Disappointment

Peng Haibi from Wuhan in Hubei, the Chinese province hit hard by the novel coronavirus, studied hard for his communication engineering degree at Beijing Jiaotong University.

The 22-year-old had hoped that his graduation ceremony, originally scheduled for this month, would be an opportunity to reflect on his accomplishments. He had intended to bring his parents from Wuhan to share in the celebrations.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought his plans unstuck. He went back to Wuhan for Spring Festival holidays and was unable to return after the city was locked down for 11 weeks from January 23.His university in Beijing had also closed its doors, allowing only a handful of students to remain on campus and making any chance of Peng returning impossible.

Beijing Jiaotong University eventually announced that final-year students could return to campus on June 18, but this was later canceled after a cluster of cases emerged in the capital.

Peng, who is still in Wuhan, is unsure when he will be able to return to the university to pack up his belongings and whether he will have the opportunity to say goodbye to his friends and teachers.

He said an online graduation can't replace the real event as it lacks the emotion, prestige and passion of a ceremony.

"There are so many teachers that I would like to thank and talk to. I still want to meet my friends… so yeah, this lack of a proper farewell makes me pretty sad," Peng said.