One Year in School, One Life in Change

Yan Li, on behalf of the graduated students from the School of Continuing Education, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Yan Li, MD. Ph.D, Professor of Surgical Oncology, Ph.D Mentor
Director of Departments of Peritoneal Cancer Surgery and Pathology,
Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University
Distinguished Prof. Dezhong Jia, Vice President of BFSU
Distinguished Prof. Hongbing Chen, Secretary of CPC Branch of School of Continuing Education, BFSU
Distinguished Prof. Xiaodong Gao, Dean of the School of Continuing Education, BFSU
Distinguished Prof. Lin Chen,
Distinguished Prof. Changshuan Li, Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, BFSU
Dear teachers at the School of Continuing Education of BFSU,
Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
With great honor and privilege, I am sitting here, on behalf of all the students studied and graduated from the School of Continuing Education, BFSU, to express our gratitude, best wishes, and congratulations on the 80thanniversary of Beijing Foreign Studies University.
This historical occasion reminds me of days 32 years ago, when 27 students from every corner of the country received a 1-year concentrated training in advanced English at this school. We 27 students were selected after a 3-year very demanding and innovative English study program by the radio, and 3 rounds of very tough and highly competitive examinations, tests, and interviews.
What have we learnt at this school?
We have learnt New Concept of English. We have learnt New Concept of Life. We have learnt New Concept of China. And most important of all, we have learnt New Concept of the World!
Then we set off on our independent journey of development and evolution, each in different directions, each re-defining the meaning of success from their unique perspectives.
Most of us were teachers at that time. They stay teaching after the training. Based on the New Concept of English they have learnt here, Mr. Weibing Wang from Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Baihui Li from Hunan Province, Mr. Zongdong Wang from Sichuan Province, and Mr. Xincheng Yin, Mr. Zhiyong Wang and Mr. Shujun Li from Hebei Province continued teaching English as their life-long profession. Hundreds of thousands of high school students have realized their first big dreams in school life and become successful people in social life. They have become model teachers and their New Concepts of Teaching English have changed their schools. Congratulations to these new teachers.
Some were from the service sector. Based on the New Concept of Life they have learnt here, Mr. Zenglun Wu from Beijing improved his social life management theory and practice, upgrading from managing national corporations to international corporations. Mr. Zhongmin Cui from Inner Mongolia set up his own translation service and international trade. Their efforts have made our life easier and more productive. Mr. Yingyu Luo from Guangxin Zhuang Nationality Autonomous Region, Mr. Zubao Zhong from Jiangsu Province, and Mr. Xinsheng Dai from Shandong Province have turned to cross-culture exchanges and inter-civilization communications. Their life-long dedications to peaceful co-existence and friendly communication of different civilizations have improved the intellectual well-being and mutual understanding of the people from different countries, and made our life more peaceful and harmonious. They are the symbols of globalized managers. They have become globalized with their concept of human society and philosophy of the world. Congratulations to these new life pioneers.
Some were from manufacturing industry. Based on the New Concept of China we have learnt here, Mr. Bing Yang, Mr. Fuyin Huang and Mr. Fanshui Li have transformed their new vision into top-quality machines powering the fast growth of China’s economy and social development, into high-tech products serving the people all over the world, and into innovative cars running on the roads of both developing and developed countries. Their dedications to Revitalizing China by Developing Industry have contributed to making our country stronger and more prosperous. They are among the first to upgrade the global market from “Made in China” to “Created in China”. They have become globalized with their products. Congratulations to these pioneering entrepreneurs.
Some of us were from medical field. I was a clinical doctor focusing on pathology study at that time. “Saving the dying and healing the wounded” is our motto. Medicine is a global language crossing national boundaries and culture barriers. With the New Concept of the World I have learnt here, I continued my pursuit for higher medical sciences, more advanced clinical technologies, and better treatment skills. With determination, with perseverance, and with focused studies over 20 years, we have finally solved one of the most difficult problems in cancer treatment. Our new treatment approaches have revived the life of many cancer patients from China, Viet Nam, Egypt, Japan, Canada, and United States. We have trained doctors from home and abroad. Our voices have been heard and followed by over 15,000 medical workers from over 40 countries. In this regard, I also have become globalized with my new theory and new treatment in cancer medicine.
The most prominent example of “globalized talent” is Prof. Changshuan Li, deputy dean of the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation (GSTI) of BFSU. His outstanding achievements in higher education and historical contributions to cross-culture communications are beyond what I can imagine. Prof. Chuangshan Li is also a brilliant example of how much this School of Continuing Education can contribute to the overall success of BFSU. More importantly, it is because of his efforts that I can stand here to share our stories on behalf of the students. Please allow me to take this opportunity to say, “thank you!” directly to Prof. Chuangshuan Li. You have inspired so many, and you have contributed so much. We follow your lead.
Such a list of success goes on and on.
