Three "Cross-Sections" of Xinya College: Remarks at the 2026 Opening Ceremony of Xinya College

刘霁霄 Liu Jixiao

(Class of 2028, Materials Science and Engineering Major; President of the Student Union of Xinya College)

Distinguished faculty and dear fellow students,

Good evening! I am Liu Jixiao, a member of the Class of 2028 at Xinya College, and I am from Inner Mongolia. Two years ago, I spoke on behalf of the freshmen at the opening ceremony. It is an incredible honor to stand here again today, this time representing the returning students to welcome you all.

Right now, I am very nervous, not only because I am standing on stage, but also because I will soon take my place in the chorus for the Xinya Prelude. Over the past two years, your counselor, Wang Daize, has tried multiple times to teach me how to sing the song in tune. Unfortunately, I am probably the worst student he has ever taught. If I lead everyone off-key later, it is definitely not a reflection of Wang's teaching ability. However, this experience reminds me of Harry Potter, where the Hogwarts school song consists only of lyrics, and students can sing it to any tune they like. This eclecticism perfectly captures the essence of Xinya College: flourishing diversity, free growth, and a harmonious coexistence of beauty. However, that is no excuse for my inability to sing the Xinya Prelude well.

Xinya College is a place that defies conventional description, and I alone am far from being able to represent it in its entirety. I suppose all I can do is share a few memorable stories from my time at Xinya College to offer you a glimpse into three of its "cross-sections." This analogy was inspired by the Engineering Drawing course I took. A sectional view is a diagram showing the internal structure of a part when it is cut open, and the resulting image varies depending on the cross-section. Xinya College is like this complex part. I have my three cross-sections, and I hope you, too, will find your own cross-sections to examine during your time here.

The first cross-section reveals Xinya College's most important core ethos: general education. In the Poetry Metrics and Composition course, you can pour your passion for poetry onto paper; in the Observational Cosmology course, you can visit an observatory to explore the mysteries of the Milky Way; in the Philosophy of Philosophy course, you can engage in intellectual debates with ancient sages; and in the Manufacturing Engineering Experience course, you can even try your hand at making a hammer. However, general education not only allows us to explore the vast world but also enables us to deeply empathize with it as we immerse ourselves in it. Last July, while visiting the Yungang Grottoes during a trip to Datong, Shanxi, I suddenly recalled a paper I had spent a week writing for Ancient Chinese Civilization, a general education course. The paper, themed "Ethnic Integration and Political Prospects in Northern China During the Northern and Southern Dynasties," analyzed the process of ethnic integration undertaken by minority regimes, exemplified by the Northern Wei, and argued that these regimes laid the foundation for the vibrant and dynamic ethos of the Sui and Tang dynasties. The Yungang Grottoes stand as a crucial testament to this historical process. At the foot of the grottoes, I saw a stone stele inscribed by Mr. Yu Qiuyu, which prompted me to reread his essay, Where to Enter the Tang Dynasty, right there under the scorching sun. At that very moment, looking down, I saw the eloquent words; looking up, I beheld the towering, majestic Buddha statues; and closing my eyes, I recalled the academic research from my paper. As these three strands of thought converged into one, the cultural experience mirrored a quote from The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons: "To climb a mountain is to have one's emotions fill the mountain; to gaze at the sea is to let one's thoughts overflow into it." Perhaps only general education can endow us with such abundant emotions and a moment of profound impact in our lives. I believe that general education does not make a grand, dramatic entrance; rather, it exerts a subtle, nurturing influence. You may not feel much when you first start learning, but a certain moment in your life will bring you a sense of transcendence and sudden enlightenment.

The second story is about my own choice of major. After graduating from high school, I felt completely lost about my future and, at one point, even considered following the crowd and choosing a popular major. However, coming to Xinya College opened up a vast new world, giving me the space to search my soul and rethink my choices. During a conversation with a classmate, I happened to learn about the materials science track. Consequently, in the second semester of my freshman year, I enrolled in a related lab course and undertook a research project to design high-performance bone repair materials through the structural biomimicry of human bones. I discovered that hands-on materials science experiments could turn my conceptual ideas into tangible objects right before my eyes, embodying a mindset that bridges the microscopic and the macroscopic to help us understand and transform the world. I was completely captivated by this incredible feeling. So during that period, I found myself constantly wavering between this emotional perception and rational thinking. However, I decided to trust my intuition and chose the materials science track, a field at Xinya College that few had ventured into. This is precisely the second facet of Xinya College: while the diverse opportunities here will most likely not offer you the perfect choice, they do grant you the freedom to hesitate, make mistakes, and start over. You can explore more tracks during open office hours with professors, searching within yourself to pursue a career you are truly passionate about. A remark made by a professor at Xinya College during a conversation is still fresh in my memory. He said, "You must find a discipline that resonates with your spirit, one that makes you light up with excitement whenever you talk about it." Looking back at how the other speakers and I performed at the first Xinya Colloquium this past spring, I can say that Xinya College has indeed created such an opportunity for everyone, allowing you to find your spiritual home through a year of exploration.

