Pang Zhongwang’s Tsinghua Speech

Pang Zhongwang is a doctoral candidate at Tsinghua University. He has once again caught people's attention with his heartfelt speech at the school's yearly opening celebration for new students. His touching words have become popular online. They deeply touched netizens' hearts across the country.

“Tsinghua is big enough to give every student space to dream and try,” Pang told the freshmen. He talked about his own journey. It began in 2017. He got into Tsinghua through a special enrollment (入学) plan for poor and rural (农村的) students. He scored 684 in the gaokao and received an additional 60 points from the special policy.

Pang, 26, was born into a poor family in Hebei. His family faces great challenges. His father cannot communicate with others because of illness. His mother has a leg problem and can't move easily. Pang himself was born with a heart problem.

He spoke honestly about his worries. “When I first arrived at Tsinghua, I was excited but also a little lost,” Pang said.

He received a piece of advice from a teacher, “Every student starts with an empty page here. The idea encouraged him to explore bravely and keep going through challenges.”

It's you who can get to draw your own future.

I had times when I didn't believe in myself. But I learned to accept the process. Getting up after falling down is part of who I am,” he told reporters.