One year is very short. One year after another, the time disappears without trace. However, one year at this school is not short. That one year at the School of Continuing Education of BFSU started our life-long changes for the better, and for the success. We say “thank you” to our teachers here for their life-changing knowledge, “thank you” to this school for the enlightening culture, and “thank you” to our fellow students for their mutual inspiration.
But, what is success? How do we define success?
One answer we have leant at BFSU is: “Success is Measured by How Far You Can Go from Where You Started”.
By this definition, teacher Wang is successful, manager Wu is successful, entrepreneur Yang is successful, Dr. Li is also successful, and we are all successful.
However, the most successful is our beloved School of Continuing Education, BFSU, because it has cultivated so many globalized talents, who have become successful, and a lot more are on the road to be successful.
Again, thank you very much, and hearty congratulations on the 80thanniversary of BFSU.
Best wishes to you all.
这个历史时刻让我想起了32年前的日子,当时来自全国各地的27名学生在这所学校接受了为期1年的高级英语集中培训。我们27名学生是经过中央电台和北外联合举办的为期3年的非常苛刻和创新的远程英语学习课程,以及3轮非常艰苦和竞争激烈的笔试和面试后挑选出来的。
那时我们大多数人是老师,所以,一年训练结束后,一些同学继续教书。基于在这里学到的英语新概念,黑龙江的王伟兵先生、湖南的李白辉先生、四川的王宗东先生、河北的尹新城、王志勇和李书军先生等继续把英语作为他们的终身职业,让成千上万的高中生实现了他们在学校生活中的第一个大梦想,逐步成为社会生活中的成功人士。这几位先生已经成为模范教师,他们的英语教学新理念改变了他们的学校。祝贺这些老师们!
我们27人中也有一些来自服务行业。来自北京的吴增伦先生基于在北外这里学到的新生活理念,完善了他的社会生活管理理论和实践,从管理国有企业升级到管理国际企业;来自内蒙古的崔忠民先生开设了自己的翻译事业和国际贸易;他们的努力让我们的生活变得更加轻松和富有成效。广西壮族自治区的罗英玉先生、江苏省的钟祖宝先生、山东的戴新升先生致力于跨文化交流和文明对话。他们毕生致力于不同文明文化的和平共处和友好交流,增进了不同国家人民的精神福祉和相互理解,使我们的生活更加和平与和谐。他们是全球化管理者的象征。他们的人类社会概念和世界哲学已经全球化。祝贺这些新生活的开拓者!
我们有些人来自于制造业。杨冰先生、黄福印先生和李凡水先生,他们在这里学到了中国新概念,将自己的新愿景转化为推动中国经济和社会发展快速增长的优质机器,转化为服务于中国和世界人民的高科技产品,转化为奔驰在海内外市场上的中国品牌汽车。他们献身于实业兴国的事业,使我们国家变得更加繁荣富强。他们是最早将全球市场从“中国制造”升级为“中国创造”的企业家之一。他们的产品已经全球化。祝贺这些开创性的企业家!
我们当中还有来自医学领域的。就拿我来说吧,来北外前,我是一名专注于病理学研究的临床医生。“救死扶伤”是我们的座右铭。医学是一门跨越国界和文化障碍的全球性语言。在北外学习期满后,我利用在这里学到的世界新概念,继续追求更高的医学科学、更先进的临床技术和更好的治疗技能。凭借决心、毅力和20多年的专注研究,我们终于解决了癌症治疗中最困难的问题之一。我们的新治疗方法已经使来自中国、越南、埃及、日本、加拿大和美国的许多癌症患者重获新生。我们培养了许多国内外的医生。来自40多个国家的15,000多名医务工作者听到并关注着我们的声音。可以说,我也随着自己在肿瘤医学方面的新理论和新疗法而逐渐变得全球化了。
我们27人当中“全球化人才”最突出的例子是北外高级翻译学院副院长李长栓教授。他在高等教育方面的杰出成就和对跨文化交流的历史贡献,是我无法想象的。毫不夸张的说,他就是继教学院为北外打造的中流砥柱。我为有这样的同学而感到骄傲。而且,我今天能站在这里分享我们的故事,这也跟李院长的忙前忙后分不开。在此,我必须向他说声“谢谢”!
一年很短。一年又一年,时间消失得无影无踪。然而,在这所学校的一年并不短。在北外继续教育学院的那一年,开始了我们一生的改变,为了更好,为了成功而改变。让我们对这里老师改变人生的知识说声“谢谢”,对这所学校的启蒙文化说声“谢谢”,对同学们的相互启发说声“谢谢”。总之,我要代表我的同学以及其他校友,对北外继教学院一切助力我们成长和成功的因素表示由衷的感谢!
那么什么是成功呢?我们如何定义成功呢?我们在这里学到的答案是:“成功是用你能从奋斗的起点能走多远来衡量的”。刚才我所列举的人和事正是按照这个定义来选定的。是的,按照这个定义我们许多人取得了不同程度的成功。