On August 25th, the School of Foreign Languages organized the 2022 undergraduate freshmen to watch the opening ceremony of the 2022 undergraduate students of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and "the First Class for Freshmen” in the branch venue of SFL.

In the morning, SFL teachers and students attended the virtual opening ceremony of the 2022 undergraduates in the Lecture Hall No. 300 of Yang Yongman Building. Zhang Weigang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of SJTU and Minister of the United Front Work Department of SJTU, Ding Jian, Secretary of the Party Committee of SFL, Zhang Hongmei, Associate Dean of SFL, and Zhu Yifan, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of SFL, attended the event.

The participants watched the live broadcast of the main venue carefully, listened to the speech titled "Aspiration and Self-Reliance" by Lin Zhongqin, President of SJTU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and deeply realized SJTU students’ inheritance and mission. That was, dare to undertake the task of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, to stand at the forefront of the tide, to lay a solid foundation for growth, and to become a history-making generation. Lin Zhongqin also sent a message to the freshmen: to adapt to the changes in the environment, to lay a solid academic foundation, and to harbor the aspiration of serving one’s country. 

Gu Guoying, a teacher representative, shared his own experiences of studying and scientific research, encouraging students to cherish the learning opportunities and quickly adapt to the new environment, be bold to make choices and determined to strive for them; to cope with pressure properly and maintain a positive and optimistic mindset.
Chen Guangming, the alumni representative, shared his personal experience with all the freshmen: "I hope we will always have an independent spirit, seek truth, and do not yield to secular interests; I hope we will always cherish the patriotic feelings, be innovative and aspiring, bold to undertake the mission of a generation; I hope we will always put kindness first, and achieve one’s life ideal in the spirit of altruism."

Zhang Weigang extended a warm welcome to the new students and stressed once again that SJTU’s birth and development rested upon aspiration and reformation. Fighting and innovation was the spiritual source of SJTU teachers and students, after surviving the national crisis, the construction of new China, and the reform and opening up of new China. He encouraged freshmen to adjust their mentality, learn to be independent, abide by rules, be honest,  integrate into university life as soon as possible, and start a new chapter in life.

In the afternoon, all the 2022 freshmen listened to the "the First Class for Freshmen" given by Yang Zhenbin, Secretary of the Party Committee of SJTU, in the lecture hall No. 300 of Yang Yongman Building. With the theme of "Choose Shanghai Jiao Tong University, choose responsibility", Yang Zhenbin talked about “Shanghai Jiao Tong University" , “study" and  "ideals" with the freshmen. He encouraged the students to seize the golden time of university, persevere and keep abreast of the time,lay a solid foundation for doing things, have the courage to undertake the sacred mission of the times, and cultivate a deep patriotic spirit. He urged the students to keep in mind that "if you choose Shanghai Jiao Tong University, you choose the responsibility", and never stop exploring the “virgin land”. 

The participants expressed that as "SJTU students", they sincerely felt the university and school’s expectations by watching the opening ceremony and the First Class for Freshmen. The motto of "choosing Shanghai Jiao Tong University means choosing responsibility" have been deeply engraved in their minds.