Dear distinguished guests,
Good afternoon! I am Long Wenwei, a graduate of Media and Communication Studies. It’s a great honour for me to speak here today as a representative of the graduating class and bid farewell to this precious chapter of our university journey.
Today, we graduate at a time of great change—a time that asks us to move forward even when the path isn’t always clear. Yet in the midst of it all, we’ve been incredibly fortunate. Fortunate to learn, to be challenged, and to discover who we are becoming. At the Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, we’ve felt the shifting rhythms of the world, engaged deeply with the pulse of society, and grown through personal transformation. Through the platforms offered by BNBU, we’ve had the privilege to learn and lead in many ways—engaging in insightful discussions at international conferences, reporting stories from the frontlines of the news, developing strategies in boardrooms, and advancing meaningful causes in non-profit organisations. All of this shape who we are, molds our character, and guides the paths we will take in life. On behalf of all of us, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the professors, families, classmates, and alma mater who have supported and cared for our growth!
Four years ago, I arrived on campus with a passion for both communication and music. Little did I know, this journey would ultimately become the most enriching experience of my life.
My love for media and music was unwavering, but at first, the theories of communication in the classroom felt distant from the melodies I was familiar with. That changed one day in a Cultural Theory class, when I was encouraged to apply the concept of mediation in communication to deconstruct the myth of classical music’s prestige—a status shaped by social forces and cultural narratives. In another course for my music minor—Creative Music Technology—I used sound samples from various ethnic instruments to create an experimental soundscape that reflected a cross-cultural dialogue. It was then I realised: the worlds I thought were separate could actually merge, creating something richer through interdisciplinary exploration. It was this interdisciplinary perspective of a liberal arts education that ultimately led me to discover my research interest in the field of social and cultural study of music.
These four years at the university taught me what it means to “stay rooted in the local and gaze upon the world”. Through a summer course at NUS in Singapore, I gained valuable insight into the multilingual landscape of communication. During my exchange at HKBU, I witnessed how Hong Kong’s rich cultural diversity could ignite vibrant energy. These experiences have motivated me to pursue my master’s degree in the UK, continuing my journey to explore the vastness of the world and the boundaries of knowledge.
All of this began right here, on this campus. The liberal arts education and international opportunities at BNBU have empowered each of us with the courage to explore across fields and given us the global perspective to face the world with confidence. For that, we are deeply grateful to our alma mater, which has shaped us and given us the foundation to pursue our dreams.
As we move forward, my dear classmates, may we always hold on to that courage to explore, and may our unique light continue to shine brightly, guiding us along the diverse and exciting paths we choose in life.
Thank you all!
