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Forrest Gump's mother always told him that "life was like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get," and graduates from China's top fine arts institution just got a taste of such unpredictability thanks to a stunning surprise by the university's administration.
Beijing-based China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) on Thursday surprised its 1,213 graduates by replacing its annual graduation ceremony with a day-long event dotted with twists and turns that left a smile on their faces and caused a buzz online.
Delivery men arrange the special gifts for graduates. / Photo via WeChat account of China Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA)'s Department of Publicity
The day started with a field of watermelon mysteriously appearing on campus, and evolved into a massive gift giveaway, where students received packages containing anything from a brick and a sketch signed by an instructor all the way to a round-trip ticket to the city of architectural marvels, Barcelona.
Watermelons mysteriously popped up on the university's campus on June 1, 2017. / VCG Photo
Photo via WeChat account of China Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA)'s Department of Publicity
Discussions about the startling presents were trending heavily on China's Twitter-like Weibo, with students sharing what they and their friends got and other Internet users joining the conversation.
Photo via WeChat account of China Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA)'s Department of Publicity
"The academy offered random gifts to all graduates, with each receiving a unique present. I got a framed cheque. Others got the dean’s stamp, a brick, and coupons for art supplies. And I heard one received a round-trip ticket to Barcelona, and someone got a 30-yuan (some 5 US dollars) coupon for a meal at our cafeteria. lol!" wrote a CAFA graduate who goes by the name @MCLOCK.
Screenshot of the Weibo account of a CAFA graduate
Screenshot of the Weibo account of a CAFA graduate
CAFA’s social media account said the watermelons, which appeared on campus overnight, represent the growth the students had made through their journey at the school.
Another CAFA graduate, @Mifenfenbaibai said it was a "fruity graduation this year."
The spectacular giveaway marked the curtain raiser of the university's exhibition by the graduates and the opening of the annual exhibit for undergrads, which will run until June 20.
Watermelons mysteriously popped up on the university's campus on June 1, 2017. / VCG Photo
Screenshot of the Weibo account of a CAFA graduate
Founded in 1918 as the National Beijing Art College under the initiative of the well-known educationist Cai Yuanpei, CAFA is the only art academy of higher learning directly under the Ministry of Education.
(CGTN)
