The June breeze, carrying a faint fragrance of flowers, blows through every corner of the campus and also brings the gentle sadness of the graduation season. At this memorable moment, the College of Ocean Science and Engineering carefully crafted a unique "Youth Carnival · Time Garden Party" for the 2025 graduates. Teachers and students gathered together, freezing youth with laughter and engraving friendship with warmth. Amidst the interaction of games and the melody of singing, they jointly wrote the final page of campus memories that belongs to us all.
【Fun Sports Meeting: Teachers and Students Unite as One, Striving with Vigor】
On the fields of "Concentric Drum", "Dryland Dragon Boat Racing" and "Tug-of-War", teachers and students participated together, with cheers and laughter rising one after another. Counselors rolled up their sleeves to join the tug-of-war team; the usually quiet top students turned into slogan leaders in "Dryland Dragon Boat Racing"; and the volleyball bouncing on the "Concentric Drum" was like young hearts, always closely connected. At this moment, there were no teachers and students, only teammates fighting side by side, and forever vivid youth memories.
【Campus Glow Run: Drawing an Arc of Youth】
As night fell, the campus was gradually lit up by twinkling glow lights. Students held glow sticks in their hands and wore glow bracelets on their wrists, running in the summer night breeze. In front of the check-in points, rapid breaths mingled with cheerful laughter; some bent over, hands on their knees, sweat beads on their foreheads glistening in the glow, yet unable to hide the smile on their lips. At the finish line, the sweet aroma of cupcakes filled the air, but even sweeter were the cheers that rose and fell along the way, and the handwritten notes quietly stuck on the spray paintings — all the unspoken blessings turned into the softest stars in the night.
【Youth Confession: A Letter to Myself in Ten Years】
"Will you grow into the adult you aspire to be?" In front of the "Time Post Office" booth, students earnestly wrote down their expectations for the future—some playful, some affectionate—with every line bearing the mark of youth. These heartfelt messages were solemnly stored in the college’s "Time Capsule," waiting to be reopened in ten years.
In front of the huge white inflatable model, graduates held markers and wrote down youth messages stroke by stroke. Some neatly wrote "A Bright Future", while others playfully drew a smiley face. Counselors also joined in, writing the big characters "Come Home Often" at the top of the inflatable model, their strokes gentle yet firm. As more and more people wrote, the originally plain white inflatable model gradually turned into a colorful picture of youth.
【Interactive Games: A Collision of Creativity and Warmth】
Students drew mini portraits, campus silhouettes, or creative doodles on transparent film. After being baked by the "magic" of a heat gun, the palm-sized artworks instantly shrank into exquisite keychains or accessories. When the hot air swept over, the paintings curled and then unfolded under high temperature—just like youth being refined into eternity by time. All works could be taken away on the spot, and this one-of-a-kind souvenir holds the most vivid memories of youth.
In the youth ring-toss game, we all want to lasso the answer we desire most. At the interactive game area of the "Time Garden Party", five colorful rings stood out prominently. Faced with the rings labeled "Dream", "Academics", "Friendship", "Love" and "Future", students held different expectations. Passing students stopped one after another, picked up the rings, and aimed at the one they most wanted to "hit".
[Charity Sale: A Relay of Warmth and Kindness]
At the entrance of the garden party, a booth surrounded by fresh flowers exuded a faint fragrance. These flowers, carrying blessings, sparked a rush as soon as they went on sale. Many students carefully selected flowers for their teachers and roommates; some boys even bought pink roses with blushing cheeks to give to the girls they admired. In the cultural and creative charity sale area, custom-made maritime teddy bears and exquisite commemorative badges became the most sought-after graduation souvenirs. All proceeds from the charity sale will be donated to the Lingang Nursing Home to bring warmth to the elderly there. This youth kindness is the gentlest gift that the students of the College of Ocean Science and Engineering leave to the campus.
[Youth Snack Time: A Farewell Hidden in Sweetness]
The aroma of the food area filled the summer night. Crystal-clear ice jelly glistened with an attractive luster under the lights; soft paper cupcakes were adorned with custom name picks for graduates; and sparkling drinks bubbled merrily in cups. Students gathered in small groups around the booths, holding drink cups and smiling at each other. Camera flashes went off from time to time, freezing frames of youthful, beaming faces. Counselors stood aside, watching these children who were about to embark on their journey with gentle eyes, their cameras capturing every moment of their joy.
[Youth Singing: Eternal Memories in Melodies]
Under the colorful light boards, the path in front of the college gradually filled with people. Dappled tree shadows swayed in the warm yellow light, coating everyone's silhouette with a soft halo. The strumming of guitar strings rippled gently, like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples. Teachers and students used songs to replace farewells—The Crossroad Where Phoenix Flowers Bloom, Don’t Be Afraid of Growing Old, Sunny Day... Some joined in the singing, some waved the flashlights of their phones, and others secretly wiped away tears. When the last line "The river of time flows into the sea" was sung, all the unspoken regards turned into songs that lingered in the night breeze for a long time.
This "Time Garden Party" had no grand ceremony, but it had the most heartfelt companionship; it had no fancy words, but it had the most sincere hugs. The sweat that leaped on the Concentric Drum, the bright smiles that shone during the Glow Run, and the interlocking gazes in the singing—all these will eventually turn into stars, illuminating each other’s future paths.
Dear graduates, may your journey ahead be bright and promising, and may you remain as youthful as ever when you return. Youth never ends; we will meet again someday!
Source: College of Ocean Science and Engineering
Authors: Xu Jie, Chen Yuhan
Photography: Student Union
Figure 1: Fun Sports Meeting – Drum to Victory
Figure 2: Fun Sports Meeting – Strive with All Might
Figure 3: Fun Sports Meeting – Work in Unity
Figure 4: Fun Sports Meeting Venue / On-site at the Fun Sports Meeting
Figure 5: Youth Carnival
Figure 6: Glow Run Group Photo
Figure 7: Glow Run Check-in
Figure 8: Youth Messages
Figure 9 Youth's Message
Figure 10: Shrink Film Painting
Figure 11: Ring Toss Game
Figure 12 Flower Charity Sale
Figure 13 Youthful Food Moments
Figure 14 Youthful Food Memories
Figure 15 Youth Singing
Figure 16 Group Photo for Commemoration
Figure 17 Paddle in Starry Sea Traveling with Light
Figure 18 Last 'Summer' Youth Carnival of 2025