“I will work for the Sino-Malaysian friendship with a healthy body for 50 years, building bridges of communication between the two countries,” Foong Yan Lin declared as one of the representative speakers at the university’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony for Undergraduate Students held on July 5th, 2024 , evoking rounds of enthusiastic applause from the audience.
As an international student from Malaysia studying at the School of Marine Science and Technology, Foong delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of all international graduates, emphasizing gratitude, personal growth, and his commitment to fostering Sino-Malaysian relations.
He began his speech by expressing his gratitude to Tianjin University, the teachers, and his family and friends for their unwavering support. He highlighted the transformative journey he embarked on since receiving the acceptance letter in July 2020, marking the beginning of his academic pursuit in China.
Foong recounted his initial days as a freshman, where his first encounter with the course "Introduction to Marine Science" ignited his passion for the ocean. “The vastness of the marine sciences made me realize my own ignorance and fueled my determination to excel in my studies.” He walked the talk and spent a huge a mount of time at the lecture halls, laboratories, and libraries, ultimately graduating with a GPA of 3.69 and continuing his studies as a master's student at Tianjin University.
Throughout the four years at TJU, Foong's academic and extracurricular endeavors brought him numerous accolades. He shared his joy of winning two silver medals in the "Internet+ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" alongside his classmates. Additionally, their video on "Marine New Energy" received the Popularity Award at the China-ASEAN Student Video Contest. These achievements, Foong noted, were a testament to the support and guidance from the Alma mater and professors.
Foong also proudly mentioned his role as the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, leading his team to the semi-finals in the Northern China University Ultimate Frisbee League and securing the runner-up position in the Tianjin Frisbee Open. “It was a cross-border collaboration that has deeply made me appreciate the charm of sportsmanship,” he emphasized.
Just a couple of months ago, Foong together with his fellow Malaysian students wrote a letter to Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, sharing their experiences and aspirations to become ambassadors of Sino-Malaysian friendship. To their immense joy and honor, President Xi mentioned their letter in the congratulatory message to Malaysia’s Head of State.
“I felt honored and greatly encouraged. The other day I saw on the wall of a classroom in the School of International Education a quote saying, ‘To work for the country for 50 years with a healthy body’, I thought to myself, why not work for the Sino-Malaysian friendship with a healthy body for 50 years?”
Foong further elaborated in his speech that he envisioned returning to Tianjin University 50 years later, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Sino-Malaysian diplomatic relations and the 180th anniversary of Tianjin University, to report on his contributions to fostering this friendship.
Foong concluded the speech with a heartfelt farewell, expressing his gratitude once again to the alma mater, professors, and peers. He wished Tianjin University continued glory, the teachers fruitful achievements, and his classmates success in pursuing their dreams.
By Eva Yin
