Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) holds its 2018 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, July 8. More than 3,000 graduates leave the campus behind to begin their new life. Yao Ming, as a valedictorian from Antai College of Economics & Management, SJTU, delivers a speech, sharing his own thoughts and experiences as a former student of SHJU. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) holds its 2018 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on July 8. More than 3,000 graduates leave the campus to begin their new life. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Standing at 2.26 meters, Yao Ming is especially eye-catching at the ceremony. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Yao Ming’s parents attend Yao’s graduation ceremony. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Yao Ming attends the graduation ceremony. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

More than 3,000 graduates of SJTU leave the campus to start their new life. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Yao Ming ridicules himself, saying that after seven years of study, it wasn’t easy for him to graduate. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)

Yao Ming gives his best wishes to the new graduates. (Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com)