港中大(深圳)校长开学演讲：若不主动定义自己的人生，将被他人定义
香港中文大学（深圳）徐扬生校长
点击文末阅读原文观看徐扬生校长的演讲视频
各位同学、各位家长，各位同事，朋友们：
欢迎大家来到香港中文大学（深圳）2020级新生开学典礼。首先，我想感谢赫克曼教授和张益唐教授发人深思的讲话。感谢你们！2020级的新同学们，你们今天来到了香港中文大学（深圳），祝贺你们！
今年，我们一共有1442名本科生和990名左右研究生加入香港中文大学（深圳）的大家庭。从今天起，你们就是这个充满爱的集体中的一份子。我代表大学向你们致以最热烈的欢迎! 在2020级入学的本科生中，我们有82名国际学生，由于疫情防控的旅行限制，今天他们只能在线上参加我们的开学典礼，在此我也要向他们致以特别的问候，希望我们能够早日在美丽的港中大（深圳）的校园中团聚！
今年也是深圳经济特区成立40周年。你们一定听说过这样一句话，“来了就是深圳人。”所以，今天也让我以深圳人的身份欢迎你们的到来！
2020级的新生们，你们是非同寻常的一届。你们当中大多数人生于非典肆虐的年代，18年后，在新冠肺炎对人类社会造成最严峻考验的时候，你们迎来了人生中最重要的考试。你们的能力和韧性都经受住了考验，疫情没有阻止你们实现理想。我和你们的父母一样，为你们感到骄傲。在过去的几百个日日夜夜，你朝着梦想努力，不曾停息与放弃，我们为你们鼓掌！我们也要为你们的父母鼓掌，感谢他们无时无刻、不求回报的爱与支持！
特别是，今年我们有55名来自湖北的同学，疫情之下的湖北，每一个人、每一个家庭都曾牵动着全国人民乃至全世界人民的心，湖北人民为在全国范围内迅速有效地控制住疫情的蔓延做出了巨大的牺牲，是最英雄、最可敬的人。在这里，让我们为湖北的同学鼓掌！不仅如此，今天我们在这里隆重地开学，应该感恩所有为了人民的生命健康安全、为了顺利恢复社会生产、生活秩序而付出辛勤努力、做出无私奉献的人们！
同学们，大学是一个全新的开始。刚刚你们已经为过去的自己所取得的成绩鼓掌庆祝过了，之后，你们就要放下过往的成绩和荣耀，清空自己，从零出发。之前我给未录取的同学们写了一封信，我对他们说：“如果你想要走远路的话，一定要放掉身上的包袱，我们人生的路很长，高考并非你现在所想的那么重要。”这句话我同样也要告诉你们，过去的失败是包袱，过去的成功也会成为包袱，高考只是人生中的短暂一站，并不能决定我们全部人生，想要过好我们的一生，就要有不断放下、不断出发的魄力和决心，永远向前看，以崭新的姿态，去创造新的成绩，书写新的历史。
今天，你们正式翻开了人生重要的新篇章。即将踏入新的人生阶段，你们一定既兴奋又紧张。你们才刚刚开始探索校园，也许对周围的环境还有些陌生。但用不了几周的时间，你将会熟悉这里的每一个角落，与每一个地方建立联系。这将是你们梦想生根发芽的地方，也是在未来几年，甚至是今后的人生可以称之家的地方！
你可能已经听说过，大学和高中很不一样。无论你过去多么优秀，我都希望你准备好迎接变化，准备好被启发、去改变。“一切过往皆为序章。”在这所大学，你会面对新的挑战，着手去做高难度的课业;你会一次又一次地改变甚至重构自己的知识结构;你也可能会质疑自己的学习方法，并不断做出调整。当你做出这些努力的时候，整个大学的师生员工都会支持你、帮助你。大学会为你提供很多的资源和机会。你会听到无数的大师在这里发声；你将认识博学的教授、最具影响力的学者;你会每天与才华横溢的同龄人朝夕相处;你将有很多的机会来扩展你的视野，探索整个世界。
但我要说的是，这些机会并不会强加于你。没有人会在追在你身后催你交作业; 即使你在课堂上睡了一大觉，老师也不会惩罚你; 也不会有人要求你一定要参加各种各样的讲座、论坛和活动。大学教育不仅限于课堂。当你来到大学的那一刻，主动权就在你手里。同学们，我希望从一开始就同你们讲，你们来这里不是来被动地接受教育，而是要主动参与，去塑造你们自己的大学教育。积极主动的态度很重要，若你不去主动定义自己的人生，那么，你生活的色彩将被他人定义。
同学们，在你们大学的第一天，我想和你们分享两方面内容，希望对你们即将开始的大学生活有所裨益。
首先，我希望大家能够重视人的价值，相信善良、同情和感性的力量。在今年三月，疫情最严峻的时候，我曾在朋友圈里转发过这样一篇文章：人类学家玛格丽达·米德曾对学生说：“古代文化中文明的第一个迹象就是股骨折断而被治愈。因为在动物界，如果摔断腿，就意味着死亡，你无法逃避危险，无法去河边饮水和狩猎食物，你很快意味着死亡，你无法逃避危险，无法去河边饮水和狩猎食物，你很快会成为游荡的野兽的食物。可以说，没有动物能在断腿后存活很久，活到断骨愈合。断骨愈合，这说明有人花了很长时间与受伤的人待在一起，绑住了伤口，将人带到了安全地点，并帮助他慢慢趋于康复。”
