On the evening of May 20, graduates of the School of Management and Economics (SME), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK-Shenzhen) gathered happily at the Liwen Hall to celebrate the SME Graduation Ball for the Class of 2024. The black and gold tones with a variety of vintage elements recreated a dreamy, retro jazz party. The graduates laughed and danced to their hearts’ content, bid farewell to their innocent old days over toasts and drinks, and drew a successful conclusion to four years of youth in CUHK-Shenzhen.

Click on the video below to see the highlights

The Ball attracted nearly 400 teachers and students, including Professor Tong Shilu, Associate Dean of the SME; Professor Zhang Wen, Assistant Dean (Student Affairs) of the SME; Professor Wang Jingqi, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School; Professor Ye Shuai; Professor Lu Yifei; Professor Li Mei; Gao Qianhe, Director of School Admin; Li Xialin, Director of the Office of Institutional Advancement, University Foundation; Zeng Xiangrong, Director of Equipment and Asset Management Office; and He Dingping, Deputy Director of the Admissions Office.

Speech by Professor Tong Shilu

Professor Tong Shilu, Associate Dean of the SME, extended his blessings to the graduates who were about to embark on a new journey at the Ball. He said that one must always maintain a thirst for knowledge in his/her life and dare to ask questions under the spirit of exploration to continuously broaden horizons and create new possibilities. In addition, he encouraged the graduates to bravely pursue their dreams, big or small they may seem. Professor Tong said as long as they persevere, nothing is impossible.

Speech by an outstanding graduate

Li Wei, an outstanding graduate representative of the SME, CUHK-Shenzhen, shared her profound experience of peer support in her four years of studies and life. She recalled that over the past four years, the collaboration with her peers had gradually relieved her negative view of peer pressure. Her classmates and friends provided her with valuable internship opportunities. It is the support from her peers that gave her the courage to embark on a gap year to explore different possibilities and expand her life path.

Graduation speeches

Huang Shoucheng, Accounting major, Admitted Class of 2020

My four years in CUHK-Shenzhen can be presented in a curve graph. There may have been a downward trend at the beginning, but as I grew up, I accumulated more and more experiences, and small quantitative changes contributed to qualitative changes in my life. Since my sophomore year, I have gradually had some clues on what I should pursue and everything has come up roses including studies and life.

Ji Hailun, Marketing major, Admitted Class of 2020

If there is a word to summarize my four-year college life, it is “self-discovery.” In terms of career choice and future planning, CUHK-Shenzhen has given us countless opportunities to explore ourselves and discover what we really want.

You Mingxuan, Marketing major, Admitted Class of 2020

The past four years at SME can be compared to the building of a house. The first year was spent on designing drawings and laying foundations. I saw my career interests become increasingly clear with the learning of basic business courses. The studies after deciding on a major in the second year are like framework building and preliminary construction where one establishes a sustainable knowledge system and applies and practices it in the internship. The intensive professional courses in the third year are like refined interior decoration where one refines the theoretical knowledge in higher-level professional courses. The application season in the final year is like a kind of acceptance and delivery, allowing one to review the progress over the past four years and see the rewards from past efforts harvested.