On the afternoon of February 16, 2025, the opening ceremony for the second semester of the 2024 academic year at Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School was held in the grand auditorium. During the ceremony, students, teachers, and representatives from diffferent grades took the stage one after another to share their reflections on the past semester’s growth and achievements. They looked ahead to the new semester with optimism, drawing lessons from past experiences. The ceremony concluded with awards presented to outstanding student clubs.

As the high school students from all three grades took their seats in the auditorium, a heartwarming video played on the screen above, featuring encouraging words for the students. Phrases such as "Only by taking action can one unlock their potential" emphasized the importance of action in personal growth. The video also addressed the prevalent anxiety caused by the modern obsession with perfection, advising students not to let the pressure of perfection limit their potential. The message reminded them that "life will never be perfect," urging them to take action to discover what they are capable of.

The ceremony formally commenced as tenth-grade student representative, Joyce Huang, took the stage to deliver her speech. She shared her story of self-learning quantum physics, highlighting that, while academic studies may leave little room for personal interests, dedicating time to personal growth is crucial. Joyce recounted how, despite the initial scarcity of time and her respect for the complexity of quantum physics, she had long avoided exploring the subject. However, during the winter break, she realized the importance of following one’s interests, and every attempt, even if imperfect, holds value. She encouraged her fellow students to pursue their interests and to understand that such personal endeavors are integral to finding meaning in life.

Next, tenth-grade teacher representative, Ms. Cao Jiawen, addressed the audience. She reflected on the challenges students faced in the previous semester and commended their perseverance and progress. She emphasized the importance of developing teamwork, time management, and stress resilience, skills that hold immense value during prolonged academic challenges. Ms. Cao also reviewed some of the valuable activities students participated in, such as the Career Exploration Day and the University of Chicago’s marine biology research program. Looking ahead, she reminded students that the new semester would present both challenges and opportunities. She reassured them that both the school and teachers would continue to uphold the institution’s educational philosophy, nurturing students with a global perspective, innovative spirit, and social responsibility. Ms. Cao encouraged students to maintain a positive mindset as they faced challenges, including the upcoming AP exams, noting that success is rooted in such an attitude.

The 11th-grade student representative, Eric Zhao, also delivered a speech. He introduced his speech with Albert Camus’ interpretation of determination and perseverance inThe Myth of Sisyphusand shared his personal journey in photography. As Camus stated, determination and perseverance are testaments to human dignity and the will to survive. Throughout his photography journey, Eric has faced his shortcomings head-on, continuously striving for improvement, and remained steadfast in his passion through sheer determination. He mentioned that the diverse people he sees through his camera's viewfinder remind him that everyone has their own unique value and meaning. Imperfection is the norm in life, and it is through constant exploration of these imperfections that one gradually finds their place. He encouraged his fellow students to continue growing in the new semester and to discover their own worth.

Following this, the 11th-grade teacher representative, Ms. Tang Wanqing, delivered her speech. She drew connections to the recentNezhafilm series, using the protagonist’s absolute control over his identity and destiny as a starting point to emphasize the importance of self-definition in an era that will coexist with AI. She reminded students of the necessity of knowing who they are, what kind of person they want to become, and the courage to make mistakes and take risks. She acknowledged that living in human society inevitably exposes individuals to self-doubt and struggles due to external judgment. However, only by truly accepting oneself can one take control of their own destiny. In the tide of this era, it is our continuous efforts and attempts that define the uniqueness of being human—something that no advanced AI can take away. Therefore, Ms. Tang encouraged students not to fear failure in any of their endeavors, as those seemingly "useless moments" are precisely what cultivate their irreplaceable significance.

The twelfth-grade student representative, Brady Zhu, spoke next, sharing his reflections on his entire high school journey. Drawing from his own experience, he emphasized the importance of finding the right direction, maintaining a steady pace, and showcasing personal strengths. He expressed his hope that his juniors would achieve stellar results in their university applications. He also congratulated the students from the Class of 2025 who had already received their desired college admissions, and wished success to those still waiting.

The twelfth-grade teacher representative, Mr. Wu Jiajie, reviewed the achievements of the students and looked forward to the future, offering guidance for their next steps. He congratulated those who had received their ideal college admissions and praised their efforts and perseverance. He encouraged those still awaiting results to stay positive and cherish their remaining time in high school. Mr. Wu emphasized that university acceptance is only one step along the journey toward following one’s dreams. In light of the ever-changing world, he encouraged students to look ahead, adjust their paths flexibly, and recognize the power within themselves to shape the future. He wished each student success as they embarked on their journeys from SSBS, leading the world with courage and wisdom.

       Finally, expat teacher representative Mr. Plageman offered advice to students from different grade levels. He congratulated the tenth-grade students for successfully completing their first semester of high school and encouraged them to continue building a strong foundation in the coming months while maintaining their curiosity. For the eleventh-grade students, he reminded them that this was a pivotal moment in their academic journey, a time to prepare for future opportunities. He urged them to stay motivated and keep striving as they opened new doors. For the twelfth-grade students, he stressed that while they had already achieved much, this was not the time to relax. He quoted John O'Donohue’s poemFor a New Beginningto inspire students to embrace new opportunities, take bold steps, and welcome every new beginning with enthusiasm.

         During the ceremony, representatives from various student clubs also took the stage. Eleventh-grade student Alysa Wu, president of the Stars Club, shared the club’s contributions to society, including their donation of heartwarming hairpieces. Over the past six months, the club’s donations had reached a total of 1.824 million yuan. The club had visited children's hospitals across the country, bringing warmth and confidence to patients, and had also offered online lessons to help children adapt to learning and life. Wu emphasized that despite challenges, the club would continue its work, believing that perseverance would eventually lead to brighter days.

     

The ceremony concluded with the collective presentation of club awards. As the stage lights dimmed and the crowd gradually dispersed, the students came to understand that the closing of the ceremony was not an endpoint, but rather the beginning of a new semester. As emphasized by the student representatives, teachers, and club leaders in their speeches, every ending marks the start of a new journey. Life finds its meaning through constant trial and error, perseverance, and growth. Therefore, in the new semester, the students of SSBS will continue to set sail, undeterred by the long road ahead—growing from every mistake, forging ahead through every challenge, and discovering meaning in every imperfect attempt.

 

 

文字：10-5 吴雨璇  10-4 朱奕然

责任编辑：11-3 赵奕恺  11-2 陈一苇

图片：薛雅文

编辑：曲昊睿

文字指导：李婷