University teachers' packing for students offer life lesson in care

Just after they learned how to present online classes through video livestreaming, Beijing university teachers have found a new way to make good use of the technology, helping graduates who are unable to return to schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic pack their belongings.

Wang Liqun, a fresh graduate from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, met with his supervisor, Zhang Hui, on Monday through WeChat video chatting, though the teacher was not there to give him one last lesson before graduation, but in his dormitory to help him pack his belongings.

One piece at a time, Zhang and another teacher, Xu Qian, presented an item in front of the camera and asked Wang if he still wanted it or not. They helped Wang pack almost all his things at the dormitory, except for items not allowed to be sent through delivery.

They chatted for more than an hour, apart from packing belongings; sometimes the conversation would also change to academic fronts, with the two teachers giving him suggestions on how to further his academic research.

"We want to pack as many things as possible. Some items we might find trivial but they are of great significance to him as they carry four years of fond memories at the university," Zhang said.

The two teachers spent the whole day at the dormitories, packing things for 11 graduates.

"It is not easy to graduate amid a pandemic. Unable to return to the school and have a proper graduation season must be very disappointing, so we want to do something special for them," Xu said.

They are among the more than 1,000 teachers at the university who volunteered to help graduates unable to return to the school due to the COVID-19 pandemic pack and deliver their belongings to them.

Ma Cong, deputy director of the university's Students' Affairs Department, said the university started to offer the service on July 1 and plans to finish packing on July 10.

The teachers need to pack for more than 4,000 graduates at the university, and they usually spend two to three hours packing for each student, he said.

The school has asked for permission to do this for all students; they can also choose whether they want to let teachers pack their things, he said. Students do not need to pay for the packing or delivery and the costs have been shouldered by the school.

Many universities in Beijing have offered the free services to graduates, as the city has stopped allowing graduates to return to schools since June 17 after a new wave of new cases have been reported since last month.

Yin Zhiyong, who just graduated from Beijing Institute of Technology, said one of his teachers, Song Weidong, helped him pack his belongings on June 29 while video chatting with him about his needs.

"I do not even want to pack them myself as it is very hot in Beijing," he said. "Climbing up and down, asking me about every item and using plastic covers to make sure the belongings are clean, I was deeply moved about how patient and caring he was," Yin said.

The university has offered to temporarily keep his belongings as he will return to the school to start his postgraduate studies in September, he said, adding that he will thank Song in person after he returns to the school.

More than 1,000 teachers at the university have volunteered to help more than 6,000 graduates to pack their belongings and the university also offers free delivery and storage of the belongings, according to the university.

Chen Pengwan, dean of the university's School of Mechatronical Engineering, said more than 100 teachers volunteered to help about 450 graduates to pack their belongings from June 29 to July 7.

Each pair of teachers is responsible to pack for eight students every day and they usually work from 8 am to 7 or 8 pm, Chen said.

"Although all teachers feel very tired afterwards, we feel it is worthwhile as we want them to feel the warmth of the school," he said. "It is also a valuable lesson about love and we want to convey our strong feelings and good wishes to them."