——在华南师范大学附属中学国际部

2023届毕业典礼上的讲话

王梓宇   2023年6月17日

Hi, my name is Kinsey Ziyu Wang, and I am honored to be here today.

Welcome friends, parents, honored guests, teachers, admins, and of course, the class of 2023. As we celebrate our graduation, allow me to first say to all of you congratulations. We will be entering society with the knowledge of making L3 connections to a 16th century poetry or calculating the magnetic force on a charged rod through the Biot-Savart Law, you know, things that adults always do in their daily lives.

Today, is the day we have been preparing for for the past 3 years.

Well, HFI class of 2023, we are a truly special class. We, as a team, started at the rock bottom.

I still remembered the disappointment on Wendy’s or Toby’s faces when we created HFI history by scoring the lowest point in PSAT ever, or the famous exclaim “You are the worst class I’ve ever taught” from teachers when someone was marked NP for sleeping in class who believed they were just “closing their eyes for a minute.”

But look how we have changed as a group or individually by being one of the most successful classes in HFI.

Speaking of change, it has been our constant companion, guiding us through the twists and turns and preparing us for the paths that lies ahead. Months later, change will come again to our doorsteps.

Most of us will be attending college this fall, leaving our friends and families and moving out from the HFI building full of loving teachers and supportive staffs. We will be living in new places, making new friends, and studying under new teachers.

Sure, change, as a noun, can get pretty uncomfortable sometimes, especially when you ran out of uniforms but bumped into Sheldon, when you have to walk an extra 100 meters to family mart because 711 was closed for reparation, when you “accidently” sleep past the 1st period during online courses, and when you discovered your crush suddenly change a girlfriend/ boyfriend but was just sweet-talking you last night.

Yes, we hate changes, but it is also the only thing that can bring progress.

As a resilient class of 2023, we always managed to come through our obstacles in life. Under the uncertainty of international day switching from offline to online, then online to offline, we nailed it, raising over 850 thousand yuan for charity.

Facing one of the toughest college applications, we stood tall and proud, impressing colleges with our efforts and passion.

Throughout three years of bothering Harky Eric and Joanna for our sometimes illusionary activity plans, submitting essays in the last minute, and trying a new sketchy 螺蛳粉 store at the Huafu backdoor, we have learned to embrace the unknown, to find strength in uncertainty, and to seize opportunities hidden within the winds of change.

Change, as a verb, also shines bright through HFI hallways. Change doesn’t have to be some Nobel-prize winning influences, but it depends on every one of us who engage, influence, and enlighten.

MAKER’s built an entire online room reservation system, and every click on your website saved a piece of paper on Harky’s desk.

Fusion impressed us with graceful dance moves, and every show you performed glorified the whole activity whether it is HFI got talent or Halloween party.

Crows athletes form comradery bonds through games of brutal smashes with guys weighing over 120kg, and every freshmen you recruited on your naked dormitory parade learned the lessons of trust and team spirits. There are also the student council, CLAP, Drama Club, Basketball Club, Colorscope, the Peerbuddies, and so much so much more.

Each one of us strived to make a difference, to challenge the status quo, and to shout out our voices for the marginalized in our communities and beyond.

As we enter the real world today, there will be times when we meet an obstacle we can never cross or a height we can never reach. We may even eventually accept our own mediocrity someday, accomplishing nothing for half of our lives.

In these desperate hours, while I cannot tell you the path to turn around or the path of success, I want you to remember: just make a change. Fix some bad habits from time to time. Step out of your comfort zones once in a while. Then you may still find a bright new world in front of you.

Today is our last day of high school life in HFI, and there is still one thing left that we can change: fractured relationships.

Any friends you haven’t spoken to in a while because of your pride.

Teachers you never thanked since you take their support for granted.

Parents you didn’t apologize to when you spitted out heart breaking angry words at them in wrath.

Just do it. Take the step to heel the wounds on the thing that bond us together. And I’m going to make a first start.

To Carl, Andy, Jeff, Hanson, Leo, Edison, Edoardo, Harry, Ariel, Fiona, members from the student council, crows athletes and those whoever supported me or positively influenced me, thank you for helping me through my ups and downs and making my three years in HFI one of the best times in my life.

To Wendy, Susan, Marry, Lillian, Rachel, Yoee, Reece, Delia, Toby, Mike, Mr. Redfield, Jenny, Mr. Dunn, Yolanda, Matt, Mr. Six, Erin Ma, Jasper, Aifeng, JoJo, Mr. Cullen, Priya and Alex Li, thank you for your devotion in education as you not only taught us much in academics, but also lessons of life.

To Yuki and all other teachers in HFI college counseling team, thank you for guiding us through the tough jungle of college application, offering meticulous advice at 1 am for our personal statements which would be dued tomorrow.

To Eric, Harky, Joana, Chanel, Keeva, Marshall, and the rest of HFI admins, thank you for supporting HFI everyday operation and student affairs in obscurity. You are the silent heroes who help turn our dreams into reality.

To Daniel, Sheldon, and Ford, thank you for keeping the whole HFI together. It was your decisions that led HFI smoothly through the turmoil of COVID-19 and numerous challenges in the past 3 years.

Finally, to all the parents, thank you for supporting every decision we made, tolerating our grumpy characters at home, and always thinking about what’s the best for us.

Thank you all, and congratulations, HFI class of 2023.

