On September 1, 2023, Liaoning Daily reported that Professor Yu Miaojie, a deputy of the 14th National People’s Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, and President of Liaoning University, was invited to provide the “First Lesson” of Liaoning Province. The original text and link are now reprinted as follows:
“Tell the story of how the role models endeavor and to inspire the power of youth to forge ahead!”
— Yu Miaojie, the “First Lesson” of Liaoning Province
On the evening of August 31, 2023, the “First Lesson of the Semester,” with its themed activity of “Remembering the Exhortation, Revitalizing the Nation,” was successfully held in Liaoning Province through a livestreaming session. This activity was jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Spiritual Civilization Office, the Provincial Education Working Committee, the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Youth League Party Committee, and the Liaoning Radio and TV Station. Throughout the session, upstanding role models, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, well-known university presidents, and other outstanding representatives shared with students personal stories of their dreams, responsibilities, hardships, and struggle. More than six million college, primary-, and secondary-school students across the province tuned in to the live broadcast, its online session boasting 36.8-million views and 42-million likes.
This unique live ideological and political lecture was divided into four sessions, with each “teacher” focusing on the themes of possessing ideals, taking responsibility, enduring hardships, and being willing to strive for one’s goals. The speakers aimed to promote the healthy development of the youth by providing inspirational and motivational guidance through their own experiences. Qu Jianwu, a modern-day role model and national moral exemplar who also serves as President of Dalian Maritime University, was the first to speak, sharing observations on his students’ struggles and inspiring all to have noble ideals. Feng Xiating, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Northeastern University, along with Yu Miaojie, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Liaoning University, delivered speeches entitled “The Direction of Our Efforts is What the Country Needs” and “Let the Blossom of Youth Flourish on the Road of Revitalization,” respectively, encouraging students to take responsibility for their lives. Winter-Olympics champion Xu Mengtao also interacted with the students, sharing her experiences of overcoming injuries and persevering in competition as a way to teach the importance of endurance. Sun Dongming, a researcher at the Institute of Metal Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted an on-site demonstration of a small-scale experiment and showcased the stories of struggle behind technological achievements. Moreover, various academic representatives sent their back-to-school messages through videos, while moral exemplars, technological elites, renowned professors, model workers, and outstanding craftsmen became “teachers,” sharing with students personal stories of dreams and responsibility from their own unique perspectives.
During the nearly two-hours livestreaming session, teenagers from fourteen cities and the Shenfu demonstration area of the province also shared outstanding videos. Through their vivid shots, colorful imagery, and affectionate narration, the students vividly presented onscreen the development and changes of Liaoning’s comprehensive revitalization.
The activity was broadcasted live through 96 media platforms in and outside the province, receiving a wide viewership from students, parents, and teachers alike. Many students were quoted as saying that this special live “First Lesson” benefited them greatly, noting that they must start the new semester with a striving spirit. Some parents also left messages in the comment area, with one stating: “This ideological and political class is lively and easy to accept in form, allowing children to not only understand the development and change of their hometown, but also feel the power of example role models, which is very meaningful.”
Link to the news story: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/_pqT7j6W5SkOqadqDkbfBw