Cafeteria staff makes students cry at graduation ceremony

(Dan Tri) - The speech was not written on paper, had no flowery words or lofty messages, just simple instructions from the cafeteria manager, but made the students cry at the graduation ceremony.

The simple speech made the whole hall silent.

“Although ordering food is convenient, it is not as good as cooking your own food. No matter how busy you are, don’t eat instant noodles for a meal. No matter how stressful your work is, you must remember to eat properly,” said Ms. Liu Xiaomei, the cafeteria manager at Yanbian University (a key university in Jilin Province, China) at the recent graduation ceremony.

Ms. Hieu Mai's sincere and simple words of advice made the hall quiet with emotion, many students could not hold back their tears. Ms. Luu Hieu Mai is the staff in charge of the school's cafeteria, she has worked here for many years. At this year's graduation ceremony, the school invited her to represent the logistics staff to give a farewell speech to the students.

Ms. Liu Xiaomei - cafeteria manager at Yanbian University (Photo: SCMP).

Ms. Hieu Mai did not prepare a speech or use fancy language. She instructed the graduating students as if they were having an intimate daily conversation.

Ms. Hieu Mai said: “As a cafeteria worker, I am honored to accompany the children during their most beautiful youth. Many children ask me: “Teacher, why are you always so happy and enthusiastic in serving?”

I think it is very difficult for the children to study far away from home. If I try a little harder, maybe the children will be happier and their parents back home will be more assured. At home, the children are the treasures of their parents. At school, the children are the treasures of the uncles and aunts who work in logistics.

She said she still remembers the first-year students timidly saying, “Teacher, please give me some more rice.” She also remembers the determined and slightly tired eyes of the students during the period of staying up late to study for final exams. She remembers the times when they confided in her about love, broken hearts, etc.

All those memories created the bond and love between Ms. Hieu Mai and the students. She silently watched each step of their growth.

Ms. Hieu Mai also said that the cafeteria staff had prepared 15,000 dumplings with fillings to treat the students after the graduation ceremony. This is a wish for good luck for the students before the new journey of life.

What made Ms. Hieu Mai’s speech go viral among Chinese netizens was its sincerity. In a solemn graduation ceremony, the sharing from a cafeteria worker with simple and loving words made the ceremony unexpectedly emotional.

The advice to “always remember to eat well” is like a warm spiritual tonic, helping to soothe the students’ anxiety and worry.

The last lesson is not in the textbook.

Being grateful for the care and support from silent workers is not only a matter of personal feelings, but also a part of moraleducation for students.

Silent workers like security guards, cafeteria staff, dormitory managers... all give students lessons about attitudes towards life and work.

Education is not only contained in classroom lectures or books, but also manifests in the mundane aspects of a school, such as the cafeteria or the security room.

A female student was moved when listening to Ms. Hieu Mai's speech (Photo: SCMP).

In fact, in recent years, the presence of silent staff, such as security guards or dormitory managers, has become increasingly common at graduation ceremonies at many universities in China.

In 2016, Yangzhou Industrial Technical College invited the security guard and the dormitory manager to speak at the graduation ceremony.

In 2019, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University invited dormitory manager Zhang Xueqing to give a speech. She advised students: “No matter how busy you are, don’t skip meals, remember to exercise, and prioritize getting enough sleep.”

In 2020, Nanjing University of Information Technology invited security guard Chu Kai to speak at the graduation ceremony. Chu Kai sent a message: “Each person’s sense of responsibility is demonstrated through hard work to bring about practical results, so you should always be diligent and make efforts in work and life.”

The graduation ceremonies of many universities in China today include speeches from the school president, distinguished students, and finally simple messages from the quietly dedicated staff on campus.

This reflects a deeper way of thinking in the higher education environment in the country of a billion people, where respect for ordinary workers is increasingly promoted. This is a recognition that a school cannot function well without the dedication and efforts of all staff and workers in the school.

Above all, the move to invite silent workers to give the final speech at the graduation ceremony is also a profound reminder for recent graduates: Always maintain a proper attitude, be responsible, and know how to appreciate the workers around you.

Ms. Liu Xiaomei's advice that is causing a stir is not just her greeting, but also the school's final lesson sent to students in a gentle and skillful way, a lesson that is not in the curriculum, but will follow them throughout their lives.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nhan-vien-nha-an-khien-sinh-vien-bat-khoc-trong-le-tot-nghiep-20250630215754577.htm