At the 12th Shaanxi Education Expo,

a group of recruitment posters stood out

They drew the attention of many examinees and parents, who stopped to watch and take photos

Everyone expressed that they were "deeply touched"

Today, we have specially invited the writer of the slogan,

Professor Hu Jianbo, Founder of Xi'an Eurasia University,

to share the latest insights on his creations

△Interview with Professor Hu Jianbo, Founder and Chairman of Xi'an Eurasia University△

EU: The release of the recruitment posters immediately sparked widespread discussion. What inspired you to come up with these advertising slogans?

Hu: In the early years, many of the advertising slogans for Xi'an Eurasia University were penned by me, such as "Start Here, Go Anywhere", "Foster Your Unique Gifts and Talents". The latter was even recognized as the top advertisement among the national top ten by media that year. In recent years, I have crafted the engaging headlines on the enrollment brochures, like "An ideal university is one that moves you with its charm at first sight", and "Choosing Xi'an Eurasia University is choosing a new way of life". I haven't written advertisements for many years, so this is like returning to my former profession.

On June 24, during a conference speech, I mentioned that the phrases "involution is not enough, lying flat is not acceptable" have recently become buzzwords. Actually, everyone feels this way. At that time, I considered writing a series of advertising slogans based on this concept. That night, I spent nearly the entire night thinking things over, repeatedly refining ideas, and communicating with the designer about the graphic design, with plans to release it at the Expo the next day.

It's unbearable for anyone to keep involution. Even if you achieve the highest score in the provincial exam and enter the best university, you'll find many top achievers awaiting you. You still have to keep involution, aiming for doctorates, Harvard, Yale ... You have to continue competing, constantly comparing yourself with others, and striving for a good reputation, prestigious positions, and a successful career. In reality, no one can keep involution indefinitely. Since you don't want to live such a stressful life, and it is impossible for you to completely lie flat, you can come to Xi'an Eurasia University, where being yourself is always encouraged.

EU: The slogan, written in a playful manner, stated: "Xi'an Eurasia University: Don't come if you're winning, and don't come if you're lying flat." Did it clarify Xi'an Eurasia University's stance?

Hu: Frankly speaking, nobody wants to recruit those who lie flat, and those who are winning wouldn't come to Xi'an Eurasia University anyway. The honest thought is: if your conditions are too good, don't come, don't waste my time, and if they are bad, I'm not interested either.

The reaction to the advertisement was extremely enthusiastic, with inquiries on the 25th being ten times those of the previous day. Of course, there are exceptions. A student on-site was unhappy after seeing the advertisement slogan. She said that she really made an effort and didn't lie flat. She tried her hardest for the college entrance examination, but her score might still not be enough. So, it's inappropriate for the advertisement to suggest that.

This was what a colleague from the admissions office told me, and I am truly sorry. I don't think that having low scores means "lying flat" at all. Xi'an Eurasia University has never judged solely based on scores, nor is it in a position to do so.

Overall, we developed this set of playful advertising slogans to attract individuals who resonate with our sentiments. The real-world impact has also been impressive, with over 100,000 clicks on related Douyin content, ranking high in trending searches.

EU: In the third sentence, you wrote, "Even if you make it to Tsinghua University or Peking University, it's still on the 'Eurasia' turf!" What was the intent behind this conclusion?

Hu: In fact, initially, I wrote "Even if you get into Xi'an Jiaotong University, it's still in the locality of 'Eurasia'". The first reason is that mentioning a local top university feels more relatable, and the second is to pay tribute to the university. Later, my colleagues said that people from Xi'an Jiaotong University don't appreciate being compared to local private universities. So we decided to just spotlight Tsinghua University and Peking University instead! They have become a prestigious term in the educational field, so people are used to hearing it and don't mind the association.

The biggest regret was not using the content I had originally written for this sentence. There's nothing to be done. Young people are wise beyond their years, and as a "Xiamen University" alumnus, I'm happy to take people's advice.

For the students who succeed in the competition, even if you manage to enroll in Tsinghua University or Peking University, you're still on the 'Eurasia' turf, not in heaven. Thus, this remark actually reflects a type of self-confidence among ordinary people. Be an interesting soul, showcase your uniqueness, and this principle holds true even at Tsinghua University or Peking University.

Professor H. Gardner of Harvard University proposed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which suggests that there are eight types of human intelligence: visual-spatial, linguistic-verbal, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinaesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligence. For instance, some individuals are naturally adept at social interactions, while others have an innate talent for athletics. However, the College Entrance Examination primarily assesses logical thinking and verbal articulation, while skills like interpersonal acumen, spatial reasoning, and artistic ability are not evaluated. For students coming to Xi'an Eurasia University, it's not a problem if your grades aren't high. You can find ways to discover your unique abilities and develop them to become a distinct individual.

EU: What educational services or choices can Xi'an Eurasia University offer students? What type of learning experience do we expect them to gain here? What kind of people do we expect them to become?

Hu: The answers to these questions are actually articulated in my recently completed graduation speech "Brotherhood on the Journey". At Xi'an Eurasia University, we aim to assist students' development in three main areas:

First, we emphasize the importance of emotional education for students. Emotional education focuses on cultivating students' sensitivity, including an array of emotions, aesthetic appreciation, fleeting inspiration, empathy, imagination, creativity, among others. In Xi'an Eurasia University's educational practice, we have observed that enlightenment and personal growth are closely linked to strong intuition and inspiration.

Xi'an Eurasia University encourages everyone to "step out of the cave, explore the world, and be true to themselves". This represents a key value expressed by the advertising slogan. This means discovering your strengths and leveraging them, rather than being overshadowed by your own weaknesses or driven by desires.

Every student acts as a beacon in the ordinary world, serving the people around them. Such a straightforward and genuine original intention is actually a promising starting point for happiness.

Therefore, when students arrive at Xi'an Eurasia University, they discover an environment that is exceptionally open and free. It provides the perfect atmosphere for them to relax both physically and mentally, identify their unique talents, and achieve personal growth.

Honestly, "interest" is truly an impulse that cannot be suppressed. These days, I just want to do something unconventional and see what impact it might have. I am delighted now to realize that everyone yearns for things that are "fun" and "original".