这个故事让人非常感动，它告诉我们作为人，最重要、最宝贵的品质是什么，告诉我们人类文明生生不息所依赖的并非物质条件的进步，而是宝贵的人性，是人类的善良、同情与爱，是在困难的时候懂得救助和帮助别人。这是人之所以为人，区别于动物、区别于机器的根本所在，是我们应该珍视和坚守的人的价值。尽管现在很多时候，这种价值已经黯淡了、失却了、遗忘了，但当有大的灾难发生的时候，正是这样的一些人性的光辉让我们能够对未来抱有信心和希望，最终帮助我们渡过难关，取得胜利，让我们重新看到这些朴素的价值背后所蕴藏的力量。
大学是培育人才的地方，更是守护人类的尊严与价值的地方，因此，我希望不论外部世界怎样的动荡和不平静，我们的同学都能够珍惜和守护这样的品质，这是我对同学们最大的期望。
其次，我希望同学们在大学期间能够养成负责任的品行和习惯。负责任的习惯说大则大，说小则小，大到可以是对所在社会、国家和民族的责任感，小到可以是完成身边的人所交代的一件事、或是对自己生活、学习上的日常小事的责任心。而大的责任感都是建立在生活的一点一滴之中的，很难相信一个对自己都不负责任的人，会有能力为他人、为更大的群体和目标而付诸努力。
因此，我首先要说的是对自己负责。进入大学，就代表着你已经是一个成年人了，作为一个成年人最重要的标志的就是你要能够为自己负责，以前你有父母和老师替你计划和安排一切，但是进入大学，就不再是这样了，你要自己安排好自己的学习与生活，你要自己为每一个选择和行动做决定，不论结果如何，你要自己来承担，而不是去埋怨和责怪别人。这是非常重要的一点，只有当你能够为自己的行为和决定负起责任，你才会享有真正的自由。
然后，我想要说的是你要对他人负责。这一点不论在你未来的学习、工作和生活中都会是非常重要的一点，常常我们会说这个人靠不靠谱，实际上就是在说这个人是不是有责任心，是否值得信赖和托付，这种品质实际上比你学识有多高、能力有多强更加重要。曾国藩曾说过：“事有归着，心存济物。”所谓“事有归着”就是办事沉稳有着落，每件事都做的有头有尾、有始有终，对他人、对自己都有一个交代，这就是一个办事踏实、待人诚恳、有责任心的态度。只有凡事能做到“事有归着”，那么“心存济物”才不会变成一句空言，当你能够对自己负责、对他人负责的时候，你才真正有能力去关心他人、关心社会、心系天下。只有这样，你才能去践行和承担更大的使命与责任。
同学们，你们在高考中取得了成功，于是今天才能够坐在这里。也许常常有人告诉你，我们要力争成功。但从今天起，我希望你们将追求优秀作为你们的目标，而不仅仅是追求成功。短期的成功有时候常常只是昙花一现，而追求优秀会给你无穷无尽的力量。当我们把追求成功作为目标时，虚荣也许会随之而来，但追求优秀的人会倾向于取得长远的成功。所以，如果过去别人教你要以成功为导向，我希望在这所大学里，你能学会以优秀为导向。
最后，我想请你们看一看坐在你们身边的同学们。你们可能会常常听到“同辈压力” 这个词。但我想说，你们在这里不是要和彼此竞争或者是拼个你输我赢，相反，你们在这里是要向彼此学习，互相激励，互相帮助成长。一颗星的闪亮并不会带走另一颗星的光芒，反而，它们会在夜空里相互辉映。星空之所以迷人，不是因为任何一两颗星星的闪耀，它的美源自于满天繁星各放异彩。同样，这所大学期待见证你们各放光芒。
同学们，现在机会就在你们面前。现在就开始，去定义你是谁，去定义你的未来。我期待听到你们精彩的故事跟经历。愿你们的大学生活过得充实且有成果。
谢谢大家！
徐扬生
香港中文大学（深圳）校长
President Yangsheng Xu’s Remarks
at 2020 Inauguration Ceremony
Saturday, September 5, 2020
Click the photo to watch President Yangsheng Xu's speech
Slide up to read more
Dear students, parents, colleagues and friends,
Welcome to the 2020 Inauguration Ceremony of CUHK-Shenzhen! Prof. Heckman and Prof. Yitang Zhang, thank you very much for your inspiring talks! Class of 2024, congratulations on arriving at CUHK-Shenzhen!
