By Ji Wu

It’s that time of year again! Yes, the graduation season. Like most countries in the world the graduation season in China happens in June, although there may be certain post-graduate programs that finish in March or December.

For primary school and most middle school students, it’s a time to finish one period of academic life and start a new one while parting with old friends. Most of the high school students, will be facing Gao Kao, also known as the University Entrance Examination, one of the most important exams in deciding which university they will go to. There is always a big celebration when students graduate from high school, many students will leave their hometown, their families and friends to go to another city for college or university study, particularly students who are from relatively small cities or towns. For university graduates, it’s the end of being a student and a time to bid farewell to all the happy memories that belong only to youth. After the painful graduation dissertation and passing of the dissertation defense, most students will receive their diplomas at the graduation ceremony. Some of them will choose to travel, some will go back home to spend some time with families, and some would start working right away.

Graduation season has always been a time of both sadness and optimism as all these young people say goodbye to a valuable period in their lives and say hello to yet another amazing journey. As a famous modern Chinese saying goes “No one can stay young forever, but there are always people in their youth.” Let’s offer our sincerest wishes to the Class of 2021!