As the lingering summer heat gradually fades and the September breeze moves gently through the tree-lined campus, the College of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University welcomed 74 graduate students and 30 newly admitted undergraduate transfer students this weekend. Arriving with enthusiasm and anticipation, the new students infused fresh vitality into this academic community.

Accompanied by Hou Beiping, Vice President of the University; Zhang Yuejing, Director of the Graduate Work Department of the University Party Committee; Jin Hui, Deputy Secretary of the College Party Committee (acting Secretary); and student counselors, university leaders visited the freshmen dormitories. They warmly inquired about students’ living conditions, including bedding arrangements and daily necessities, and discussed their future research plans. The leaders carefully inspected accommodation conditions, offered guidance on academic and daily life matters, and expressed appreciation to the staff for their hard work. Through these thoughtful conversations and attentive listening, a sense of “home” quietly took shape, giving new students reassurance as they begin their postgraduate journey.

Wearing unified volunteer vests, student volunteers remained busy throughout the day—assisting with luggage transport at the campus entrance, guiding students through registration procedures, and offering help at service desks. With patience and warmth, they answered questions related to document submission and enrollment procedures, easing the initial unfamiliarity felt by new students. The welcome board reading “Welcome, Class of 2025 of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University” stood out prominently, while group photos holding signs that read “Happy First Day of the Semester” captured the most vivid smiles of the day.

As evening fell and registration activities gradually came to an end, the academic journey of the Class of 2025 students in Civil and Architectural Engineering had only just begun. The dedication of volunteers, the encouraging gazes of faculty members, and the warm greetings from university leaders became the most touching memories of the day. The expectations written on the welcome boards and the kindness expressed in every conversation formed the first source of strength on their path of academic pursuit.

“Let autumn be the page on which our first encounter is written; let action be the pen that builds a new journey.”This early-autumn meeting marks only the beginning. May every new graduate student of the Class of 2025 uphold their original academic aspirations, remain dedicated to research, and achieve excellence in the field of civil and architectural engineering.