The last class

It was June 6, the day before the gaokao -- the university entrance exam in China. Pan Zilong stood on the stage, listening to the song Father sang by the students, feeling proud and satisfied.

Pan is the head teacher for Class 18, Grade 3 of the 11th Senior High School of Changchun, Jilin province. He prepared a short video that showed the past three years of his students' lives for the last class on June 4.

Pan is grateful to his students who regard him as their "father". [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]

This was a secret gift Pan wanted to give to his students before they left the school. No more lectures, no more tests.

However, it was him who first received a graduation gift from the students.

After initial greetings, his 50 students stood up and started to sing Father -- a song composed to express a son's love to his dad. Pan felt the students' gratitude and love for him and he was moved to tears.

Yours, "Lao Pan"

Pan's students always called him "Lao Pan", as he forced them to do many exercises, often recite texts, and study all the time.

Everyone was touched by Lao Pan's video during the last class, which recorded every student's life -- happiness and sorrow, smiles and tears, for the past three years.

He hoped the video would provide a great encouragement to all students facing the upcoming trial bravely. It was like a letter from their dear friend, recording their growing days, accompanying them as they move forward, and cheering for them.

Students are moved to tears while watching Lao Pan's video. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]

Cheers from Lao Pan

To encourage the students during the hard days of reviewing, Lao Pan hung a large board in the front of the classroom and would paste a photo every day with the past graduates giving thumbs-up.

In the last class, Lao Pan took out the last photo. It was a family photo of Class 18 and it was passed among students.

"Their lives have just begun and I believe they will have a bright future," Lao Pan said. "Whenever and wherever, we are family. We will love and support each other all the time."

Photos of past graduates are pasted onto the wall in a thumbs-up shape to encourage students. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]