2016 JI convocation speech by Ms. Jane Sun

It is my great honor to be here to speak to the students who have been working so hard to get in the top university in China! And now, you are in the top program in the top university! Congratulations!
Both Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Jiao Da) and the University of Michigan are very special to John and myself. In 1985, John entered into Jiao Da and after two years, he went to University of Michigan to study. So he became the first “2 plus 2” student between Jiao Da and the University of Michigan.
My parents-in-law taught Physics in College of Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University for more than forty years. To honor them, we established a need-based scholarship in JI called “Sunshine Scholarship”.
What are the hopes we have for the new students? I always hope you will have “Five Loves”.First, love to face up challenges.
When I was in elementary school, the best school near my home was Ge Zhi Middle School 格致中学. However, at the age of 13, I decided to challenge myself and go to Shanghai High School where I had to stay in the school for six days and could only stay at home on Sunday. For the first six weeks, whenever I had dinner before I went back to school, I cried because I missed my home so much. However, ,Shanghai High School became a life-changing school for me.
After I graduated from Shanghai High School, my parents thought I would go to Jiao Da or Fu Dan, because all my cousins went to these two schools. However, I thought I should see more of China. So I went to the Peking University Law School. Over there, I met students from all over the country.
After I finished sophomore year in Peking University, a professor in the USA selected me to go to study in the University of Florida. At that time, only about 3000 students from China went abroad to study. My parents were worried that I was too young to go abroad and didn’t have any support overseas. However, I wanted to challenge myself with this new adventure. I studied as a full-time student but also worked 40 hours a week to save for my tuition. Monday to Thursday, I started my classes at 7am. In the afternoon, I worked in the law school library as research assistant. On Friday and Saturday, I worked from 11am to 11pm in a restaurant. The minimum wage was only 3 USD per hour. I reserved my evening and Sunday to study. Life was challenging at that time. I could not see my family for five years. When I missed them, I looked at the sun, the moon and the stars, and I told my parents, “not matter where we are, we will always look at the same sun, the same moon and the same stars!” Although I was lonely, my heart was full of hope. I told myself, “Someday, if I am able to, I will set up a scholarship to help students like me.” That was the beginning of our scholarship.
When I graduated from UF, I thought my strength was bilingual and bicultural. I should go to a place where I can utilize my strength. So I challenged myself to go to the Silicon Valley. Over there, I helped many companies go IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) and helped my firm to set up a Chinese Practice.
In 2005, I came back to join Ctrip as the CFO. Many investors from the Wall Street asked me, “Why should we invest in Ctrip?” I told them, “Every investor has his own risk appetite, but I can share with you why I want to invest my youth and my life in this company. You need to ask yourself three questions. 1. Do you want to invest in China? The GDP growth rate was 8-10% vs 2-3% in the USA. China is growing much faster than other countries. 2. If you want to invest in China, what industry is prosperous? I think travel is definitely going to grow exponentially. 3. If you want to invest in China and Chinese travel industry, what company has the best opportunity to win? Based on Ctrip’s technology, service, product and brand, Ctrip will win.”
Over the years, I have taken on more and more responsibilities. Every step is a challenge. For those much is given, much is expected. The love to face up the challenge will give you the strength to be brave and to charge on.

