On the morning of April 8, the second version of Professor Saloon by Prof. Yuan Ming was held in the History Museum of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University (PKU). Yuan Ming, Professor of School of International Studies (SIS) and Director of the Center for American Studies at PKU, Chinese Director of the United Nations Foundation discussed university spirit and youth vision with 16 students who signed up through Wechat platform named PKU Students Micro-Assistant. Zhang Qingdong and Chen Zhengwei, head and vice head of Student Affairs and other related teachers attended the activity.

Prof. Yuan’s opening words brought students into the thinking of and communication on university and youth vision. She said, “Professor Saloon is a kind of innovation. Teachers and students sit around to talk about PKU spirit, which is just a reflection of PKU spirit.”

She also said that Peking University is always an exciting place featured by an enterprising and fresh spirit around in different times. We need to ponder over the relation between university and society, especially how social spirit generates effect on university. Prof. Yuan told us it is the independent thinking that motivate both of her life and career, so she hopes undergraduate students can learn and insist on independent thinking and considering their “future capability” based on it. Future capability, in her view, is a huge potential capacity, and the future will be oriented by the knowledge, skills, opinions and views.

Some students shared opinions on questions, such as how to insist on independent thinking, overcome confusion and anxiety during their growth, and choose the best way for their further careers and life. According to Prof. Yuan, these questions are the common obsession in our era, so “you should not be influenced by what is in front of you, and you will find a new motivation when you get through the difficult period”, because the confusion arising in the growth is “a temporary rough phenomenon” compared with the surface of life. She also shared her own experience with the students. “During my stay in Loess Plateau for eight years, I always think of the Peking University in the far distance. Peking University is the home to my soul and it always supports my spirit.” At the same time, Prof. Yuan encouraged the students to express their opinions freely. When a student spoke of her love for piano since her childhood and her later failure in choosing Spanish as her major at PKU, Prof. Yuan shared her similar experience. She once also wanted to learn Spanish instead of English; however, it is English learning that realized her value in the international cultural exchange. Therefore, she held the opinion that life cannot be designed. Times is stronger than human beings, while practice is more powerful than theory. She encouraged the students to strengthen their confidence, saying that “English language is not only a tool, but also a culture”, and English learning students are equipped with good condition for cross-cultural study. Based on students’ questions, Prof. Yuan pointed out that everyone would experience many elements of life, “Try to feel them, and you are just made up of all these elements. Life will show new brilliance with continuous shaping of spiritual world.”

Other topics discussed include temperament of PKU students, consciousness of Chinese culture and internationalization and noumenon. Prof. Yuan’s believes that reading and experience would became the essence of one’s spirit once they really blend into one’s heart and nobody can take it away. Nowadays, as Chinese cultural consciousness becomes more and more clear, we should get prepared to bring something to the world. Human beings can always gain some insights from the world, times and surroundings. PKU youth should have a sense of times which means not only philosophical thinking of life essence, but also wider vision of globalization for self-positioning. Internationalization and noumenon will stay with you for life long.

At the end of saloon, Prof. Yuan took photos with students and wrote down her wishes: “Enrich yourself, work hard and pursue the distant target, and always start from hands-on things around you!”

Professor Saloon is a campus culture brand for famous professors to share life experiences and hold dialogues on scientific spirit and humanistic quality with young students. The Office of Student Affairs will invite more well-known professors in different fields to communicate with students, organize students to attend the saloon voluntarily and publish short quotations from the Professor Saloon through Wechat platform named PKU Students Micro-Assistant.

From PKU News: http://pkunews.pku.edu.cn/xywh/2014-04/09/content_282196.htm