INFLUENCER

"Forgive me for not showering you with piles of flowery adjectives to offer my blessings," Cheng, chair of the school's philosophy department, told his graduating class on June 26.　

Cheng's familiarity with internet memes and self-deprecating humor has earned him widespread appreciation for breaking away from the image of the aloof intellectual.　

"We teachers, who are forced to take part in the annual graduation speech-writing competition, are trapped in deep anxiety and panic. We try hard to hide our secret relief at finally sending this huge annual hassle away, while putting on a show of reluctant nostalgia and delivering pompous, empty motivational clichés. None of this truly stresses us out, for we are seasoned old-timers with masterful acting skills," he said in his speech.　

Born in 1978 in Dexing, Jiangxi Province, Cheng earned his PhD in cultural and religious studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on early Daoist thought, medieval Daoism and intellectual history during the Western and Eastern Han dynasties (202 BCE-220 CE).　

This was not the first time Cheng's speeches won over the public. His commencement speech in June 2025 also went viral, particularly his reflections on philosophy as a way of life. In September 2025, his speech at the university's opening ceremony also attracted widespread attention.　

Addressing freshmen, Cheng advised: "My suggestion for you is that even if you fail to focus on your studies, do not flit from one campus event or social gathering to another like a social butterfly. Having too many choices is essentially the same as having none at all."　

Media commentators said Cheng's appeal lies in his ability to avoid complicated academic language and patronizing lectures. Rather than promoting unrealistic ambitions, he connects philosophical reflections with students' real-life concerns through a lighthearted and humorous style, encouraging them to live authentically and better understand themselves.