Just as the 2017 graduation season comes to a close, many seats were unexpectedly left empty during the commencement ceremony held last Friday in China’s National University of Defense Technology. But where were the new graduates on their big day?

　　2017年毕业季即将结束，但是在上周五国防科技大学的毕业典礼上，却有许多座位空缺。在这样重要的日子里，这些刚刚毕业的学生去了哪里?

　　With severe floods lashing the country in recent days, 150 new graduates of the school chose to fight floods and carrying out emergency work, instead of sitting back and listening to a graduation speech at their alma mater in Changsha, Hunan Province.

　　近几日中国遭受了严重的洪涝灾害，国防科大150名毕业生选择紧急出动、抗洪抢险，而不是坐在他们湖南长沙的母校听取毕业演讲。

　　The graduates were seen building a dam with sandbags along Taojiang River of Yiyang, north of Hunan Province, and even standing guard along the riverbank throughout the night, according to local media.

　　据当地媒体报道，这些毕业生沿着益阳桃江河用沙袋建起了一座大坝，甚至彻夜值岗守卫河岸。

　　As soon as the photos surfaced online, netizens were quick to give their thumbs up to the youngsters, praising them as “the future of the country” and “a good example of today’s young people.”

　　这些照片传到网上之后，许多网民纷纷为这些年轻人点赞，称赞他们为“祖国的未来”、“今天年轻人的好榜样”。

　　The country also launched emergency response measures for flood relief on Saturday, and dispatched eight work teams to southern China’s flood-stricken areas. Some 300,000 people have been displaced after heavy rain in the province, according to the latest figures.

　　上周六，国家启动了抗洪救灾应急措施，并派出了8支工作队前往华南灾区。据最新数据显示，在该省降下大雨之后，已有30万人被疏散。

　　Although they missed a milestone moment at their graduation ceremony, such courage will definitely stand them in good stead for the next step in their lives.

　　虽然这些学生错过了重要的毕业典礼，但是这种勇气无疑会使他们在人生的下一步中受益。