同文教育集团董事长、华外同文外国语学校理事长

贺惠芬女士

点燃“心”光，无畏向前

人生海海，山山而川；冬阳初放，与梦同行。越过山丘，2024年已然降临，让我们联袂并肩。

立于岁暮回眸2023，最喜悦的莫过于暌违三年后，与友人久别重逢；中国经济持续复苏，房地产泡沫得到遏制；科技创新获得重要突破，中国科学家在量子计算、人工智能、航天等领域取得丰硕成果……在此过程中，ChatGPT异军突起，对包括教育在内等产业的颠覆，山雨欲来；虽然消费、投资、出口均实现增长，但不确定的乌云依然密布。

审时度势，焕新启程。2023年，同文教育集团加大了师资培训力度，提高了教师的专业素养和教育教学水平；致力于打造高素质的后勤服务队伍，取得业界的认可；着力提升素质教育业务板块的内涵建设，为后续开拓市场打下坚实基础。2023年9月28日，华外同文外国语学校举行新校牌揭幕仪式。华外同文将继续秉承“更中国、更世界”的精神脉络，上下求索、风雨兼程。

华外同文外国语学校新校牌

细诉2023，走过的路，都将成为前行路上的北斗；迈过的坎，终会化作照亮前路的星光。曾经的低谷为了蓄势待发，所谓的遗憾则是在孕育希望。

过往无须纠结，念念必有回响。正如一位大师所说的，“永远放眼未来，赶在命运的前头。”未来并不是一个遥远的概念，它是由我们每一个人的行动和选择所构成的。时代越喧嚣，岁月越曲折，对长远的未来充满信心就越加珍贵。

2024年，保持乐观、点燃“心”光、不畏前行，是教育工作者最基本的教育准则。

心里有光，照见希望。篮球明星姚明在职业生涯中经历了许多伤病和困难，但他始终给自己正面暗示。2019年，中国男篮世界排名赛最后一轮较量中，打光了最后一颗子弹，最终不敌劲旅，失去了东京奥运会的直通资格。中国篮协主席姚明坐在替补席上，眼圈红润。面对记者的采访，他乐观说道，“我们后边还有2月份亚洲杯的窗口期，还有6月份的落选赛，无论如何只要有一丝希望，我们都要去争取。”

心里有光，能抵千斤重压。2023年11月SpaceX星舰在万众瞩目下升空失败、付诸一炬，马斯克依然面露微笑：“相比上次发射，距离成功更近了一步。”事实上，早在2006年3月，SpaceX的第一枚火箭猎鹰1号首次发射升空后迅速失控坠海。马斯克付之一笑：“我们得到了25秒的数据，也算是一种成功。”一年后，猎鹰1号再次发射失败，他备受打击却毫不气馁，二十年如一日地坚持。SpaceX在他的带领下势如破竹，仅2023年就向太空发射了 92 枚运载火箭。

心里有光，可耐岁月漫长。就像河南的一对小夫妻亮亮和丽君，他们满怀对生活的希望，花光全部积蓄在郑州贷款买房却遭遇烂尾。但他们始终努力地经营生活，通过直播带货等方式谋求出路、逆风翻盘，在出租屋撑起一个温馨小家。

心里的光是失意时的慰藉。就像《长安三万里》里的李白，尽管经历了怀才不遇的郁闷、报国无门的挫折，他依然汪洋恣意地写下“天生我材必有用，千金散去还复来”。

点燃“心”光、无畏向前，不是盲目的自信和一味地否认现实，而是在理性分析的基础上，看到事情的积极面和未来的希望。与其焦虑踟躇，不如直面艰难险阻，勇往直前；与其抱残守旧，不如大胆求新进取，拼杀出更加美好的未来。

面对未来，我们不悲观、不躺平、坚持长期主义。行动是抵达彼岸的唯一途径，乐观是照亮前路的明灯。

时间永远分岔，通向无数的未来。新程远阔，当河山入怀，只管慷慨奔赴。愿新的一年，仍有阳光满路，温暖如初。2024，新年快乐！

同文教育集团董事长

华外同文外国语学校理事长

贺惠芬

2023年12月31日

Light up Our Hearts to Go Forward Fearlessly

Life is always full of twists and turns. On this sunny winter day, let’s go forward with dreams to embrace the new year of 2024.

