Beating into a new chapter: diary at the international students’ opening ceremony

My return to campus came a little later than planned. I rushed in with my luggage, only to find that rehearsals for the 24 Festive Drums were already in their final stage. As a member of the International Students Art Group’s 24 Festive Drums team, I’d been invited to perform at the opening ceremony for international students—and now I had just three days to catch up.

It had been a long time since I last touched a drum. The moment my fingers met the drumhead, it felt almost unfamiliar. My teammates warmly made space for me and patiently walked me back through the rhythms and movements. Over three intensive days, we drilled everything from basic beats to full stage blocking, each strike awakening that deep muscle memory. I slipped up at times, got flustered now and then, but more often I felt that indescribable exhilaration when our drums roared in unison.

Stepping onto the stage, the lights blazed down; in the seats were faces from all over the world. When the emcee finished the introduction, I took a deep breath, raised my sticks—and everything flowed. The drums thundered, our bodies moved like the wind; we were no longer separate individuals, but notes leaping within the same rhythm. Though I hadn’t played in a while, my body didn’t betray me—each strike landed sure and true. Amid the deafening drums and roaring applause, I felt a power that transcends culture—no words needed; rhythm was our shared language.

When the performance ended, we bowed to a wave of cheers. In that moment, I knew this was more than a show—it was a homecoming, and even more, a fresh start. The drums fell silent, but the beat inside me kept going—thump-thump, thump-thump—real and strong, like a heartbeat.