In the fragrant bloom of May, the campus is as beautiful as brocade. On the morning of May 19, alumni of the 1982 Management class of the School of Economics and Management (SEM) crossed mountains and rivers to gather at their alma mater and celebrate the 40th anniversary of their graduation with a return-to-campus event. Themed "Forty Years After Graduation, Returning Still Young", the event began around 8:00 a.m. before the Economics and Management Building, where laughter filled the air as more than 30 alumni, deeply nostalgic for their youthful years, embarked on this long-awaited journey "home".
Long-reunited friends always have endless words to share and deep feelings to express. A familiar call, a warm embrace, instantly turned back the clock to their schoolmate days forty years ago. Some alumni held hands and gazed at one another, recounting the years apart; others gathered in small groups, laughing over old stories. This pure friendship has only grown richer through forty years of wind and rain.
Around 9:00 a.m., the alumni came to the front of the Main Building and took a group photo before the statue of Chairman Mao. The building that had witnessed their student days still stands tall, and the once high-spirited young people have returned, still full of vigor--truly "Forty Years After Graduation, Returning Still Young".
At 9:30, guided by a docent, the alumni visited the exhibition room dedicated to the important reply letter from President Xi Jinping and the University History Museum. In the exhibition room, the alumni carefully examined the displays, feeling greatly inspired by their alma mater's courageous assumption of mission and perseverance in serving national strategy. Entering the University History Museum, every word, picture, object and scene bears witness to the university's development in step with the motherland, sharing weal and woe with the nation. From the arduous founding of the university in 1952, to its enterprising development after being renamed University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), to today's vigorous "Double First-Class" construction, the alumni lingered long before the old photographs and gazed attentively at the exhibits. Tides of emotion and pride flowed through them; here they revisited their youthful memories and gained a deeper understanding of the spiritual heritage their alma mater has passed down for seventy-four years.
After the tour, the alumni gathered in front of the library for a group photo. The Main Building, the statue of Chairman Mao, and the library--landmarks that have stood for decades--are the most familiar coordinates of their student memories. Comparing the present with the past, they sincerely marveled at the rapid, ever-changing development of their alma mater.
The alumni entered the Economics and Management Building. Although they had not taken classes in this modern teaching building, the warmth of "home" welled up around them. After a group photo in the ground-floor lobby, they went into Room 312, where at 10:30 a symposium opened in a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere. Wang Weicai, former Vice President of the university and Vice President of the Alumni Association; He Minqing, former Vice President of the university and Vice President of the Alumni Association; Wu Sen, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School; and Liu Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Dean of the School, attended the symposium and exchanged views warmly with the alumni.
"Roll call begins now!" At the class monitor's command, the symposium reached a deeply moving moment. Each time the monitor called out a name, someone would rise in response and answer clearly, "Here!" In that moment, time seemed to turn back, and the classroom scene of forty years ago reappeared before their eyes. These repeated calls of "Here!" were an echo across forty years and the most solemn pledge of schoolmate friendship.
Amid warm applause, several alumni representatives took turns to speak. They fondly recalled their days of study at the alma mater and expressed gratitude for their teachers' devoted guidance and earnest teaching. Deeply moved, they said that the alma mater is where dreams set sail; here they not only gained knowledge but also learned how to be upright people, and it was the wisdom and character bestowed by the alma mater that enabled them to stand tall and shoulder great responsibilities in all walks of life. The alumni expressed that seeing the splendid achievements of the university and the School in recent years filled them with pride, and that they would continue to care for and support the School's development, contributing to the building of their home school.
On behalf of the School, Wu Sen extended a warm welcome to the alumni. She gave a comprehensive account of the School's remarkable progress in recent years in discipline development, scientific research, faculty recruitment and cultivation, and talent training, and introduced a series of signature activities--including the study tours of the Entrepreneurs Chapter of the SEM Alumni Association, the MBA Alumni Association's empowerment of rural revitalization, alumni return-to-campus events on jubilee years, alumni interviews, the Alumni Enterprise Visit, the Alumni Forum, alumni growth mentors, and the SEM Entrepreneurship Practice Camp--along with the School's alumni fund management. She highly praised the 1982 Management class alumni for their long-standing deep affection and generous donations to their home school, and sincerely welcomed their continued support for the School's construction and development.
Wang Weicai recalled the old days with the 1982 Management class alumni. He gave the alumni a brief introduction to the university's history and its recent development, as well as the latest progress in the construction of the Xiong'an campus. He remarked with emotion that the university's development could not have been achieved without the care and support of its alumni, and hoped they would often come back to visit.
He Minqing recalled the unforgettable years with the 1982 Management class alumni. He said that seeing everyone still full of spirit with radiant smiles made it seem as though time had never passed. "Forty Years After Graduation, Returning Still Young" is the best description of them all. He sincerely wished the alumni good health and a happy life, and looked forward to their frequent reunions at the alma mater.
The symposium came to a close amid laughter and cheer. The alumni moved to the front of the Economics and Management Building and took a group photo with their teachers. The moment the camera clicked, forty years seemed to condense into an instant, and all the gratitude, joy and blessings converged on their smiling faces.
The success of this return-to-campus event would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the class liaison and the return-to-campus organizing committee of the 1982 Management class. It was their selfless devotion that kept the cohesion of this community as strong as ever over forty years. The classmates made a shared promise: to gather again at their alma mater for the 45th anniversary of their graduation!
