Recently, a parent of a student at a high school in Dandong, Liaoning Province, made a fiery speech at the senior graduation ceremony that caught the attention of netizens, who praised it for being “profound.”
According to a report by the “Xiaoxiang Morning Post,” on June 11th, the parent, Wang Ye, recounted the details of the event. After the ceremony, many students approached him to shake hands, expressing that their nervousness about the upcoming college entrance examination was alleviated. Wang Ye mentioned that his daughter remained relaxed during the exam period, stating, “I dare not ask how she did, but she always came out of the exam room with a smile.”
On June 4th, at the senior graduation ceremony of Dandong No. 2 High School, Wang Ye, a 44-year-old parent representing all parents, took the stage to deliver a heartfelt message to the 750+ senior students from 16 classes present.
Wang Ye began his speech by expressing sincere gratitude on behalf of the parents to the school and teachers, acknowledging their hard work. He then shared a line from a song with the parents, saying, “Whether in full bloom or not, it is still a flower.” He went on to deliver a mix of good and bad news, mentioning that the chances of these children getting into top universities like Tsinghua or Peking University were low, but on the bright side, the differences between other universities were minimal. He emphasized that in the end, regardless of the university they attend, they will need to work hard, making the distinctions between public and private institutions insignificant.
Wang Ye encouraged the students to reflect on themselves and remember who they are now as they navigate the complexities of the world in the future. He urged them to embrace challenges, experiences, and even setbacks, ending with the rallying cry, “Gather around, get ready for the battle.”
After the ceremony, Wang Ye stood outside the auditorium, receiving praise from many students for his speech. While he felt he could have done better, as he was constantly checking the stopwatch on his phone due to time constraints and the rarity of speaking onstage.
Despite Wang Ye’s self-criticism, the video of his speech posted online received numerous praises from netizens. Some remarked, “This is life,” while others appreciated the genuine sentiments expressed by the speaker.
One netizen, “Hua Jia Zhen,” remarked, “An interesting soul among many.” They speculated that the parent must have ample wisdom and rich life experiences, even if lacking higher academic credentials.
Another netizen, “Today’s Clear Sky,” highlighted the precious evaluation of being “innocent and brave.”
Wang Ye shared with mainland media that his daughter is currently a high school senior at a non-key high school in the area, where many students may only be able to attend vocational schools. Prior to the graduation ceremony, the class teacher approached him, hoping he could speak on behalf of the parents as the students were under immense pressure, with some even crying at night, believing that his words would resonate with the students.
Since joining the parent committee since his daughter’s freshman year, Wang Ye has been actively promoting anti-bullying knowledge on campus. This initiative stems from his personal experiences as a student, where he was a class monitor with decent grades but refrained from taking the college entrance exam due to bullying. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “The closest I came to university was working as a security guard at a university in Guangxi for a few years.”
When crafting his speech, Wang Ye aimed to express gratitude to the school and teachers for their efforts during a rebellious phase and acknowledge the parents for their support during the students’ transition into adulthood. He concluded by sharing heartfelt advice with the students, emphasizing the importance of giving their all in the college entrance exam but not dwelling too much on the results. He encouraged them to lead a joyful life and take care of themselves.
“Before going onstage, my daughter reminded me not to embarrass her. After the ceremony, when I asked her how it went, she said it was alright,” Wang Ye chuckled. He mentioned that his daughter remained relatively relaxed during the three-day exam period.