In the past year of 2023, the great pleasures are that we could reunite with friends after three years into the pandemic; China’s economy continued to revive and real estate bubbles were suppressed; significant breakthroughs were made in technological innovation, and Chinese scientists produced rich achievements in such fields as quantum computing, AI, aerospace, ...... In this process, ChatGPT has emerged suddenly and may potentially disrupt many industries including education; although growth has been realized in consumption, investment and exports, uncertainties are still looming.

We embarked on a new journey as the situation warranted. In 2023, Tongman Education Group stepped up efforts in teacher training, and improved the professional competence and teaching skills of the teachers; our commitment to building a high-quality logistics service team gained industry recognition; and we focused on the building of the quality-oriented education business sector, laying a solid foundation for future market expansion. Huawai-Tongman Foreign Language School held a new school signboard unveiling ceremony on September 28, 2023, but will carry on its original philosophy of “Embrace China, Embrace the World”, and adhere to its truth-pursuing path steadfastly.

All lessons learned and all difficulties overcome in the past will become starlight that shows the way forward. We gain momentum in hard times and derive hopes of success from all failures.

We shouldn’t be trapped in the past, but should believe that nothing is impossible for a willing heart. A master says, “Always look into the future and be ahead of destiny.” The future is not a distant concept, but composed of everyone’s actions and choices. The confidence in the distant future is even more valuable in chaotic and hard times.

In 2024, staying optimistic and lighting up our hearts to go forward fearlessly is the fundamental guiding principle for educational workers.

A bright heart is full of hopes. Basketball star Yao Ming experienced many injuries and difficulties in his career, but kept giving himself positive suggestions. In the final round competition of the 2019 World Ranking Tournament, the Chinese men’s basketball team was ultimately beaten by a strong rival and disqualified for direct admission to the Tokyo Olympics though they did their best. Yao Ming, Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, sat on the substitute bench with tearful eyes. In an interview, he said optimistically, “We still have chances, including the FIBA Asia Cup in February and the pre-Olympic tournament in June. Anyway, as long as there is a flash of hope, we will fight for it.”

A bright heart is fearless of stresses. When the SpaceX starship was burned down after a launching failure amidst extensive attention in November 2023, Musk still said with a smile, “We are one step closer to success compared to the last launch.” In fact, as early as March 2006, SpaceX’s first rocket Falcon 1 quickly went out of control and fell into the sea after its first launch. Musk said lightly, “We have got data for 25 seconds, which may be some kind of success.” Although Falcon 1 encountered another launching failure one year later, he has never been frustrated but stayed on target for 20 years in a row. Under his leadership, SpaceX has developed smoothly, with 92 carrier rockets launched into space in 2023 alone.

A bright heart stands the test of time. For example, a young couple named Liangliang and Lijun in Henan, full of hope for life, spent all their savings to buy a house in Zhengzhou on loan, but the house was left unfinished due to the developer’s insolvency. In such a situation, they have been making a living by all means, including live streaming, and finally turned the corner. Currently, they are enjoying a warm family life in a rented house.

A bright heart is never frustrated. For instance, although famous poet Li Bai in the movie Chang An had no way to give play to his talent and serve the country, he still wrote liberally, “My talent will be eventually recognized and rewarded, despite of initial setbacks.”

Let’s light up our hearts to go forward fearlessly. That is not to be blindly confident and denying the reality, but to see positive aspects and future hopes based on a rational analysis. Rather than being anxious and hesitant, why not go ahead bravely in face of difficulties and obstacles? Rather than sticking to old ways, why not pursue innovation and progress boldly to create a bright future?

Facing the future, we should take a long-term approach without feeling pessimistic and without lying down. Action is the only means leading to success and optimism is the beacon that shows our way forward.

There are always countless future possibilities. Let’s simply embrace the current new journey without hesitation in the new year. May luck be always with us in the new journey! Happy New Year 2024!

Winnie He

Chairman of Tongman Education Group and Director-general of the Affiliated Huawai-Tongman Foreign Language School 

December 31, 2023