Interview with Great BCIS Alumni | BCIS校友會：長大成人是一種怎樣的滋味？

　　此篇送給逐漸長大成人的同學們。長大并不可怕，未知和轉變會帶來更多的驚喜，也歡迎家長們與您的孩子一起分享。

　　關于長大，有時孩子們會提出疑問或是發表感慨，例如：“長大以后會怎么樣?”“長大以后就不用再XXXX”。但似乎一直沒有一個準確的答案，長大到底是什么。今天我們就和大家分享北京樂成國際學校(BCIS)校友會中幾名同學的成長感悟，他們長大后的所思所想。但也僅僅是參考，因為每個人的人生都是不可復制的，誰也無法按照別人的道路走，或是成為其他人的模樣，人生如有雷同，純屬編劇自造。

　　這一次我們請來的4位校友，他們已處在各自不同的生活節點， 在(幾經)身份的轉變后，他們的想法和心態也都隨之發生了巨大的改變，今天我們就和他們一起聊一聊長大成人后的那些滋味。

　　Q1： 面對問題或挑戰，情緒低落時，如何讓自己重回積極狀態?

　　Ruoyi JIANG：BCIS第一屆也是唯一的一個畢業生，現在紐約創業。她選擇從內心調整自己。

　　“我在自己開店之后遇到過一個算是打擊的一件事情。當時和一個朋友決定合作，而后因為意見不統一最后合作沒有達成，但我沒有想到的是她完整地抄襲、使用了我的設計，當我看到她毫無忌諱、鋪天蓋地的宣傳的時候我確實很惱火，也有周邊的朋友建議我走法律途徑。但我是一個自省的人，所以我會先來看看自己在這樣一個事件中有哪些做的不夠好。當時認為是朋友，所以就沒有簽訂協議一類，保護自己的知識產權，所以之后就導致了這樣的問題。另一方面就是我從心態上調整，告訴自己這些設計的靈感和想法都是我的，我是可以再繼續源源不斷再繼續創造的，所以我不需要和她再計較，或者說自己生氣，這樣其實影響更多的是自己。通過這樣一件事我學到的會更多，學會原諒，學會向前看，讓自己的修復能力增強。”

　　Jack LI：即將大學畢業，走進社會。成長是“脫敏”的過程，消極因素讓他更加強大。

　　“我是一個在情緒上不會有太大起伏的人，所以可能我的積極性更多的是來源于消極或是負面因素對我的磨練和積累，在自我“修復”的過程中我會一點點變強，在下次的情況中我就會更加從容。當我做Sales manager(汽車行業)的時候，公司就遇到了公關危機，當時我們處在輿論中心，事實真相大眾也未能全面了解到，我們只能按照常規的程序來解決這樣的問題。我本人其實是可以從容應對的，我覺得是之前一次次其他“消極”經驗積累的過程，讓我的承受能力增強，轉化成為一種動能。除此以外，對前景的判斷和信任讓我一直保持一種動力，或是說保持一種積極的狀態。”

　　Alyson LIU：孩提時代的“拉鉤”承諾已經失效，成年人有自己的方式。

　　“從十年級最后的畢業作品展我就開始意識到‘公私分明’是我要學習的成年人的游戲方式。當時為了舉辦音樂節我也是找了第三方合作，包括樂隊、餐飲一類的，但是都沒有簽訂合約。因為音樂節當天是周六，很多人也就都沒有來，所以最后并沒有很成功，而我聯系的這些人其實也都是我的朋友，只是沒有走協議這樣一個步驟。所以當時我就明白，做事情上私人關系是沒有任何意義的，也許還會造成麻煩。做事情還是要專業，這是現實，可能很殘酷但是卻能很好地保護雙方的利益，也能推進事情順利進行。”

　　YY說：也許“碰壁”是最佳的學習方式，當從童話世界里走出，直面現實時，他們從開始的拒絕接受逐漸轉變為之后的“習以為常”，再一次次經歷后，變得羽翼豐滿。但如果不走出之前的溫室，永遠不知道自己可以變得多堅強。

　　Q2：現在還會像小時候一樣有一個夢想或是堅持一個目標嗎?

　　Ruoyi JIANG: 目標這種東西其實很難一直保持不變，因為不確定的因素太多了，所以會有調整和改變，但我認為有一個很重要的前提是有一個自己真正的愛好，這樣才能有這種動力一直做某一件事情。在BCIS確實有這樣的時間和機會去找到自己的興趣，而不是被課業所包圍了。

　　Jack LI: 我也認為興趣愛好是設定一個目標的大前提。不能像英文課本上的對話一樣，問喜歡做什么都是同一個答案：reading books(看書), watching movies(看電影), listening to the music(聽音樂)。這種思路是不會讓你有一種動力去實現什么目標，不熱愛就很難堅持。

　　Amenda LI(在校大學生): 確實如此，在我高三的時候就一度厭學，是因為我覺得讀了很多年的書沒有意思，我不想再這樣繼續下去了，但是我又不知道要做些什么，似乎進入了一個停滯狀態。當時家里人也不是很理解，所以我找了我的班主任老師Alex Davis先生。他和我分享了他的成長經歷，鼓勵我多去考慮更多積極的事情，讓我感到開心的事情，引導我找到自己喜歡的方向。最后我選擇了藝術類學科，現在在大學里我感到非常開心，完全沉浸在其中。我想這是因為我找到自己的興趣所在，我才會一直到現在一直堅持和努力。

　　YY說：沒有人可以給我們一個明確的答案，我們如何，在什么時間可以實現目標或者夢想。太多的不確定讓理想變得模糊，但是我們擁有的是一成不變的熱情，和對自己所愛的堅持。

　　Q3 從青春期到現在，在這樣一個相對穩定的狀態里，大家和父母、家人的關系有沒有什么變化?

