On June 5th, the inaugural commencement ceremony of Class 2019 was held in Shenzhen Basis International School. 13 unique and passionate students were awarded the BASIS International Schools, China graduate diploma.

6月5日，深圳贝赛思国际学校举行了2019届毕业典礼，向13位、热情向上的学生颁发了中国贝赛思国际学校毕业。

Being a new school that opened in 2015, this first graduating class is a very special one, who have fought through challenges and led by example. The school is extremely proud that they have all arrived at this day, and are about to embark upon new, exciting paths at colleges all over the United States.

作为一所2015年创办的新学校，本届毕业生作为首届毕业生，是一个特别的群体。他们克服各种困难和挑战，以身作则，树立典范。学校为他们今日所取得的成绩而感到无比骄傲，也为他们即将展开的全新的、令人兴奋的美国高校生活感到高兴。

Here we would like to share the keynote remarks from our HOS, Dr. Reford in Graduation Ceremony of Class 2019:

以下是校长Dr. Reford在2019届毕业典礼上的主旨演讲：

Dear Class of 2019 - welcome to your graduation celebration. To the Parents of the Class of 2019 - welcome to a moment that I am sure fills you with great pride, and I am sure some sadness and anxiety also. Students, if you notice mum and dad looking a little strangely at you today, it is because they also see the baby and the little child you once were, and they cannot believe how fast the years have passed.

亲爱的2019届毕业班同学们大家好！毕业生家长们，欢迎你们光临参加孩子的毕业典礼，与我们一同度过这令你们感到无比骄傲，同时又有些许感伤和焦虑的时刻。同学们，如果你们发现自己的父母今天看起来举止有一点不似寻常，那是因为他们看到了自己的孩子从曾经的蹒跚学步到今天的毕业有成，他们无法相信时间的脚步竟然走得那么快。

To the Founding Faculty and Staff of BASIS International School Shenzhen - welcome. Four years ago could you imagine this day might come? And you would still be here?

从深圳贝赛思国际学校创校伊始就在此工作至今的创校教职员工们，欢迎你们！四年前，你们是否预想过今天的盛典？是否预料到四年后的今天，你们还在这里与我们并肩共行？

To all the faculty and staff - welcome. How wonderful for all of us who arrived after the founding year to be able to say we were part of the community as it celebrated this milestone.

全体教职员工们，欢迎你们！不论我们是哪年开始到学校工作的，我们能够在此齐聚一堂，共贺这样一个里程碑，是多么美好的一件事情！

To our College Admissions team - welcome. You embraced the Class of 2019 with such care, humor, energy, intelligence and raw cunning. I wonder will they ever have such dedicated pathfinders in their lives again?

我们的规划指导团队，欢迎你们！你们为2019毕业班，寄予了无比的关怀、精力、智慧和思虑。我甚至在想，他们以后是否还能遇到为他们如此殚精竭虑、点亮人生道路的指引者？

To everyone in the room - let us look around and give ourselves a cheer for all the work that brought us to this special day.

在座的每一位嘉宾，让我们一起环顾四周，为自己和身边的人而欢呼喝彩 -- 今天这个特殊的日子离不开我们大家的不懈努力和辛勤付出！

I asked the Class of 2019 two questions that I have asked of graduating classes for many years now. The first is to tell me about a moment that had a significant impact on them at our school.

我曾问过2019届毕业生两个问题，这也是我多年以来，会问每一届毕业生的问题。个问题是请他们告诉我，在我们学校学习期间对他们影响较深的一刻是什么？

One student talked about the 9th grade musical in Drama Class, because it made them realize how close this class had become.

一位学生谈及了9年级戏剧课上的音乐剧演出，因为那一次经历让他们意识到班级同学的亲密和团结。

One student remembered, perhaps not so fondly, the sleepless nights working on the Economics paper and reviewing for the AP US History exam.

一位学生提到了，那些回忆起来可能略微苦涩的，为经济学和AP美国历史考试而备战的不眠之夜。

Another will always remember leaving campus each day and the guards smiling and saying goodbye.

另一位学生说，他会永远记得每一天离开学校时，学校安保人员对他微笑着说再见。

And finally Chinese Literature Class this year. This student speaks of how it affected their personal values and inspired them to be more self-critical...

还有一位学生提到，今年的中国文学课影响了他的个人价值观，同时让自己更具自我批判意识......

The second question is: for what are you most grateful from your time at school?

第二个问题是学校里你较感激的是什么或者是谁？

One student thanks their college counsellor as he helped them to believe they could do great things and most importantly brought them chocolates.

一位学生说非常感谢规划指导老师，因为他们教会学生积极自信，而且较重要的是，他们给学生们带了巧克力。

Another speaks of the opportunity to work with some of the most inspiring educators they have ever met.

另一位学生提到自己遇到了较能激发自己学习兴趣的一些老师。

One speaks of their gratitude to the school for teaching them to be independent and self-reliant.

还有一位学生感激学校将自己培养成为一个独立自强的人。

And finally, the thanks many expressed to their teachers for taking the time to sit down with them to discuss difficult problems and their papers.

较后，许多学生对老师们课后愿意花时间为他们提供额外的学习辅导表达由衷的感谢！

Dear Class of 2019, cherish these memories and these bonds forged with your classmates and teachers. BASIS International School Shenzhen will always be a home for you, wherever you might happen to be in the world.

亲爱的2019届毕业生们，请珍惜这些回忆，以及你们与同学、老师之间的珍贵情感。不管你们将来在世界的任何一个地方，深圳贝赛思国际学校始终都是你们的一个家。

Above all, embrace the great gift your parents have given to you. When they enrolled you at our school four long years ago in 2015, it was an extraordinary act of hope, to provide you with a future very few 18 year-olds anywhere in the world will ever know.

较重要的是，感恩父母对你的馈赠。在四年前的2015年，他们寄予了无限希望地将你们送到这所学校，为你们提供了一般同龄人所未能企及的教育资源，为你们创造了美好的前途。

For all of you I realize this is a day of great expectations, relief and joy. Of course as you prepare to walk out into adult life in another country, I imagine you must also feel some tension between the fear of goodbyes and loss and the delight in the change and growth that await you.

同学们，今天是一个充满期待、放松和欢乐的日子。而当你们准备漂洋过海，开始成年人的独立生活时，我想你们一定会在离别亲朋戚友的恐惧，以及等待着你的美好变化与成长的喜悦之间感到有些紧张。

Embrace it all, the fear of loss and the delight in all the changes to come. Go to America with confidence. You are ready. I promise you are all a match for whatever challenges you will face. America should watch out - the BASIS International School Shenzhen Class of 2019 is coming!

同学们，不论离别的恐惧还是成长的喜悦，请你们展开双臂欣然地拥抱它们吧！你们已经准备好了，满怀信心地向美利坚前进！我相信不管将来遇到什么挑战，你们都能够坦然面对、迎刃有余。美利坚看好了，深圳贝赛思国际学校2019届毕业生就要来了！