This year, 1442 undergraduates and 990 graduate students are joining the CUHK-Shenzhen community. From today onwards, you will be members of this loving and beloved family. On behalf of the University, I give you my heartiest welcome! An essential part of our Class of 2024, due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, can only attend our ceremony online. They are 82 international students currently situated at different sectors of the globe. To you, I wish to extend my special regards. I hope the day will not be far when I can welcome you to this beautiful campus in person.
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. You’ve heard it said that “You are a Shenzhener once you come to Shenzhen.” So today, let me also welcome you as my dear fellow Shenzheners!
Class of 2024, you are an exceptional class. Most of you were born in the year when SARS ravaged this country, and 18 years later, you approached the most important exam in your life during a time when COVID-19 threatened humanity most severely. Your strength and resilience have been tested. You did not let the pandemic stop you from reaching your destination. I feel as proud of you as your parents may well be. You deserve a round of applause here, to yourselves, for working so hard and holding fast to your dreams for the past hundreds of days and nights, and to your parents, for their untiring and unconditional love and support.
Our 55 new students from Hubei, you’ve undergone extra difficulties. The life of every Hubei citizen and family tugs at people’s heartstrings nationwide and worldwide. Residents of Hubei have made tremendous sacrifices in our efforts to contain the pandemic both promptly and effectively. They have demonstrated the utmost heroism in this fight, hence deserves our highest respect. I’d like to propose another round of applause for our students from this heroic province! That we can sit here and celebrate this grand opening of your university life should not be taken for granted, for many have worked tirelessly and selflessly to ensure people’s safety, to resume work and production, and to bring back order to the society. To them, we owe a huge thanks.
Dear students, university is a brand-new beginning. Now that we have already saluted your past achievements, it’s time to let go of them. Yes, disburden your mind of past success so that it can grow and expand afresh. I previously wrote to students who were not admitted to CUHK-Shenzhen that “if ever you wish to walk long and reach far, you must learn to liberate yourselves from past failures and successes alike; that our life is too long a journey to dwell on this one incidence of College Entrance Examination”. To you, I wish to say the same. Past failures, as much as past successes, are encumbrances on our paths. The Exam alone, as one stop of life’s journey, does not suffice to determine who we are. I do not venture to offer an elixir, but I believe by constantly unloading ourselves, by a readiness and resolution to start all over again, and by looking forward with self-adjustment, we can hope to lead a fulfilling life. In a like manner, you will be setting new records and making histories.
Today, you officially open a significant new chapter of life. Among you, there must be much excitement as well as a mixture of anxiety, which is rightly expected of each threshold in life. As you’ve just started exploring the campus, you might feel uncertain about the grounds on which you are treading, but in a few weeks’ time, you will know every corner of it and establish personnel connection with it. Yes, claim your university. This is the place where your dreams and ambitions can take root and flourish; this is the place that you will call home in the coming few years and beyond.
You may have already heard that university is very different from high school. No matter how impressive you use to be, I want you to be prepared to embrace changes, to be ready to be inspired and transformed. “What’s past is prologue.” At CUHK-Shenzhen, you will face new challenges, tackle demanding tasks; you will, again and again, have your existing knowledge structure unsettled and reconstructed; you will also question, adjust and readjust your way of learning. While you do so, the entire CUHK-Shenzhen community will be there for your support. Here you will be connected to many resources and opportunities. You will have the chance to listen to masterminds, you will get to know the most learned professors and influential scholars; you will meet with talented peers; you will have vast opportunities to expand your vision and explore the world globally.
