From April 26 to 27, President Yang Chuanping lived like a student for 24 hours at Northeast Forestry University. It is the third time for president Yang to have classes, eat, discuss, exercise, practice, and sleep with students.
On the morning of the 26th, president Yang Chuanping went to room T301 in the Jinxiu Building to have the basic theory of Marxism class with 2015 gardening majors. During the class, president Yang sat among the students, listened carefully, took notes, and watched video clips. During the break, he discussed the content of the class with the students.
At noon, Yang went to the first floor of the Jian De dining hall to have lunch with the students. Over the meal, Yang cordially asked the students: “How much are your monthly living expenses? How much do you spend on eating every month? How do you like the cafeteria food? Are you used to it? ” Students happily talked about their favorite snacks at NEFU. When Yang heard that the students liked to eat spicy food, he said: “Even though spicy food can warm you up in these cold days, eating too much is harmful, because it will hurt your stomach." These words were like a summer breeze that warmed students’ hearts on that cold day.
At 2 p.m., sophomores from class one held a meeting entitledLearning to Practice, Building an Ecological Civilizationin Room 448, Yi Fu Building. President Yang and the students sat around in a semicircle to learn the content and meaning ofLearn to Practice, listen to the students’ emotional poetry recitation –Natural, watch videos of construction of ecological civilization construction played in CCTV News, and to discuss the problems related with the construction of an ecological civilization. President Yang seriously took notes on the views of the group members while discussing. After the discussion, president Yang summarized students’ opinions, elaborated the definition and content of the construction of an ecological civilization, and introduced the painful history lessons learned from the balance between forest protection and economic development in Heilongjiang province and all of China. He also mentioned the current development ideas, mid, & long-term goals. President Yang pointed out that the protection and construction of an ecological civilization is the historical task that cannot be shirked by students from NEFU. He said: “This theme meeting broadened and enlightened students’ thinking. We hope students can strive to learn academic knowledge in order to make contributions to the protection and development of China’s forest industry.” Yang's speech made students deeply understand their missions and have expectations for the ecological civilization in the future.
After the theme meeting, the president went to the new gym to play table tennis with students. He encouraged students to actively exercise in order to maintain a healthy body.
At night, president Yang had supper with students in Yi Feng dining hall. He participated a flower bouquet activity with students from the College of Landscape Architecture. The theme of this activity wasFeel the Beauty of Youth, Taste the Splendidness of Time.Students added their thinking toward youth into flower bouquets along with president Yang, and analyzed the symbolic meaning of each flower. At last, they combined the meaning of each flower with floral art to form the gorgeous rhyme of youth.
At night, president Yang went to the No. 15 dormitory building. Students in Room 1315 asked him to close his eyes. He was surprised to find that students came in with a birthday cake and wished him a happy birthday when opened his eyes. Student Xu Hao explained: “We knew you just had a birthday in the theme meeting. We don’t want to miss the important day, so please allow us to give you the birthday wish.” President Yang was deeply moved and said: “Thank you very much for your preparation. Even though it is not my birthday today, this is one of my most meaningful birthdays.” Then, he blew out the candles, sang a happy birthday song and shared the cake with students. After the lights went out in the room, they continued to converse, talking about their hometown customs, until finally going to sleep late at night. President Yang told the students from the perspective of an alumnus that every problem can be solved in life so that students should not give up when they encounter difficulties in life and study. They can ask teachers for help, and the university also will try to help the students to experience a successful and happy time in university. Meanwhile, the university will help students to complete the accumulation of the most predominant knowledge in life. Student Xu Hao said: “I felt nervous at first, but relaxed later on. I didn’t expect president Yang to know so many various customs. He is like an easy-going but knowledgeable brother, who can solve everything.”
On the 27th, Yang and the students went to Yifu Building in the morning, where students of the College of Landscape Architecture were carrying out a group dance in order to prepare for the group dance competition at NEFU. President Yang said: “You must have worked so hard to achieve this perfect performance. I hope you can get an ideal result to be the seventh consecutive champions.”
After enjoying a nutritious breakfast in the Yi Feng dining hall, Yang went to Room 305 in the Dan Qing Building to have gardening project class with students. During the class he learned how to distinguish and use common landscape stone materials in landscape design.
After class, sophomores from gardening class one gave the flower bouquet president Yang’s team made in the floral art class as a gift. President Yang Chuanping encouraged students to maintain vitality, but to restrain themselves just like the flowers. Like the buds waiting to bloom, students should be optimistic talents to warm society.
