After the first exciting and anxious week of school, the freshmen were fortunate to participate in the Jiulonghu hiking activity. The main purpose of this activity is to make new students more familiar with each other. What’s more, they have cultivated team spirit in their hearts, a passion for conquering difficulties, as well as perseverance during the process.

The meaningful experience started on a gray rainy morning. The students arrived at the castle hotel which was ornamented in a retro style. Then the freshmen assembled in a meeting room where they were told to relieve the burden of our study and create memories that were unique to them. Therefore, teachers set up interesting games to help them get to know their teammates better. Students brainstormed the names and slogans for their groups, crafted vivid drawings on the flag of each group, and decided on a signature pose for group photos. In this way, they successfully encouraged members of their groups to participate in activities bravely, actively, and earnestly. Furthermore, students influenced each other positively, creating a magnetic field full of favorable energy. 

After lunch, the challenging hiking process began. At first, the path was narrow and the upslope range was high, testing students’ endurance. However, they were determined and chose to persist. For instance, when somebody ran out of water, others readily shared their beverages to support. There was pooling on the path, causing many people to get their shoes wet. Nevertheless, they still appreciated the impressive beauty of the scene within the natural mountains and lakes and took photos of the refreshing scenery. In the end, most students reached the destination successfully and were proud of their insistence. Furthermore, students’ feedback on the hiking activity was unexpectedly moving. To be specific, many students expressed gratitude towards their teammates during dinner. For example, a student shared his feelings as the last member of the group to reach the finish line, “Though I was pretty slow at the time, I was really appreciative when I heard my friends cheering for me. They all waited for me at the terminal point and encouraged me a lot. It was such a fortune to be a part of my group. ”

The activity of the second day was canoeing. The best way to describe this experience is fun. Using the paddles brought such great pleasure that many students expressed their desire to try the sport again in the future. Some of them even jumped into the refreshing water on their own initiative, laughing together when discovered the wet hair of their friends. The green mountains provided a sense of relaxation and connection with nature making it definitely an unforgettable experience.

In summary, the sweat and laughter, the spirit of supporting others, fearlessness and persistence - all of these will remain in all freshmen’s memories, retaining their precious values.

Writer: Lucy

Editor: Emily Tang