Time passes swiftly, and personal growth often unfolds quietly. The past years of school life have already quietly become a journey of growth—yet graduation arrives right on time.
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May 28, 2025, the graduation ceremony and coming of age ceremony of the 2025 IBDP High School of Wuxi Union Bilingual School were held grandly at the school’s grand theater, celebrating the successful graduation of graduates from high school and their journey towards becoming a world-class university.
Chen Jiandong, Deputy Director of the Management Office of Cuiping Mountain Resort in Wuxi，Hua Xiaowei, Director of Xishan Education Profession Development Center，Wang Liqiang, Chairperson, Secretary of the CPC United Party Branch, Jennifer Jin, Acting Vice Chairperson, Angela Chen, Director of General Office，Xiehe Education Center，Meng Xiaodong，Lin Xu，Dr. Max Caruso，Co-Principal of Wuxi United International School，The school management team, secondary school teachers and students, and parent representatives attended the ceremony.
The Class of 2025 IBDP graduates have etched an extraordinary chapter of academic excellence and holistic development. Thirty-three students collectively secured 190 offers from world-renowned universities, averaging nearly six prestigious admissions per graduate, with total scholarships reaching a record-breaking RMB 5.37 million. Over 70% gained entry to top-30 global institutions, while 90%+ were admitted to world top-100 universities, spanning elite destinations including NYU Stern (2 offers), The University of Hong Kong (7 offers including 2 scholarships), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (scholarship), LSE, and UCL (9 offers), manifesting their global competitiveness.
Demonstrating interdisciplinary versatility across 44 academic fields, graduates broke conventional boundaries: business talents unlocked NYU Stern and HKU with scholarships, STEM scholars claimed HKUST’s full funding, while humanities specialists shone in British institutions. Particularly noteworthy are eight founding students who evolved with the school since its inception, embodying institutional growth. Guided by the philosophy “Integrating East and West, Harmonious Development,” the school nurtured individualized pathways – from science prodigies claiming international competition golds to artistic innovators making creative breakthroughs. This multidimensional success story, blending academic rigor with humanistic values, epitomizes the IB educational ideal. May these graduates carry their aspirations forward as global citizens, scripting new chapters of impact across the world stage.
Meng Xiaodong, the co-principal of Wuxi United International School, first extend the warmest congratulations to all of the students who are about to embark on a new journey in life! He also expressed deepest gratitude and highest respect to the leaders who have long supported the school’s development, as well as to the teachers and parents who have accompanied the students every step of the way.
Then he shared three more words with the students: “Pursuit of Knowledge, Pursuit of Justice, and Pursuit of Truth.”
He explained the three world in a specific way：
The Pursuit of Knowledge is the Foundation of Growth，
“From WUIS to the world,” you will encounter a vast landscape of knowledge, approaching the frontiers of technology, the depths of humanities, and the peaks of art. You will marvel at the immensity of the world and humbled by your own smallness. You will rejoice in the abundance of knowledge yet remain vigilant about the depths of the unknown. May you always be inquisitive and relentless in your pursuit, accumulating wisdom with humility, strengthening your faith through passion, and finding your direction in continuous learning. May you hold onto the light within, no matter how far you go. The farther you travel, the more you will understand the meaning of “pursuing knowledge”; the more you see, the more you will yearn for the light of truth.
The Pursuit of Justice is Stance Toward Society
“Justice” means respecting others and taking responsibility. It means acknowledging the support you’ve received while moving forward and looking back to help those behind you. It means not being driven by profit or burdened by fame, but standing firm with a public spirit and a sense of duty.
The Pursuit of Truth is the Essence of Character
To be true is to speak honestly, cherish genuine feelings, guard a sincere heart, seek the truth, learn real knowledge, and embrace authenticity.
May all the students leave WUIS with WUIS in their hearts, carrying clarity and passion as their journey toward mountains and seas. In this vast world, may all of the students become the truest version of theirselves.
Angel Lin，co-principal of WUIS shared two concepts that have been on her mind this year — time and excellence.
She said:”Every morning,as I stand at the school gate and greet students of all ages, I feel a unique joy that comes with being a K-12 principal.The older students tower over me,poised,confident,and radiant. The younger ones,tender and endearing,reach out for a high-five with tiny hands that barely fill mine,soft and hopeful.To me,time bears witness to your physical,intellectual and emotional growth.
So she gave out the first piece of advice to all the graduates:Be yourself, and do not rush to “become”.By “become”,I mean becoming successful, accomplished, renowned and fulfilled.In this world that values speed and productivity,it is easy to feel hurried.But having spent these formative years at WUIS,you have learned to explore,learn,improve and reflect at your own pace.You have cultivated an inner freedom that resists external pressure — and from that freedom arises enduring effort.
