On Oct.8, Lang Ping, Director of Research Center of Lang Ping Sports Culture and Policy of Beijing Normal University (BNU), taught an inspirational class entitled “Keep up the Fights for the Career” at BNU Zhuhai.

Lang, who was a member of the national volleyball team that seized five consecutive world titles in the 1980s, earned the nickname "Iron Hammer" during her playing days. She took the helm of the national team in 2013 and quickly helped it return to the top ranks of world volleyball. After volleyball legend Lang Ping bid farewell to her wondrous sports life, she returned to BNU to dedicate herself to the promotion of sports culture and policy research. Through communication with students in general education classes, she passes on to the young the spirit of the national women's volleyball team represented by “enthusiastic patriotism, united and coordinated efforts, the fighting spirit, the unyielding and indomitable spirit.”

In the class, the student audience present raised questions to Lang.

Question: What do you think is the most significant change volleyball has brought to you?

Lang says, what touches me most is the team spirit. We owe a great deal of our growth to the guidance of our former coaches and the support of our former teammates. And after we became old players or coaches,we instructed and helped new teammates. This is known as tradition, as if it were inherited in our genes and flowed through our veins. Every team member embraces their mission by giving their utmost efforts, striving to empower the team and achieve optimal results.

Question :There is a very popular saying on the internet “It is brave people who enjoy the world earlier.” In your telling of your previous life experience, you said you went to the USA to pursue your study with only 100 U. S. dollars, which is an unimaginable thing to me. May I ask whether you were born an extrovert with such courage , or did you acquire the courageous qualities through intentional nurturing?

Lang says, I think I have a healthy self-esteem. I recalled that when I entered Chaoyang Middle School to embark on the journey of volleyball career, I believed I was the best in the school, if not, I had the confidence I would be the best. After I entered  national team at age 18, I made many mistakes on the court then, but I didn’t lose heart and encouraged myself “You have to be patient and practice harder, you will surely be the best someday.” This is the belief in myself. I believed I would succeed if I learned from my teammates’ strengths and internalized them into my thinking and practice. I think in the process of growing, one has to foster a personality of facing up to the challenges and an attitude of self- confidence.

Question : I am a student from Guizhou Province and also among the first batch of the students of Beijing Normal University attending "Outstanding Teachers Program".I will serve in places where the country and people need us the most after graduation. For students of Beijing Normal University attending "Outstanding Teachers Program", would you please give them some life advice or your wishes?

Lang says, I also teach in the second class and will try my best to help those prospective teachers. I think serving in places where the country and people need you the most after graduation is a challenge, a kind of learning and accumulation as well as a part of life experience. I think we should be grateful for the chance to experience life differently. I hope you will give full play to your teaching skills learned in specialized training to help those children in need, empowering them with your knowledge and love.