Thank you！

（中文版）

大家好，我是王梓宇Kinsey，今天很荣幸能够在这里与大家共聚一堂。

欢迎各位朋友、家长、嘉宾、老师以及2023届毕业生们。在我们庆祝毕业的时刻，首先我想对大家表示祝贺。在今天，我们将会带着成年人在生活中普遍会用到的知识走进社会，比如说对于16世纪古英语的诗歌进行升华主题地解析，或者通过比奥-萨伐尔定律计算带电棒的磁力。

总之，今天是我们在过去三年为之奋斗的一天。

HFI 2023届的同学们，我们真是特别的一届。作为一个团队，我们一开始就处于最低点。

我仍然记得当我们取得了HFI历史上最低PSAT平均分时，Wendy或者Toby脸上失望的表情，或者当有人因为在课堂上睡觉而被标记为NP时，老师们会说出那句著名的“你们是我教过的最糟糕的班级”。

但是看我们在集体或个人层面上改变了多少，这也让我们成为了HFI最成功的班级之一。

说到“改变”，它一直是引导我们穿越曲折的人生道路上的伴侣，让我们为未来做好准备。几个月后，“改变”将再次来到我们的面前。

我们中的大多数人将在今年秋天入读大学，离开朋友和家人，离开这充满着有爱的老师和辛勤的员工的HFI教学楼。我们将在新的地方，交到新朋友，并跟新的老师学习。

当然，“改变”作为一个名词，有时候可能会让人感到不安。这种不安会出现在当你的制服用完了却碰上了便服掠夺者Sheldon的时候，当你因为711在维修而不得不多走一百米去全家的时候，或者当你在网课期间“不小心”睡过了第一节课的时候，又或者当昨天还在跟你聊骚到半夜一点的暧昧对象第二天突然官宣的时候。

是的，我们讨厌“改变”，但它也是唯一能带来进步的东西。

作为顽强的2023届，我们总是能够克服生活中的困难。在国际日因为疫情从线下转到线上，然后再从线上转到线下的动荡中，我们为慈善事业倾尽了我们的时间和激情，帮助福利院筹集了超过85万元。

面对最艰难的申请季之一，我们昂首挺胸，用我们的努力和热情给大学招生官留下了深刻的印象。

这三年里，在不断麻烦Harky Eric和Joanna来述说我们有时不切实际的活动计划方案中，在总是在最后一刻才写完我们的论文中，在尝试华附后门一个个不靠谱的螺蛳粉店中，我们学会了拥抱未知，从不确定中寻找力量，并尝试抓住变化中蕴藏的无穷机遇。

当“改变”作为一个动词时，它同样闪耀于HFI。“改变”不需要是诺贝尔奖级别的影响，而是取决于我们每个人对于社区的启迪和建设。

MAKER团队从零搭建了在线房间预订系统，鼠标在你们网站上的每一次点击都帮助Harky和同学们节约了宝贵的时间和纸张。

Fusion团队以优雅的舞姿给我们留下深刻的印象，你们每一个演出都为HFI的大型活动增光添彩。

Crows运动员们通过残酷的比赛建立了团结的纽带，每一个你们在宿舍裸体游行中招募到的新生都深刻地理解了相互信任和团队精神。HFI中尝试改变的组织还有很多很多，比如说学生会、CLAP、戏剧社、篮球俱乐部、Colorscope、Peerbuddies等等。

我们每一个人都努力地给社区带来正面影响，挑战不合理的现状，并帮助弱势群体的呐喊被社会听到和重视。

踏入社会的我们可能会遇到永远无法逾越的障碍或无法企及的高度。也许我们甚至会最终接受自己的平庸，在无聊的事和无聊的人身上浪费我们的半生。

在这些绝望的时刻，虽然我无法告诉你如何扭转局面或者获得成功，但我希望你们记住：一定要做出改变。不时地纠正一些坏习惯。偶尔走出一下舒适区。通过坚持和努力，你们可能会最终找到自己的柳岸花明，发现一个崭新的世界。

虽然今天是我们在HFI高中生活的最后一天，很多遗憾也看似无能为力，终究化为过往的云烟，但是还有一件事我们可以改变，那就是破裂的关系。

你是否有因自负而逐渐冷漠的朋友？

你是否有因把支持视为理所当然而从未感谢过的老师？

你是否有被自己气话伤害而从未听到过一句道歉的父母？

做出改变吧，修复这些破裂的关系。而我将先行一步。

对于Carl、Andy、Jeff、Hanson、Leo、Edison、Edoardo、Harry、Ariel、Fiona，以及来自学生会、Crows和所有对我提供过支持或对我有积极影响的人，谢谢你们陪伴我度过这三年的沉浮，让HFI的三年成为我生命中最美好的时光之一。

对于Wendy、Susan、Marry、Lillian、Rachel、Yoee、Reece、Delia、Toby、Mike、Mr. Redfield、Jenny、Mr. Dunn、Yolanda、Matt、Mr. Six、Erin Ma、Jasper、Aifeng、JoJo、Mr.Cullen、Priya和Alex Li，感谢你们对于教育的奉献，你们不仅教会了我们课本上的知识，而且传授了我们生活的哲理。

对于Yuki和HFI大学咨询团队的所有老师们，感谢你们引导我们熬过残酷的申请季，即使在凌晨1点还给我们明天要交的主文书提供细致入微的建议。

对于Eric、Harky、Joanna、Chanel、Keeva、Marshall和HFI的其他行政人员，感谢你们对于学校日常运营和学生事务中的支持。你们也是默默无闻的英雄，在活动中助力我们追寻自己的热爱和梦想。

对于Daniel、Sheldon和Ford，感谢你们使整个HFI凝聚在一起。正是你们过去三年中每一个正确的决策使得HFI平安地度过了动荡的新冠疫情和无数的挑战。

最后，感谢所有的家长们，感谢你们对我们所做的每一个决定的支持，包容我们在家中的坏脾气，并始终为我们考虑最好的。

谢谢大家，并祝HFI 2023届顺利毕业！

谢谢！