From leading award-winning choirs to portraying iconic figures on stage, Run Yuxuan, a master's student from the School of Reliability and Systems Engineering at Beihang University, has dedicated her academic journey to bridging art and aerospace spirit. Her journey has carried her from campus stages to international concert halls, all while serving her peers as a mentor and volunteer.

Carrying Forward the Spirit of Aerospace on Stage

Run Yuxuan first joined the Beihang Student Choir as a freshman in 2019, which also marked the beginning of her deep connection with the university's original musical Luoyang. The musical pays tribute to Luo Yang, a 1978 Beihang alumnus and chief commander of the J-15 fighter jet program, who died in the line of duty. For seven consecutive years, Run has portrayed "Liangliang," Luo Yang's daughter, performing in 11 shows.

For Run, these performances have been more than artistic expression—they have been a transformative journey. Onstage, a prop thesis document lay unfurled—a symbolic reminder of Luo Yang's work in reliability engineering, the very discipline that ensures the "zero-failure" performance of critical national equipment. Captivated by this connection, Run chose reliability engineering without hesitation when declaring her major in her sophomore year. That decision has shaped her academic path ever since. Now a graduate student under Professor Yang Dezhen, she continues to explore the field that Luo Yang once pursued, following in his footsteps from the stage to the laboratory.

Scenes from the musical Luoyang

Upon joining the School of Reliability and Systems Engineering, Run discovered another towering figure: Professor Yang Weimin, a pioneer in China's reliability engineering and the founding director of the university's Department of Systems Engineering (now the School of Reliability and Systems Engineering). As executive director of Yang Weimin, an original Beihang drama, Run helped shepherd the production from rehearsal to stage. She also contributed to writing The Epic of Weimin, a book documenting his legacy. Through these efforts, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that Professor Yang's patriotic commitment and scholarly spirit continue to inspire new generations.

Scenes from the drama Yang Weimin

Her artistic journey extends further. Run has lent her voice to multiple Beihang-themed songs, including Reunion Across Time and Space and Never Cease Sailing, bringing the university's stories to audiences across campus and beyond.

Run Yuxuan performing the song Reunion Across Time and Space

Run Yuxuan performing the song Never Cease Sailing

Bringing Beihang's Voice to the World Through Artistic Charm

The days of rehearsing and singing together in the Beihang Student Choir gradually drew Run Yuxuan into this warm community, and singing became an inseparable part of her life. From an inexperienced newcomer to taking on responsibilities such as voice section leader, she ultimately served as the director of the Beihang Student Choir, driven by her passion for art and a strong sense of responsibility.

Run Yuxuan rehearsing with the Beihang Student Choir

Taking the baton as the choir director, her love for art evolved from a personal pursuit into a shared mission of leading a team. Together with her fellow choir members, she participated in various professional choral competitions, winning gold awards at home and abroad, including the Brahms International Winter Choir Festival and the National College Students Art Exhibition.

The choir also traveled overseas to Vienna to take part in an international choral festival, where they won the first place with a gold medal and were invited to deliver the grand finale at the closing ceremony. Reflecting on these experiences, Run shared, "Standing on a foreign stage, listening to the endless applause from the audience, and seeing people from around the world moved by our singing—at that moment, I realized that music knows no borders. What we were singing was not just the harmony of Beihang, but the voice of Chinese youth."

Run Yuxuan and her fellow choir members in Vienna

Run Yuxuan performing at the Musikverein in Vienna

From center stage to behind the scenes, her passion for the arts has never wavered. As a member of the Cultural and Arts Department of University Youth League Committee, Run is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and execution of various campus cultural events, dedicating herself to building platforms for artistic expression and growth for both faculty and students. She helped organize the first International Culture Festival at Beihang Hangzhou International Innovation Institute. In this cross-border artistic dialogue, the voices of Beihang students intertwined with melodies from around the world, adding a vibrant splash of international culture to the campus.

Additionally, Run has diligently operated the cultural publicity platforms of the Youth League Committee, continuously delivering high-quality content, enriching the channels for campus culture, and showcasing the artistic vitality of Beihang's youth. Through the charm of art, she brings Beihang's stories to broader stages.

Engraving Mission into Youth with Sincere Devotion

Run's sense of responsibility extends far beyond the spotlight. She integrates the spirit of volunteerism into her daily life, starting with small deeds and spreading warmth through her steady dedication. Over 1,220 hours of volunteer service in Beijing stand as a testament to her belief in measuring responsibility with her footsteps and conveying warmth through her efforts. For her persistent dedication, she was honored as a Four-Star Volunteer of Haidian District.

As a part-time advisor for senior doctoral students, Run worked alongside peers navigating intense academic and research pressures. She approached her role with sincerity and patience, striving to be someone her fellow students can trust. This perspective led her to compete in the Beijing Mental Health Growth Speech Competition, where she shared her experiences and reflections, earning first prize.

Run Yuxuan with students

Run Yuxuan participating in the Beijing Mental Health Growth Speech Competition

From textbooks to the stage, from campus to society, Run Yuxuan expands the horizons of her youth with every journey, measuring the depth of her faith with her steps, and writing the story of a Beihang youth through her actions.

Editors: Lyu Xingyun, Liu Tingting