Yesterday we said that thanks to the unconditional funding of Rong Hong's tuition fees by the "Women's Association" in Savannah, Georgia, introduced by Pastor Brown, coupled with his own hard work, Rong Hong was finally admitted to Yale University as he wished. Since then, Yale University has welcomed the first Chinese student from across the ocean.
Yale University
Entering Yale University, Rong Hong felt as if he were in a sacred temple of knowledge, and he felt deeply shocked and proud from the inside out, and since then, Rong Hong has been studying hard until late at night every day. Due to the lack of exercise, rong Hong's physical health soon became problematic, and he had to take a leave of absence for a period of rest.
But the kung fu paid off, and Rong Hong won first prizes in both English composition competitions at the school, and soon became famous throughout Yale University.
Along with applause and honor, there are many more opportunities. Before the end of the second academic year, Rong Hong was offered a job as a cook in a boarding club, and in this way, Rong Hong earned his own living expenses for the second half of college. In addition to this, he was given the position of assistant librarian, managing books for the student body "Brotherhood". By the fourth year, Rong Hong was also elected as a librarian in the "Brotherhood" with a monthly salary of thirty US dollars, which was enough for Rong Hong's expenses at Yale University. However, after worrying about food and clothing, Rong Hong had a deeper level of trouble.
Tourists visit Rong Hong's portrait at Yale University
Throughout his university years, and especially in his final year, the deplorable situation in China at that time received more and more frequent attention from Rong Hong, which made him feel heavy. As the first Chinese to come into contact with and accept the ideas of the modern Enlightenment, although Rong Hong's university life in the United States was like a fish, he still thought of the motherland from time to time, he said: "During the period of study, the corruption in China is touched from time to time, especially in the last years." At every thought, he was displeased with it, and he wished not to be healed by this good education. "I miss the Chinese people even more, who suffer infinitely and are infinitely suppressed." He saw the wealth and strength of the West with his own eyes, and felt china's backwardness even more, but what worried him even more was that at that time Chinese was still ignorant of the outside world and still believed that China was the center of the world. Therefore, when he was about to graduate from college, he made up his mind: "If one who gives one's will is educated by this civilization, he should be made to give to those who give later, and also enjoy this equal benefit." With Western scholarship, instilled in China, China is becoming more and more civilized and rich. For later careers, Gai took this as the standard and concentrated on it. ”
Young Rong Hong
Rong Hong's self-description can be seen that the enlightenment and changes brought by studying abroad to Rong Hong's thinking have been clearly revealed. If he refused to accept the arrangement of returning to China as a missionary before because he had been adhering to his national beliefs and love for his country, then now, he has a very clear belief and pursuit in life, that is, he is determined to give Chinese teenagers the opportunity to enjoy the same education as himself. He hopes that through Western education, China can be revived and become an enlightened, rich and powerful country.
In 1854, after four years of hard study, Rong Hong successfully graduated from Yale University with honors, and at the graduation ceremony of the same day, many people came to visit, and one of their purposes was to see Rong Hong, the first outstanding Chinese to receive a diploma from an American university and a Yale University.
Rong Hong's Yale Graduation Album
In the yale university archives, there is a guestbook that Rong Hong exchanged with his classmates when he graduated. Here we have an excerpt from the text, rong hong wrote: "The adult does not lose his pure heart." His American classmates wrote for him: "I am waiting to hear the news that you will carry out a great cause in the future history of China." May you return to your country when you find that it has become a holy republic, and that you will share the joy of participating in the victory after the overthrow of an authoritarian dynasty. ”
In this memoir, Rong Hong also said with confidence: "Through Western education, China will be revived and become an enlightened, rich and powerful country." This purpose has become a guiding star for my ambitions, and I have done everything in my power and energy to run towards this goal. ”
With the desire to "instill in China with Western scholarship and make China tend to be civilized and rich and strong", Rong Hong gave up the opportunity to stay in the United States and embarked on the road back to China.
Will Rong Hong realize his ideals after returning to China? Please continue to pay attention to tomorrow's Hubei Satellite TV unveiling.