(Continued from issue #292)
Zhang Wenqian (Vincent)’s graduation speech:
I really want to say that graduating from City of the Dharma Realm (CDR) Developing Virtue Secondary School is by far the proudest thing I have achieved. I have never regretted my choice of attending school here.
However, time is like running water. It seems like yesterday was when I first entered CDR. IGDVS. Now, I am standing here as a graduate.
My time at the City of Dharma Realm was not all smooth-sailing. Four years ago, I left my parents for the first time when I came to CDR. I was unable to take care of myself. My dorm room was a total mess. I didn’t even know even the basic chores such as sweeping and mopping the floor. Academically, I also faced language barriers. Beset with so many challenges, I chose to run away from them. I spent all day in bed, dreaming about the life of comfort back home. Later, I realized avoiding these challenges was not a solution, so I was determined to face my challenges. Although not everything changed overnight, there was daily improvements.
CDR. IGDVS’s education covers all aspects. During lunchtime, students are often asked to come go on stage to share their thoughts and feelings about the topic of the day. I am generally an introvert and kept to myself. I vividly remember my first lunch experience where I was called up to share. When I went up, my mind went blank, and I didn’t know what to say. Haplessly, this occurrence happened frequently. As time went on, I found myself gaining more self-confidence.
The most notable difference between CDR IGDVS and other schools is its emphasis on the Confucian’s eight virtues and the daily practice of Buddhism. At school, not only do we learn the required academic subjects, e.g. mathematics, English, science, but we also learn about meditation, ethics, Buddhism. Dorm students also need to attend an hour of evening ceremony daily. I felt physically drained at the end of each day, having no energy to move at all. In the beginning, I was very resistant because I didn’t understand why I needed to learn these seemingly useless things. As time went on, I realized that I benefited a lot from these experiences. I started to set goals and have passion in my life. When I was in China, I didn’t know why I needed to study, and I simply followed the crowd. Now that I have been imbued with the teachings of Buddhism and the Confucian eight virtues, I came to realize that life is not just about sleeping and eating, and that the value of life lies in the realization of self-worth and helping others. Although I will be leaving CDR soon, the values that I have built here will accompany me throughout my life.
My progression is inseparable from my teacher’s conscientious teaching. I am very grateful that all the Dharma Masters and teachers provided me guidance with the mistakes I have made. But as the old Chinese saying goes: “Good medicine is bitter.” Oftentimes, I was not happy when I was lectured. Later on, I realized that my teachers’ earnest words and intentions were good and that they wanted me to improve for the better. After my graduation, I will be leaving CDR and I will be faced with a new set of unknowns. Equipped with what I have learned at CDR, I am confident that I can continue in my development and strive to become a useful person to others and to my society.
(The End of the Article)