music. This experience allowed her to break free from the shadow of academic pressure, realize there are various paths in life, and appreciate that the future holds limitless possibilities.

Liu Meiwen, counselor of the Italy overseas practice team, introduced that their journey spanned from south to north Italy, covering the cities of Rome, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Milan, as well as four universities each with a unique character. The experience deeply blended academic exchange with historical and cultural exploration. Zhang Yang then shared his insights on the concept of "value." He observed that Italy places great emphasis on preserving and passing down its cultural and traditional values, but he wondered if this might also pose practical challenges to industrial modernization. Gao Yuan, a student majoring in CDIE, stated that Italy's imaginative creativity and unique design philosophies provided new inspiration for his studies. Yi Yufan, after visiting the artworks, developed new aesthetic insights and realized that even imperfect artistic creations possess distinctive appeal. Wo Siyu not only genuinely experienced the locals' casual and relaxed lifestyle, but also took note of the expressive and energetic graffiti culture that highlights individuality in the streets.

Jing Shuangqi from Rixin College candidly shared that his experience, compared to students encountering cultural shocks abroad, was different. For him and several students from Xinya College, volunteering in Zigong felt more like a "journey back in time." Through interactions with local students, they were able to reflect on their own anxious and uncertain middle school years. They were deeply touched by the students' undiminished pure vitality and youthful enthusiasm, which left a lasting impression.

Zhang Jianyi, representing the "Jinghong Zhumeng" university-high school bridging program under the "One Thing Plan," continued by sharing the team's experiences in Yingkou: They saw massive cargo ships up close at Yingkou Port, gaining firsthand insight into the features of port economic development. They also visited the Yingkou Area of China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone and learned how its designation as a domestic trade port brings both opportunities and challenges to Yingkou. During exchanges with local high school students, they were asked, "Which majors won't be replaced by AI?"—prompting deep reflection on academic choices in the AI era. Zhang Zixun further elaborated on a key detail in the university-high school bridging program: the expectations of local teachers and students initially differed from the team's original vision. The team promptly adjusted the communication approach by sharing engaging professional knowledge, allowing local students to experience the distinct academic atmosphere of university compared to high school, and to discover the joy of exploration.

Members of the winter practice team for the "Rural Revitalization in Xiaochang" project under the "One Thing Plan" also gained valuable, multi-dimensional perspectives. Team leader Zhou Zhao, leading a group independently for the first time, accumulated valuable organizational experience from coordinating local schedules to carrying out various activities as planned. Huang Yuxin was deeply inspired by the passion of local leaders actively learning how to use AI tools to develop their hometown and by the genuine simplicity of rural children. Guo Jiahao shared an agricultural support video he produced with AI tools, presenting Gaogang Village from a kitten's perspective; this video was later shared by Xiaochang Convergence Media's WeChat official account.

Finally, Dean Mei summarized that the essence of practice is not about "checking in" or acquiring readily available online information, but about establishing direct connections with the world—experiencing powerful impacts through firsthand engagement and renewing one's self-awareness. In response to the students' sociocultural observations, he guided them to look beyond appearances and recognize underlying complexities, reminding everyone that any social phenomenon results from the interplay and balance of multiple factors. He encouraged students not to underestimate themselves, and to maintain the courage to explore and push boundaries even within established frameworks. Particularly in the AI era, where technology can disrupt all aspects of life, the approach may be to discover and create individual distinctiveness through exploration. In conclusion, he returned to the topic of college life, encouraging students to use public spaces for creation and expression so that the outcomes of practice become not only memories but also an integral part of the college's spatial culture.