Two students have been chosen to deliver speeches celebrating the fantastic achievements and bright futures of the graduating Class of 2023 to this year’s Duke Kunshan University Commencement Ceremony.
Emma Lee from the United States and China’s Zhijie Zhou were selected as the student speakers for the May 26 ceremony in Kunshan, representing the undergraduate and graduate cohorts respectively.
Both speeches are set to trigger in the graduating class fond memories of their experiences while inspiring positivity for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
The event will be the first to be held in the new Phase 2 section of the Duke Kunshan campus, which is to open its grounds in the same week. Duke University will also hold an in-person ceremony in the U.S. for DKU students on May 14.
A total of about 400 bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be awarded to DKU students during the ceremonies.
Lee, from California, experienced a range of emotions on hearing she had been selected to give the undergraduate speech, feeling shocked, nervous and ecstatic in quick succession.
“Words cannot describe how excited and delighted I am to be able to represent the DKU Class of 2023,” said the global health (public policy) major.
“It is such an honor to be the undergraduate speaker. I hope I deliver the speech well and make everyone proud.”
Zhou, from Dalian in Liaoning province, described being awarded the role of graduate speaker as a “great privilege”.
“I am excited to have the chance to share my thoughts and reflections on this momentous occasion, and I hope to inspire and encourage my fellow graduates as we embark on the next chapter of our lives,” said Zhou, from the master of environmental policy program (iMEP).
Having joined Duke Kunshan either a few months before or during the COVID-19 pandemic, the undergraduate and graduate cohorts of the Class of 2023 spent much of their time at DKU steering the myriad challenges of the health crisis.
Lee was among the small group of students who were not in a position to return to China with the rest of the international cohort, which left the country at the start of the pandemic.
But she is returning to Kunshan for the first time since early 2020 to give her speech in person.
She said her speech was written for “everyone and our experiences whether we were in China, the U.S., Europe, Africa, or elsewhere in the world”.
“The message I want to share is that no matter where we are, we will always be part of the DKU family, and these four years have changed us all for the better,” she said.
“No matter the struggles we have faced or are going to face, we DKU students can handle anything the world has in store for us!”
Lee added she had learned so much from her university experience in which she interacted with some of the “greatest minds ever”.
“I will never forget the people I have met and everyone has left an imprint in my heart whether they know it or not.”
Lee has played a key role in building the Duke Kunshan community, sitting on the DKU at Duke Quad Council, helping to establish the Campus Activities Board and serving as a peer mentor.
In North Carolina, she has supported the integration of DKU students into Duke life.
Her research interests include how mental health affects the wider health outcomes of people with Type 2 diabetes and she is passionate about spreading awareness of social justice issues.
A keen singer and dancer with a love of Disney, she has joined several student groups such as the Duke Swing Dance Club and the DKU Medical English Project.
Zhou said he was grateful for the unique opportunity that iMEP gave him to study environmental policies in both China and the U.S.
He is particularly interested in the effectiveness of conservation programs and protected areas, as well as the potential interactions or conflicts between biodiversity protection and other sustainable development initiatives such as forest management.
An active player in the Duke Kunshan community, Zhou is a member of Dr. Binbin Li’s Biodiversity and Sustainability Lab and has served as a research assistant at the Environmental Research Center, peer writing coach and teaching assistant for several undergraduate and graduate courses.
Zhou said that celebrating graduation in person with fellow graduates, faculty and staff “will be a special and memorable experience” after the virtual lessons and ceremonies of the pandemic era.
Relishing the chance to address his peers, he said they had been given a unique opportunity to “shape the legacy of our alma mater” as a class graduating within Duke Kunshan’s first decade.
“Through our collective efforts, we can leave a positive legacy for future generations of students at DKU,” said Zhou, who is moving on to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“Moreover, our experiences at DKU have fostered strong bonds between students, staff, and faculty that will be cherished memories.
“These relationships will continue to serve as a source of support and inspiration long after we graduate.”