Second, love to seek the exponential opportunities.
When I first met John, he lost his job with a start-up company and lived on unemployment welfare. I asked him why he left Oracle ten months ago, since then, every Chinese student’s dream was to find a nice job in a prestigious company like Oracle. He said he should not waste time at the routine jobs of a big corporation. Rather, he should try for something new, which will give him the exponential opportunities. The failure from this start-up company during early year became a great asset for John to assess other opportunities in the future.
In 1996, John got a call from a headhunter, asking him if he would be interested in another start-up company. John replied, “I need to know the name of the company before I consider it.” It was Yahoo. John became the number 46 employee of Yahoo. Soon after he joined, Yahoo went IPO.
When Yahoo’s stock exceeded 200 USD per share, John got a phone call from Jack Ma, asking him to become the CTO of Alibaba. He decided to take this opportunity. Many people were surprised, because Yahoo was a giant leading the Internet industry in the Silicon Valley, but Alibaba only had twenty something people and no one knew about Alibaba. But John already saw the 10 times opportunity with Alibaba.
Later on, John invested in Han Ting, Ju Mei, Inc. and Ju Guang, Inc. All of them went to IPO on NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations). John was elected to be the Best Angel Investor of 2014. Now, he continues his adventure to look for the next 10 times opportunity!
It was this never-ending spirit propelling John to climb one summit after another.
I hope all of you will have this kind of spirit, never ending, never stopping, always thinking big, always looking for the exponential growth.

Third, love your life, and love yourself! 热爱生命，热爱生活！
I stayed with my professor’s family when I studied in UF. Both of them are Christians. I asked them, “How to become a good Christian?” They replied, ” There are only two basic principles. First, God loves me, so I need to love myself. Second, love the people around you as yourself.”
Life is precious, so treasure every moment of it.
In 2011, John and I ran a 42km Shanghai Marathon. In 2012, we climbed Mountain Kilimanjaro. In 2013, we hiked at Mountain Himalaya trail in Nepal. Last year, John ran another Marathon and I ran half of the Marathon in Taiwan. This year, we are planning to run another Marathon in Shanghai!
The four years in university is the best four years for you to build a strong body. When you get into the work force, your health and energy level will give you an advantage to compete.

Fourth, love your family.
I want to read you a letter, which was written by the 11th grade student to a 10th grade student in my daughter’s school.
Attention Freshmen who are moving in tomorrow: A little request … When your mom wants to unpack all of your clothes and your bed– Let her. When your dad wants to introduce himself to all the people on your floor– Let him. When they want to take pictures of every move you make this weekend– Let them. If they embarrass you or act crazy– Let them. As you start the new chapter of your life, they are also starting the new chapter of theirs. And believe it or not, this is probably more difficult for them than it is for you. So let them treat you like their “baby” one last time.
Family is the harbor for your life. They will always be here to love you and to support you.
One day, you will build your own family. Your children will look up to you as their role models and their protectors. So love your families, love your parents and love your siblings and cousins! They will always be there for you!

Last, love the world!
How many of you have been abroad?
What is your impression of the USA? Europe? Africa? Mideast?
I went to Jordan this year. I met many Muslims. When I was running along the Dead Sea, many Muslim families asked me to join them for BBQ. They told me that in Muslim culture, any strangers can live and eat in their families for three days without being asked any questions and without being asked to pay for anything. Hospitality is a part of their culture. I was quite surprised because in Hollywood movies, we always see terrorists from Muslim countries setting bombs to blow up planes. I did not realize that their culture is so hospitable and loving.
Many of you will have opportunities to study abroad. Take the opportunity to learn about the world, particularly the things that make you feel uncomfortable. Live with American students and American families, watch American football, go to debate with American professors. Learn the best of American culture from them and bring it back to China; and learn the best of Chinese culture in China and bring it to the rest of the world.
I believe travel and culture exchange will bring world peace. I believe each of you can become a diplomat from China. I believe each of you are not only the citizen of China, but also, citizen of the world.
The four years in college will be the golden years in your lives! Treasure every moment of it!

Ms. Jane Sun has served as Chief Executive Officer of Ctrip since November 2016, co-president of Ctrip since March 2015 and Ctrip COO since May 2012. She has been reputable for her expertise in OTA operations management, financial operations, mergers and acquisitions and investor relations. Ms. Sun served as Ctrip CFO from 2005 to 2012, during which she won the China’s Top Ten Outstanding CFO Award and was named “Best CFO” by “Institutional Investor,” a leading global financial magazine. Prior to joining Ctrip, she had worked as Director of SEC reporting at Applied Materials company and Auditing Manager for KPMG Company in Silicon Valley, California, for five years.