Gardenia blossoms bring the youthful fragrance. The Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College (SUCC) Class of 2021 graduation ceremony took place in the Student Activity Centre of Yangpu campus, in parallel to ceremonies in each school. CHU Min, Secretary of CPC Committee of SUCC, President YE Yinzhong and other leaders of the SUCC as well as representatives of model workers, enterprises, alumni, heads of relevant secondary schools (functional departments), faculty, graduates and parents attended the ceremony to witness the vital moment as students completed their studies to begin a new journey in life.

At 13:30, the graduation ceremony kicked off with a video that showed the past three years of studies of the 2021 graduates.

Then, CPC Committee Secretary CHU Min delivered opening remarks and announced the recipients of the National Scholarship, Shanghai Scholarship and Shanghai Outstanding Graduates. He said that 2021 is the first year when China becomes a moderately prosperous society, the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and the CPC party's centenary, which is of great significance. Every graduate should feel proud to be a witness of the great cause of socialism, and embrace the long journey ahead.

HE Guang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and Vice President, read out the decision to commend outstanding graduates and internship awards. Leaders of the SUCC presented awards to the recipients of the National Scholarship, Shanghai Scholarship and Shanghai Outstanding Graduates, and representatives of model workers and enterprises presented awards to the outstanding graduates, internship awards and comprehensive scholarship.

LIN Shiqi from the School of Health and Social Care spoke on behalf of more than 3,000 graduates. She recalled her three years of study from a freshman to an outstanding graduate, and noted that she owed her achievements and honours to the platform and opportunities provided by the school, and the support from her family, teachers and friends. "Graduation is just one of the milestones on the timeline of life, with more unknowns waiting to be explored and discovered. "

Speaking on behalf of the faculty members, Mr. ZHU Jiang from the School of Construction Economics & Management told the students that “Life is not only about practical purposes or survival. There are poems and faraway places, and one shall not forget to take a moment and look up at the stars. "He wished the students to have perseverance in their hearts, care for other people, reverence not to do evil, inner fullness and contribution to society in their future life path.

Speaking on behalf of the parents of more than 3,000 graduates, the father of JI Weiming, a graduate of the School of Economics and Trade, expressed his gratitude to the school: “The school has constructed a solid platform, put in hard work for the growth of students, and laid a solid foundation for everyone to enter the workplace in the future.” He also sent his best wishes to the teachers, students and the school.

On the occasion of the graduates of 2021 leaving for their future, CHU Min accepted the souvenir - “Glory" on behalf of the school from the representative of the graduates. He hoped that the students would continue to study, innovate and work hard.

All school leaders awarded graduation certificates and presented graduation souvenirs to the graduates, passing on their blessings. Student representatives presented flowers to their mentors, teachers and parents. Current students paid tribute to their graduating seniors with a poem recitation of "Sunrise, Dawn, and the World in Bloom".

At this important moment when graduates are about to leave campus for the society, YE Yinzhong gave a wonderful "last lesson" to the graduates of the Class of 2021 with the title of "Enter the New Era for the New Journey". He said that this year’s graduates share unique memories with the school, including key historical anniversaries of the school, the prosperous development of our great motherland, the challenges of coronavirus pandemic and remote learning, and the spring of the reform and development of vocational education. Over the past three years, the school has been striving for excellence and the pursuit of first-class development, whilst students studies hard for better results. At the time of parting, he sent a message to all graduates:

The students should set aspirations for success. Students should link their life goals with the Chinese Dream of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, remember the school motto of "Establishing Virtue, Value and Career", serve the country, the people and families, be good builders and successors, and become high-quality skilled talent for national development.

Always keep learning. Students should continue to learn and innovate, so as to keep momentum to the voyage of life. They should also learn in practice, constantly surpass themselves in the pursuit of excellence, and always stand at the forefront of the development and progress of the times.

Always carry the spirit of struggle. Students should embrace hard-work instead of idling, take small steps to reach thousands of miles and accumulate small streams to form rivers and seas. Honest efforts and unremitting progress will create a good career and life.

Don't forget your alma mater and teachers. Your alma mater will always welcome you back home with open arms.

The graduation ceremony ended successfully with the song "Junior".

At the moment of graduation, the graduates, after drawing sufficient “nutrients” in the SUCC, are to set sail for the starry sea, linking their life goals with the Chinese Dream of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, remember the school motto, and become high-quality skilled talent for national development.