About excellence,Angel Lin mentioned that excellence lies not in outward brilliance but in the radiance of inner virtue, the fullness of the spirit, and richness of the soul.She said:”Perhaps not all of you will become what the world calls “elite,” adorned with titles, accolades, or outward success. But I believe each of you can become a person of deep inner strength, boundless compassion, and a profound sense of responsibility toward life and society. And to me, that is the purest form of excellence.”
At last she closed the speech with the words of Anna Quindlen:“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”
Director Hua Xiaowei,on behalf of the Xishan District Education Bureau, She extended the warmest congratulations to all the graduates!Also express the highest respect and heartfelt gratitude to the hardworking teachers and dedicated parents!
She said:”Wuxi United International School is a flagship of educational innovation in Xishan District and a vital window into our region’s modernization of education.WUIS has consistently adhered to the philosophy of “integrating Eastern and Western cultures while deepening local roots.” It has built a multidimensional curriculum system, cultivated a high-quality teaching team, and created an open educational environment, firmly positioning itself at the forefront of “empowering Chinese students with global competence.” Over the past decade, outstanding graduates have set out from here, carrying the spirit of “Chinese roots with a global vision,” shining brightly across the world. Dear graduates, you are born into a prosperous era and shoulder great responsibilities. The road ahead will not be smooth, but remember this: unwavering faith is your compass through fog; broad vision is your wings to distant horizons; and genuine action is your foundation to rise above mediocrity. May you be trailblazers against the tide in this era of rapid change—unswayed by conformity, undeterred by challenges. In the collision and fusion of a diverse world, may you stand as rooted Chinese youth—with passion, direction, and a sense of duty! ”
Yang Jiao,Billy’s mother said at first:”As I look at you—radiant,confident,and brimming with youthful energy—I realize that we parents are no longer merely your guides,but your biggest fans,We always will be.”
She expressed special gratitude to the school:”This journey of 12 years has not only marked the growth of our children, but also that of us parents. More honorably, we have together witnessed the development of WUIS itself. The reason why we chose this school was because of its visionary philosophy, where East meets West, nurturing lifelong open-minded learners who shoulder the Chinese heritage. These past 12 years have proven that our children have indeed blossomed under WUIS’s holistic education.”
At last she blessed the students and said:”Dear students,may you stay grounded, as a tree that grows deep roots, respecting rules, life, and taking responsibility for your actions. May you soar, with curiosity, passion, and hunger for knowledge. The philosopher Feuerbach once said, “Man is what he eats”—and I would add, “You are what you read.” Read, explore, and crystallize your unique values. Grow yourselves before shouldering the responsibility for your families and society.
In life, degrees matter—they can be your foot in the door. Skills matter—they are your foundations. But character matters most—it determines the warmth, weight, and light you bring to this world. A person of warmth will never be ordinary. May you all grow into people of great character—people of warmth.”
Co-Principals Meng Xiaodong,Angel Lin,and Dr.Max Caruso awarded graduation certificates to the graduates.
Graduate representative Sherry said emotionally:”This may very well be the last time I stand on this familiar stage. Since Grade 9,I’ve spoken and hosted here countless times—but today, I feel a unique sense of reluctance to leave.
None of us could have made it here without the people behind us. Our families, friends, teachers, our school—and maybe even our idols.They love us.They believe in our future, supporting us unconditionally, even if they don’t know exactly what lies ahead. They’ve shown us kindness, empathy, and moral guidance to help us live a little easier in this world.Wherever we go, we must remember them, and thank them—for everything they’ve done, even if it wasn’t perfect. It brought us to where we are. I’ll never find the right words to express my gratitude to my parents, my grandparents, and my dearest little sister.
To the wonderful people sitting on this stage—we’ve walked a long stretch of life together. We’ve said goodbye too many times. We’ve fought, misunderstood, clashed, and stumbled—but we’ve also created countless joyful, magical, and unforgettable moments that no photo or video could ever truly capture.Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things in life. But I’m grateful to have had such amazing people and memories that make it so hard to say goodbye. Once we understand the inevitability of parting, I want to remind all of us to take the moment and taste it. Be brave enough to embrace your emotions and the people around you. Pause more often to enjoy the view. Look forward to life’s unexpected moments—let the beautiful and the bittersweet become the poetry in life.
May we each head toward our own mountains and seas. See you in the future.
Last but not least, our grade 7 students would like to showcase their video and performance “The answer to time” in celebration of DP25’s graduation.
The future of WUIS is bright, and together, we will continue to shape its story.
