We remember our alma mater in two general ways - by remembering ourselves and by remembering others.
The significance of remembrance of oneself is to render subjective emotions and the social value of personal realization, and to recognize the foundation laid by the alma mater in the early stage of life, which is of great merit. By tracing the experiences and insights gained at school, we appreciate our alma mater for making us a part of the world.
But I prefer remembering people to remembering myself.
The school moved to a new location in 1998, and I remember that summer was a hot summer, but in this hot summer, the Bodie version of "UNCG's internal relocation" was staged. Parents of all grades organized themselves to coordinate hundreds of trucks to transport all the school books, desks and chairs, teaching equipment, bedding and clothing, kitchen stoves and other daily necessities to the new school site 50 kilometers away. Parents worked tirelessly and gave freely of their enthusiasm, and the faculty and staff gave up their summer vacation breaks and braved the three-volt summer heat to devote themselves to loading, unloading, installing, and arranging the staff, burning the summer of '98 to the zenith.
In '94 the then school site was expanded and a middle school teaching area was established across the river in Taipingyu. It was still summer, and Mr. Jia, the art teacher, was in charge of designing and painting the celebrity wall paintings in the classroom hallways, which was a big task. With her son and daughter, who are enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, Ms. Jia devoted herself to creating art for the school all summer long. For Ms. Jia, school is home and home is school.
In a calligraphy competition one year, students and teachers wrote a lot of works, but most of them quoted famous poems and lines, except for math teacher Wang's toast, which I remembered very well. At the end of the page, she wrote in block letters: "I wish Bodhi School will be better and better!" Ms. Wang's words were not grandiose, and her penmanship was not even remarkable, but her simplicity and heartfelt words reflected the immensely positive energy between the teachers and the school that has propelled the school through three decades.
There are countless lovely people like the parents, Mr. Jia, and Mr. Wang, and each one of them shimmers into a torch, lighting up themselves as they tree others.
Finally, to borrow Mr. Wang's words, I wish Bodhi better and better.
Huang Tao
1993-1999 Attended Bodey Elementary School and Junior High School.
Undergraduate studies at USC
Graduate of Columbia University with a double master's degree in economics and education.
Worked at the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, Ant Group
Director at Payoneer, a financial technology company.
