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Editor's Note: The results of the fifth SCNU English Writing and Short Video Contest have been announced on the website of the Office of International Exchange & Cooperation of SCNU (see results). We congratulate all prize winners on their outstanding performance. Winning entries will be published in this column.
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By Zheng Huiying
On June 16, 2024, tension dominated the atmosphere and everyone watched the fierce match with bated breath, the drums resounding powerfully and hundreds of people vying intensely. With the blast of the horn, each team's boat was like an arrow, engaging in the "speed and passion" contest on the water. This was an interweaving of ancient and modern competition, and also a clear manifestation of teamwork and an unyielding spirit. In this exhilarating race, South China Normal University emerged victorious as champions within the university student category at the prestigious 24th Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Tournament, finishing ahead by two boats.
"Youth Exists in Attempts."
"I am extremely excited to be the first champion in the year of the Dragon." Drummer Lu Jianhong expressed enthusiastically while sharing his thoughts on social media shortly after their victory. He emphasized that this achievement not only fulfilled his team's aspiration to secure their inaugural championship title, but also brought glory to the school.
Before embarking on his college journey, Lu Jianhong had little exposure to water sports or competitive rowing activities. His initial foray into these realms began when he joined both sailing and dragon boat teams under Coach Huang Xin's guidance; he approached these new challenges with an open mind characterized by curiosity about "new things" and "new attempts." At that time, making such choices felt daunting yet invigorating—an intersection between challenge and opportunity—but ultimately one he has never regretted pursuing. He stated, "South China Normal University is a highly inclusive school that encouraged me to explore many different paths, and I also believe that all the answers lie on the road of attempts." This is just like many South China Normal University individuals around us, they are optimistic and outgoing, dare to try and fight for the first.
"Leave No One Behind."
Dragon boat training tests the training of individual skills and is also inseparable from the cooperation and cohesion of the group as one. Only when each person accurately synchronizes with the rhythm of their teammates can the dragon boat be fast and stable, which requires a high degree of tacit understanding and countless practice.
Lu Jianhong remembers the first time preparing for a dragon boat championship. As the entire team was too excited to sleep well all night, as the captain, Lu Jianhong took the lead to encourage his teammates and boost their morale so that everyone regained energy. After the competition, the happy memories of the crew working together to pull the coach's speedboat will always be engraved in their hearts, and the youthful spirit and team efforts are vividly demonstrated at this moment.
When someone in the team felt that they could not persevere, they encouraged each other and worked together to confront difficulties and challenges. Along the way, the increasingly better results are the proof of their will, the testimony of their efforts, as are the precious memories they cherish together in their hearts.
"After weight-bearing endurance training, you can be so exhausted that you can't sleep." In an interview, Lu Jianhong showed some training photos. 6 km technical row, 6 km rhythmic row, and 4 km batch row were just regular training for him. Even if exhausted, Lu Jianhong and his teammates never chose to give up. "It is rewarding and fulfilling to be in the prime of youth and to strive for a goal in your heart with like-minded friends." Lu Jianhong said with pride on his face. This is just like many South China Normal University people around us, they persevere and dare to work hard.
"The South China Normal University is an Excellent Platform."
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed to focus on building a socialist cultural power, which put forward higher requirements for us to inherit and carry forward excellent traditional culture and better shoulder the new cultural mission. At this time, South China Normal University actively responds to the national call for the inheritance and development of excellent traditional Chinese culture. It consciously shoulders a new cultural mission, and actively improves the competitive level of dragon boat sport. It promotes international exchanges by participating in various dragon boat races, which also provide lots of opportunities for the development of dragon boat teams, and helps to better inherit and carry forward the dragon boat spirit.
Lu Jianhong shared that compared with the first year of the Dragon boat team's establishment in 2023, in order to provide the training team with more stable training venues and professional equipment, our university set up a science popularization base in Guangzhou Yunfan Water Sports Club, which promoted the training system to be more scientific and the accumulation of competition experience. "This year's championship is the result of the two-way promotion between the athletes and the South China Normal University."
Amidst the cheers and shouts, on November 11, 2024, teacher Huang Xin and senior student Lu Jianhong once again embarked on a new journey to participate in the sixth National College Students Sailing Championship and officially completed the race in Xiamen. Eventually, South China Normal University claimed the second place in the overall standings. The growth of the inexperienced youth into a new generation of dragon boat team leader represents a new inheritance and development. This is just like many people from South China Normal University around us: they work together, love and support each other.
Individuals like Lu Jianhong from South China Normal University have created various extraordinary achievements in their own fields. They may seem distant to us; they may have passed us by, yet they are with us. Learn about their deeds, their spirit, and ultimately follow them. Try to be serious about living like them, discover the shining deeds of those around you and then shine your own light, and pass on the light. This is also what I consider to be the most significant meaning of the activity of seeking people from South China Normal University around.
"The answers are all on the way." Lu Jianhong smiled, "This sentence applies to me, and I also hope that it can provide some inspiration to many confused freshmen, be brave to dream, pursue the dream, and ultimately anticipate your dream."
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