(Correspondent: Guo Xiangyuan) 

Tea brought students together to share their thoughts on youth and university life. On the afternoon of March 12, the School of Management’s “Mind Inn” held a tea-themed psychological activity entitled “Brewing Your Cup of University Life” to enhance students’ adaptability. The event took place in Activity Room A3 of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base within the University’s One-Stop Student Community. Accompanied by faculty adviser Guo Xiangyuan, the students used tea as a medium through which to begin a dialogue with their future selves.

The activity opened in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Drawing on the metaphor of university as “a fresh cup of tea waiting to be brewed,” host Tian Mei led participants into the first session, “Discovering Tea.” By watching a short video on tea culture, the students learned about the complete journey of a tea leaf from branch to cup. The process reflected their own growth since entering the University—from the uncertainty of their first days on campus to their gradual adjustment and personal development.

The activity then proceeded to the session entitled “Discovering the Fragrance and Character of Tea.” Li Zihan, director of the Mind Inn Office; Ye Meng, director of its Organization Department; and faculty adviser Guo Xiangyuan took the stage in turn to introduce the origins, distinctive qualities, and cultural significance of Wuyi black tea, Tieguanyin, Biluochun, and Tibetan sweet tea. By drawing thoughtful parallels between the characteristics of tea and those of people, they encouraged students to reflect on their own personalities and development.

The session “Tasting Tea, Reflecting on the Mind” brought participants to a deeper level of introspection. Under Guo’s guidance, the students sat quietly and sampled the four teas in the sequence of observing their color, appreciating their aroma, and savoring their flavor. As hot water was poured and the tea leaves gently unfurled, the students focused on the present moment. Through the rising fragrance of tea, they transformed the questions and expectations they had carried since entering the University into clearer insights into life and personal growth.

During the subsequent group activity, “Creating Our Own University Tea Recipes,” participants discussed how to “brew a fulfilling cup of university life” and completed their own personalized recipes. In each recipe, the tea leaves represented individual strengths, the water temperature symbolized the environment needed for growth, the brewing time corresponded to plans and sustained effort, and the flavor of the tea represented students’ goals for university life.

One participant, Wang, shared: “As I tasted Biluochun, I sensed a transition from freshness and slight bitterness to sweetness. It reminded me of how I am gradually adapting to university life.”

At the conclusion of the activity, Guo Xiangyuan delivered closing remarks. He encouraged the students: “If the water temperature is not right, you can adjust your mindset or seek new support. If the tea has not brewed long enough, do not rush to pour it. The tea leaves themselves are already good enough. May each of you, during your four years at university, brew a distinctive and exceptional cup of tea that is uniquely your own.”

All participants raised their cups and drank together in tribute to their fellow students and themselves. A group photograph captured the warmth of the occasion and their shared hopes for the future.

The activity not only provided students with a space for emotional release and self-awareness but also helped them develop a positive understanding of university life and effective strategies for adjustment through peer interaction and metaphor-based experiences. Although the fragrance of the tea eventually faded, its lingering notes remained. This tea-inspired journey of psychological exploration will accompany the students as they calmly navigate every period of “brewing” and “settling” throughout their university lives.

Going forward, the School of Management will continue to strengthen mental health education by developing effective programs, providing platforms for innovation, translating outcomes into practice, and sustaining momentum for further development. Through these efforts, the School will inject renewed psychological vitality into students’ well-rounded development.

(Reviewed by Zuo Hui)