　　Ruoyi JIANG: 這個肯定是有的，原來可能一個月都想不起來給他們打一個電話，但是現在時不時就會想要和他們通話，這種牽掛是我們民族文化中最特別的，也是其他文化中沒有的。

　　Jack LI: 我不記得具體是哪一年，我開始給家里的人買東西，出門會想到要給家人帶些禮物，我周邊的同學大概也都是那一時期開始和家里的關系變得很緊密。我會經常和他們說我愛你這一類的話，他們也可以接受這樣的表達。

　　Alyson LIU：我是那種非常獨立的性格，任何事情我都會自己做主，所以在上大學之前我和家人的關系并不是那么的親密。但現在，當我發現他們變老，我就會很想去和他們多親近，多溝通，這種是我之前沒有想到的，但卻是我現在格外想要珍惜的。

　　Amenda LI：真的是在自己掙過錢之后才了解到父母的辛苦，所以現在我特別能理解當時爸媽的那種感情，我也會給家人帶禮物，多和他們溝通。

　　YY說：一脈相承的文化存在于我們的基因中，潛移默化中影響著人們的行為和語言，“孝”文化正是如此，“烏鴉反哺”將在一代代年輕人身上體現和傳承。

　　Q4 你們還和BCIS的同學有聯系嗎?怎么“利用”你們這個強大的關系網?

　　在回答這個問題時，5位校友的答案達到了空前的統一。隨著他們身份的轉變，和同齡人之間的談話內容也不再是“吃吃喝喝”那些事情，更多的是談論一些有意義的事情。他們共同認為大學前結交朋友是最單純毫無目的性的行為，而這些同學也是最有可能在今后成為各行各業佼佼者的種子選手，因此在當自己想要做一些事情的時候就會聯系這些同學，可以給出一些專業的建議和幫助。這已經是大家普遍達成共識的一個現象，談合作不意味著利用和沒情意，更多地是從小建立起來的對彼此的信任以及相同的價值觀，會更容易將這些力量聚集在一起，做更有意義的事情。

　　The BCIS mission is to challenge and empower students to be compassionate and inspired people, who act for the good of all and for the sustainable development of the world.

　　With the recent graduation ceremony of our 10th graduating class, the Class of 2018, we took the opportunity to interview some of our alumni who attended our BCIS Alumni Week that was part of the graduation celebrations and see the roads they have taken in life after graduating from BCIS. Four of our alumni stopped by the main campus to visit their alma mater, participate in our annual Board Breakfast with the BCIS community, meet with some of their previous teachers, as well as speak with their younger peers about life after high school and beyond. The first and sole graduate from the Class of 2009, Ruoyi Jiang; Class of 2014 student Jack Li; and members from the Class of 2017, Amanda Li and Alyson Liu, spoke about the life lessons they have learned upon graduating from BCIS, shared important wisdom they have attained from living life without their parents abroad, the changes they have experienced after “growing up,” and much more. We would like to share some of their experiences.

　　Ms. Ruoyi went on to study and graduate from New York University (NYU), and continues to live in New York where she is the proprietor of boutique shop “Chop Suey Club” that sells modern Chinese designers’ accessories and more. Mr. Jack is already in his final year at Bentley University, where he is learning about business and working on the side as a manager at a car sales company. Ms. Amanda is studying the art of Ceramic and Hot Glass making in a tranquil and peaceful Alberta University of Arts and Design, while Ms. Alyson is majoring in Marketing and Finance at Northeastern University. Each has chosen a different path to follow, but as foreign students living and studying abroad, they have endured similar challenges and overcome them. Some of these obstacles they have faced include getting adjusted to having complete independence over their schedules and life in general; enjoying the limited cuisine options around their universities (school cafeteria food is not for everyone); not having someone, a parent for example, telling them when to wake up or what to do; and more. Over time, they were all able to adapt and adjust to their new surroundings, living conditions, and overwhelming workload. They all unanimously mentioned that BCIS prepared them well regarding the latter, helping them succeed in university and their other endeavors after graduation so far.

　　The students also learned many poignant life lessons the hard way (i.e. experiencing these firsthand) after high school. Among these, this one was especially felt: sometimes, people you may think are friends can do the unimaginable. Ms. Ruoyi mentioned that a good friend of hers stole an incredible idea she had been working on for some time. This person, who she once considered a close friend, suddenly cut ties with her after pilfering her work for monetary gain without a shred of guilt. That is why Ms. Ruoyi cautioned others to be aware of who their true friends are.

　　On a more positive note, all the students shared how their relationships with their parents have grown stronger. Although none are parents themselves yet, the young adults have come to understand the perspectives of their parents more, as well as sympathize with them. Indeed, the love only a parent can provide for their child is truly special. In addition, distance makes a heart grow fonder, as well as brings families closer in a way. They also mentioned that with the advent of technology, it is also not a problem to keep in frequent contact with loved ones, no matter the differences in time and location.

　　Lastly, the alumni were asked this question: If there is one piece of advice you would like to share with our current BCIS students, what would it be? Mr. Jack emphasized that grades are not that important. Although he did not receive the best grades in high school (in fact, he admitted his grades were poor), he stated he has found success in both his higher education studies and work career by following his interests and excelling in these instead. Ms. Ruoyi also shared essential wisdom that fell on eager ears: “I want to share with you one very useful tip I wish I knew earlier: instead of thinking what kind of career you want to have, think what kind of lifestyle you want to have first. Then think about the type of careers that will allow this lifestyle to be your reality.”

　　We are thankful to our alumni for sharing their life stories with us. We are also looking forward to hearing more about their future endeavors and success.