Dear Students,

Going through University is like climbing a high mountain. It's hard, you have to climb all the time, you have to cross creeks of cold water, climb high boulders and overcome many obstacles. It's cold and your feet hurt. The peak seems sometimes very far and unreachable. However, a good climber overcomes the cold and the pain. He does not only want to reach the peak, but enjoys the climbing too. He knows, that he will be spending on this peak only a few minutes, and then he will go down again. He knows that after reaching this peak, it will be other mountains to climb, some of them with even higher and more difficult peaks to reach. And after these mountains, there will be other mountains, and other mountains. This is what life is about. You are climbing mountains all the time, small, and big. A good climber enjoys also the way. Work hard but enjoy the way.

University years are great years. It is very clear what you have to do, you gain knowledge, you have friends beside you, teachers to guide you and help you to succeed, you can play sports, join clubs. Do not think only about reaching your degree. Work hard but enjoy the way.

Life is not easy. Difficulties do not end here. You will have to face many during your life. Many mountains to climb, many rivers to cross. Enjoy the way, your friends, your family, your teachers.

One day, not very far, you will actually reach this one peak. You will get your degree. You may go to work or continue to a higher degree. China is a mighty country and is developing very fast. There are a lot of things to do, a lot of new things to create, a lot of things that can be improved or fixed. This is the work of scientists and engineers. You will be the ones that will have to do it.

We, old scientists and engineers, have created many things in the last decades. I'm a plastic engineer. Plastics have brought many advancements to humanity but have also created a big environmental burden. It is for you to solve some of the problems science has created. It is for you to improve and create a better world. That is what I think scientists and engineers are for. To create a better world. For everyone.

Psychologists say that one of the most important thing in order to achieve happiness is to have a sense of purpose. Embrace your purpose. Enjoy the way. Create a better world. Be a great person and a great Engineer.

Thank you!

Fabian Rios