The two facets above mainly focus on the personal growth that Xinya College brings us, but the college offers us so much more than that. For the third facet, I would like to talk about the love and happiness that Xinya College, as a community, has brought me.

First of all, the Xinya Hall is a magical place. A senior student once said it resembles the Agora of Athens, and I could not agree more. Here, you can study by yourself, chat with friends late into the night, or simply sit back, enjoy some delicious food, and find both material and spiritual satisfaction. I have had many heated debates here with your counselor's counselor, whom I like to call my "second-order derivative". I have also had lively discussions with students from different majors, sparking intellectual exchanges. Therefore, no matter what you do, you can always find like-minded friends at Xinya College. For example, I am very interested in linguistics. During a casual chat in the lobby one day, I was inspired to collaborate with two classmates, who also come from science and engineering backgrounds, on a study of English vocabulary acquisition using Swahili as a tool. We had no specific utilitarian purpose; we did it simply because it was fun. This is an experience I still relish talking about to this day.

At the same time, Xinya College is a place of freedom that offers unconditional support for students' explorations. Students at Xinya College have many whimsical and creative ideas, and the college's openness and inclusiveness give everyone the opportunity to turn them into reality. For example, this spring, I captained the Xinya College men's soccer team on a field trip to my alma mater, the High School Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Normal University. The trip received tremendous support from the college. Another example is the One Thing Plan established by the college, which encourages students to fully unleash their imagination and personal initiative to undertake an endeavor they find meaningful. Projects established with its support, such as the high school-to-college transition teaching support program and accessibility facility improvements, are all the fruits of students' creativity.

Xinya College is exactly this kind of place, one where you can find like-minded peers and receive unconditional support. It is hard not to develop a strong sense of belonging here. Sharing the same physical space naturally binds the entire Xinya College community together. Furthermore, Xinya College features numerous class groups, student clubs, and sports teams that act as smaller collectives, helping to foster everyone's overall love for and identification with the broader Xinya College community. Just as Professor Mei said, we first form many small bubbles, which eventually merge into the giant bubble of Xinya College. The Xinya College men's soccer team is one of these small bubbles. The story that left the deepest impression on me took place during this year's Division B final. A senior student who enrolled at Xinya College in 2023 overcame the mental hurdles caused by several major injuries right when the team needed him most. He came off the bench without hesitation and made a vital contribution to the Xinya College men's soccer team winning the Division B championship, marking their best historical record. I believe that without the most sincere love for the Xinya College community, such a feat would not have been possible.

In short, in an era that may be filled with confusion and anxiety, the three aspects outlined above represent what I consider to be three crucial keywords: viewing the world from multiple perspectives, maintaining self-awareness, and strengthening warm interpersonal connections. Fortunately, all of this can be achieved at Xinya College.

Normally, I should be saying "Thank you for listening" right now. However, at this seemingly perfect concluding moment, I would like to pour a little cold water on things and share one last short story with you all. Ten days ago, while participating in a social practice program in Wenchang, Hainan, I watched the launch of the Long March 7A rocket on site. Unfortunately, I witnessed its launch failure and subsequent self-destruction in an explosion. I was deeply shaken at that moment. Several friends comforted me, suggesting that perhaps my lack of mental preparation for failure had led to unrealistically high expectations. Those words truly inspired me. I am sure that everyone sitting here is full of anticipation for their upcoming life at Xinya College, with confidence and determination to succeed. However, I think it is worth noting that the unique nature of Xinya College is bound to bring different kinds of pressure to each of you. We will often wonder whether our choices are right and doubt whether what we are doing is meaningful. I do not have an answer. But please believe that a light will always be shining for us in Xinya Hall, allowing us to slowly discover our true selves when we have no answers, so that we are not defined by confusion. This feeling is best understood by the heart, and its subtleties are hard to put into words. I will wait quietly for you to experience it yourselves.

Therefore, your story at Xinya College officially begins right now. Once again, on behalf of all the returning students at Xinya College, I would like to extend a warm welcome and sincere best wishes to you all. May you all become erudite members of Xinya College, learn side by side within the Xinya College family, weather the storms on the path of general education, and journey together toward your goals.

Thank you all!