Good afternoon, teachers, classmates, parents and friends. I am very honored and grateful to talk to the graduates of the University of Maryland 20 17.

People often ask me, why did you come to the University of Maryland?

I always answer because the air is fresh here.

Five years ago, when I got off the plane from China and left the terminal, I was going to take out a mask and put it on. I always wear five masks. But when I first smelled American air, I put down my mask.

The air here is so sweet and fresh, and there is some inexplicable luxury.

I'm surprised. In the city of China where I grew up, I had to wear a mask whenever I went out, otherwise I might get sick.

However, I feel free when I breathe the air outside the airport.

My glasses are no longer foggy, my breathing is no longer difficult, and my sense of oppression no longer exists.

Every breath is a pleasure. At this moment, I stand here and can't help but recall the feeling of freedom.

At the University of Maryland, I immediately felt another kind of fresh air, which I will always be grateful for, and that is the fresh air of freedom of speech.

Before I came to America, I learned the Declaration of Independence in history class, but those words and concepts, such as life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness, have no practical significance to me.

I'm just learning by rote in order to get high marks.

To me, these words sounded so strange, so abstract and so "strange" until I came to the University of Maryland.

I just understand that in America, the right to express one's views is sacred.

In Maryland, I am encouraged to express my opinions on some controversial issues every day.

I can challenge the tutor's point of view and even comment on the professor online.

But one thing that brought me the greatest cultural influence was my experience in watching the school play Twilight: Los Angeles.

Twilight is a play written by anna deavere smith (note: anna deavere smith, Maryland native, playwright and actor, whose masterpiece The Philadelphia Story was once made into a movie), and it is about the riots in Los Angeles in 1992.

The riot started when four policemen beat Rodney King during the arrest. The whole process was videotaped and the court acquitted the police. (Note: 1992 The riots in Los Angeles were triggered by the local jury's acquittal of four policemen accused of "excessive use of force" on April 29 of that year, which led to thousands of African-Americans and Latinos who were dissatisfied with the verdict taking to the streets to protest, and finally triggered a series of riots, which affected various communities including Asians, especially Koreans living in the city. The incident itself involved three European white policemen and a Latino white policeman beating a black Rodney King who was suspected of violating traffic regulations. According to statistics afterwards, the whole riot caused property losses of about 1 billion dollars, about 53 people died in the riot and thousands were seriously injured.

For six days, citizens took to the streets and the city was in chaos.

In Twilight, student actors openly discuss racial discrimination, sexism and political topics.

I was shocked. I never thought that these topics could be discussed openly.

This drama is my first experience of political narrative, which makes the audience think dialectically.

I have been eager to tell such a story. However, I have always believed that only those in power have the right to narrate, and only those in power can define the truth.

However, in the process of going deep into the diverse student groups of the University of Maryland, I came into contact with various and completely different views on the truth.

I soon realized that I had a chance to speak freely here.

My voice can be heard.

Your voice can be heard.

Our voices will be heard.

Citizen participation is not just the task of politicians. I witnessed my classmates marching in the streets of Washington, and they voted in the presidential election and held fund-raising activities to support various causes.

I see that everyone has the right to participate and speak for change.

I used to think that personal participation could not bring about change. But Maryland students, this is what we are doing!

Let's go together! We can promote a more just, open and peaceful society.

20 17, we will graduate from a school that attaches importance to humanities and trains us to think dialectically, care about others and feel others.

We have learned many different subjects, and we are ready to face the challenges of society.

Some of us will go to graduate school, some will enter the workplace, and some will start a new journey of exploration.

But whatever we do, please remember that neither democracy nor freedom of speech should be taken for granted.

Democracy and freedom of speech are like fresh air, which is worth fighting for.

Freedom is oxygen, freedom is passion and freedom is love itself.

The French philosopher Sartre once said: Freedom is a choice, and our future depends on the choices we make today and tomorrow.

We are all playwrights in the next chapter of our lives. We can write the history of mankind together.

My friends, please enjoy the fresh air and don't let it be taken away.

Thank you.