But these opportunities will not be forced upon you. No one will chase after you for a missing assignment; you will not be penalized for sleeping through a whole lecture if you choose to do so; you will not be required to go to office hours or attend the numerous talks, forums, workshops and activities that are always on-going. Yes, a university education takes place both in the classrooms and beyond. When you come to the University, the initiative is yours to take. Dear students, let me urge you from this very beginning that you are not here to passively receive an education, but to participate in the shaping of your own education. A proactive attitude matters. Be the definer, otherwise, you will be defined.
Dear students, on this first day of your university life, I wish to share with you the following two things, which I hope will be of use to your experience here.
First, I want to emphasize the value of humanity and the power of kindness, empathy, and sensibility. Earlier in March, when COVID-19 cast the darkest gloom over the globe, I posted an article about Margaret Mead, a celebrated anthropologist, on my WeChat Moments. In this article, I will quote, Mead told her student that “the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (the thighbone) that had been broken and healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives long enough for a broken leg bone to heal. A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery.”
This story is thoroughly touching. It bespeaks the fundamental and invaluable quality of human beings, that is, the existence and development of human civilization does not rest with material advancement, rather, it pivots upon humanity, kindness, compassion, love, and the willingness to lift one another out of pain and suffering. These qualities are what fundamentally distinguish us from animals and robots, and such are the very values that we, as members of the human race, should prize and uphold though they sometimes see dimmed, forfeited, and forgotten. When disasters strike, it is often the brilliance of humanity that sustains us and gives us courage and hope. Indeed, such values are overtly plain but immeasurably powerful.
A university is where talents are cultivated. It is also where human dignity and values are respected and protected. Therefore, it is my foremost expectation of you that despite the tribulations and disquietude out there in the world, you will respect and protect these values at this university.
Second, I hope you will act with responsibility and make it your habit. When we talk about responsibility, it could be as big as our responsibilities towards our society and country, it could also mean the small ones that we bear towards ourselves and others, when we promise someone else a favor or when we take care of the small things in our life and studies. Big responsibilities, however, can never be fulfilled without faithfully carrying out our daily small responsibilities. He who behaves irresponsibly with his own life can hardly be trusted to dedicate himself to bigger interests or the welfare of others.
I urge you, first and foremost, to be responsible for yourselves. This is essentially important in adult life, and as university students, you are adults already. Here you will have to part with a past where your parents and teachers made every possible arrangement for you, but start taking initiatives planning for your own life and study. Learn to make independent but well-informed decisions and face the outcomes, even though they are not always satisfying. Blaming others will lead you to nowhere. I make a point of this, that when difficulties or even frustrating consequences arise, do not try to shift the blame to someone else. You will be able to enjoy the freedom of mind only if you learn to claim responsibility for your own decisions and actions.
With that lesson learned, I urge you to be responsible for others. You will profit tremendously from it in your future work, life, and studies. Often when we talk about whether an individual is trustworthy, the overriding criterion is responsibility, outweighing capabilities and education background. The Late-Qing statesman and philosopher Zeng Guofan once said, “For each endeavor, one must, with dutifulness and steadiness, see to its proper completion; the heart then can aspire to procure betterment to others and the society.” The second half of the statement is predicated on the fulfillment of the first. You must first learn to take charge of your own life before you can advance the causes of others, the society, and the world at large, and be trusted with higher aims and more demanding missions.
Dear students, you have succeeded in the college entrance examination and made it here. You have often been told that we should strive for success. But starting from here, I hope you will make excellence the goal of your pursuit, rather than success. Success may engender temporary satisfaction, but excellence gives you inexhaustible strength. He that aims at immediate success runs the risk of vanity, yet he that strives for excellence will be rewarded with lasting success. If you have been taught to be success-oriented before, I hope at this University, you will be excellence-oriented.
Before I close my speech, I want you to take a look at your wonderful peers. You may hear the phrase “peer pressure” repeated to you from time to time. But let me make this point, you are not here to compete against one another or beat each other down, instead, you are here to learn from one another, inspire one another, and help each other grow. The splendor of one star does not take away the brilliancy of another, rather, they enrich mutually. The night sky is enchanting not because any one or two planet shines prominently, but because all stars give out light jointly. Likewise, the University is ready to see you all glow and shine.
Now the chances and opportunities are before you to take. Start defining your identity and your future now. I look forward to hearing your wonderful stories and experiences. May your university life be one that is lived fully and fruitfully.
Thank you!
Yangsheng Xu
President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
END
来源：香港中文大学深圳
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