With the earliest will, walk the farthest way

In October 2020, in the ending 15th Xuanzang Road Gobi Desert Challenge, Tongji EMBA Go15 team members, with the teamwork spirit of mutual support, united as one and never left but lent a helping hand to each other, thus managing to accomplish all the events of the competition. There were a total of 62 people including members of Tongji team A, B, C, entourage and team A+ members. Finally, team A ranked 14^th among 38 participating universities; Team B and C finished the race and won the Shackleton Award; A+ team members, although participated in the competition for the first time, performed pretty well, with team member Li Jianjun (Tongji Go14 A Team member) winning the men’s 7^th, and Xu Yinye of the same team winning the women’s 5^th in the event that many experienced players took part in.

After watching the 8^th competition and attending the 9^th competition, our team, as a strong team in the past competitions, has been confronted with difficulties, such as a lack of team members. However, the experienced and new members overcame all kinds of difficulties and marched forward, bravely defending Tongji's honor of being a century-old university and a strong team. Behind the perseverance is the unchanging heart, the down-to-earth Tongji spirit, the solidarity, the courage to face the storm and the heavy rain, and the ambition to embrace the whole world.

Although in this year's competition, our team unexpectedly dropped out of the top ten, but we realized that the process is more meaningful than the results, especially when having seen that the two members of the team aged more than 50 years did not complain of hardship and tiredness, and that each member of the team helped each other during the events, enjoyed the unique experience of each step in the Gobi landscape and gained cordial friendship.

With the original aspiration, we performed bravely in the competition. When we saw Li Zhen, the only female team member, always smile with her ponytail on the boundless Gobi Desert, our aspiration remained unchanged; when we saw Lao Dong, the heartbreakingly thin leader, bend over and drag his team members, our aspiration remained unchanged; when we saw team A climb in the final sprint, completely exhausted, were carried forward by teammates, our aspiration remained unchanged; When we see the newly enrolled members of team B, who have not experienced a day of formal training, are brave enough to take on the difficult task and escort team A, our aspiration remained the same; when we see the young members of Team C are moved to tears by the struggle of Team A, our aspiration remained unchanged.

With our original aspiration, our wonderful performance will continue forever.

Today, excellent Tongji Go15 Team are embarking on the way home, on which there are profound thoughts of all the competition participants. On the way, you can relieve your tiredness and be welcomed. It is always the most beautiful way home because there is love, warmth, family, team members, hugs and smiles ......

The 120-kilometer Gobi Desert Challenge has its starting point and an end point, with dust flying, cold wind, burning blood, and souls resting their dreams. But we, students from the Tongji University still have a long way to go. For us, this is a journey without end.

We have tried our best, so we have no regrets. We firmly believe that we will be back again, since we have never given up or been discouraged. Sincere friendship will only make us stronger and more attentive. We will never give up! The only thing we have to do is to go forward. We will keep going with the original heart and with tears in our eyes.