On the evening of September 9, U.S. Eastern Time, the 2023 RUC North America-Wide Virtual Welcome Event, themed “Embracing the Next Generation,” was held via Zoom. The RUC North America Alumni Association (RUC-NAAA), together with RUC alumni organizations across the United States and Canada, warmly welcomed RUC alumni of the Class of 2023 who had come to North America to pursue further studies.
Dawson Lee, Chairman of RUC-NAAA, welcomed the new generation of RUC alumni on behalf of the association and the entire North American alumni community.
He noted that the current international geopolitical environment remains challenging, and that studying abroad can present its own difficulties. As alumni begin their studies and careers in a new environment, he encouraged them not to become discouraged when facing challenges, but to reach out to the alumni association and fellow alumni in their communities whenever they need support.
RUC-NAAA, he said, is a harbor along their journey and a home in North America. He encouraged alumni to remember the association’s motto: “Even if I have nothing, I still have RUC alumni.”
Geng Xiji, Deputy Secretary-General of the RUC Alumni Association, sent greetings from Beijing on behalf of the alma mater. Coincidentally, September 9 was also the day RUC held its opening ceremony for the incoming Class of 2023, meaning that new students were being welcomed on both sides of the Pacific.
He expressed his hope that this tradition of welcoming new generations of RUC students and alumni would continue for many years to come. He also said he was delighted to see more and more RUC alumni making important contributions in different fields, thanked alumni for organizing numerous online exchange activities, and expressed his anticipation for the 2023 Mingde Forum, which had received strong support from alumni organizations across the region and was scheduled for November.
Introducing RUC Alumni Communities Across North America
During the regional alumni association showcase, representatives introduced the history and development, signature activities, and membership of their respective organizations.
They included Gu Ying, President of the Houston Chapter of RUC-NAAA; Xu Junjun, President of the Atlanta Chapter of RUC-NAAA; Li Xufeng, President of RUC Canada; Liu Yanjun, President of the Toronto Alumni Association; Yang Guang, Vice President of the Boston Alumni Association; Liu Xiao, President of the DC Alumni Association; Wang Lei, President of the Chicago Alumni Association; Chai Meng, President of the Michigan Alumni Association; Wang Jilei, President of the Bay Area Alumni Association; Yao Wanting, Secretary-General of the Bay Area Alumni Association; Wang Xiaoming, Vice President of the Southern California Alumni Association; and Feng Xuejiao, a representative of the Seattle area.
They introduced the history, signature activities, and membership of their respective alumni organizations, and expressed their hope that the local organizations could serve as bridges connecting new alumni as well as longtime alumni who had not yet established contact with an alumni association. They also hoped to make greater contributions to their respective local Chinese communities.
Tian Tian, President of the Preparatory Committee of the Montreal Chapter of RUC-NAAA, and Chang Jieya, Vice President of the Preparatory Committee, introduced the chapter’s preparations since July and invited more alumni to join the new organization.
Sharing Study Abroad and Career Experiences
During the session on study-abroad and career experiences, four younger alumni shared their experiences of studying, interning, working, and living in North America with fellow alumni who were just beginning their journeys abroad.
Zhang Xin encouraged new alumni to start thinking consciously about career planning at an early stage.
Jiang Xinyi introduced the practical relationship between academic majors and professional job levels, offering advice on how to better connect educational choices with career development.
Lin Yi shared her reflections on observing her own physical responses and interactions with the world, encouraging everyone to find a career they truly love.
Liu Yingtong, drawing on her own job-search experience, offered career perspectives on both the technology sector and traditional industries.
The four alumni also engaged in candid discussions on topics including how to make the most of graduate school, how to determine whether pursuing a Ph.D. is right for you, and how to break through the challenges of entering the local job market without prior local work experience. Their candid sharing offered many practical insights and inspiration to the new alumni.
A Home for Alumni in North America
At the conclusion of the event, Wu Yafeng, President of RUC-NAAA, noted that the year would bring not only a new generation of alumni, but also new regional alumni chapters, further expanding the RUC alumni network across North America and enabling it to serve more alumni in more communities.
Whether accompanying alumni for part of their journey as they arrive in North America to study, or remaining by the side of those who choose to build their careers, families, and lives in North America, providing lifelong companionship and support to alumni is at the heart of RUC-NAAA’s mission and purpose.
The event was planned and coordinated by Zhu Hongjie, Acting Secretary-General of RUC-NAAA, and Huang Beiqing, Vice President of RUC-NAAA, with Zhu Hongjie serving as moderator.
Text/Photos: Yong Zhang