Dear RDFZ graduates of 2015：
 
First of all, let me take the opportunity to extend my best wishes to all graduating seniors, who are looking forward to the rest of lives while celebrating your scholastic achievements upon graduation.

I must say pitifully that I failed to appear for graduation photo when you were getting ready for one of the biggest days of your lives. Far away at the other side of the Pacific Ocean on a business trip, I felt awfully sorry hearing lots of graduates and their parents waiting for my appearance anxiously on the monumental occasion.　 “Where is Principal Liu? Is our beloved Principal Liu getting lost? She couldn’t have gone without informing us beforehand? ” Your constant inquiries into my absence remind me of the very core of our school philosophy “respect and love”.  I sense that I did not handle it very well because of my inconsiderateness. I figured it might be OK to have a group photo with all of you by reserving a seat for my personal photo with the help of Photoshop program. What I did forget is an explanation for my absence before the graduating seniors at commencement.

For all of you, it is a critical moment in your life upon high school graduation. You see, having just finished the all-important gaokao exam, you are about to say sayonara to your alma mater once and for all where you have spent the past 3 or 6 years!　 As Principal of the Beijing-based renowned school for many years, I should have been here with all of the fine and young adults for graduation photo, together with Principal Zhai Xiaoning.  I know high school graduation day is always special—you collect your diplomas, celebrate your academic success and reach for the lives you dream of having. And I would also like you to have an understanding that besides being Principal of RDFZ, I am also Principal of RDFZ United School and Principal of Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science opened by us in the U.S.A.  As the first international school ever initiated by Chinese, the launch of Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science is widely hailed as an unprecedented endeavor. We have gone through extreme difficulties over the past two years due to differences in geography and culture. I failed to be with you for photo because I had to go to the newly-established school for certain emergency. Luckily though, I am able to bid final adieu to you in this way though we are far apart geographically， thanks to modern technology which has turned the world into a global village.

As you are eager to go out into the world, chasing your dreams and allowing your passions to guide your ambitions, here are my expectations and wishes I wholeheartedly offer to all of you:　 

I hope you have a healthy body and mind, cherish life and learn to survive in any conditions, including during hard times. You are sure to encounter setbacks and hardships and failures, parts of your future lives and careers. Respond to and overcome any difficulties with determination and courage. Strive to be a strong person.
 
I hope that you will bear in mind forever the word “virtue” in our school motto. However times may change, whatever materialistic temptations there are, you will always stick to the values of truth, goodness and beauty and try to pursue high moral integrity while resisting vulgar trends.

 I hope that you will carry forward the school’s spirit of “creativity and pragmatism”, ready to learn, courageous to doubt and innovate while making unremitting explorations so as to be creative citizens. 

Another bit of wise words I'd like to share with all grads is the value of a magic power in real life, which can move mountain and fill seas, turn dreams into realities and turn waste into wonder. And that magic power is “know yourself, believe in yourself and pursue excellence constantly”.

For the rest of your future lives, wherever you are, whatever universities you enter, whatever jobs you take, I hope you will continue maintaining your youthful vigor and vitality, follow your passion in pursuing your dreams and make a difference in the world. It is my sincere hope that you will remain steadfast in your faith in knowledge, science and truth, and make persistent pursuit. Persistence alone is omnipotent. What’s more, I hope you will be responsible citizens with noble character and broad vision，capable of creating a beautiful life for yourself and for others.

The sky is so high that birds fly freely, and the sea is so vast that fish swim boundlessly, just as described in ancient Chinese poetic verses. You are opening a sacred door to a completely new world. I have tremendous excitement for you! And I am right here with you. There is nothing you can't accomplish. Upon the moment when you are going your separate ways into the world ,once again, I would like to, on behalf of RDFZ, send warm expectations and best wishes to you—set sail for a long journey starting from here, and live the best lives possible.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Liu Pengzhi
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  June 16, 2015