Graduation Beyond Tassel-Turning: Nearly 200 Teachers, Students in Taijiang Complete 18km Coming-of-Age Trek

In Tainan, Taiwan, nearly 200 students, teachers, and parents from eight schools embarked on an 18-kilometer journey as a coming-of-age ritual before graduation. This year marked the 15th iteration of the "Taijiang Youth Companion Walk," a unique event that combines environmental education, cultural heritage, and personal growth.

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We have always regarded the Taijiang Youth Companion Walk as an important coming-of-age ceremony for students before graduation. We hope that through long-distance walking, children can engage in dialogue with the land, friends, family, and themselves, leaving behind precious life growth experiences.

The participants, including students from Hesun Junior High School, Haidian Elementary School's "Little Taijiang," Jiufenzi Junior High School, and Changan Elementary School, began their trek from Haiweiliao. They followed the Shanhaizun National Greenway, traversing the Taijiang Inner Sea, Sicao Lake, and the Beishanwei coast, before finally arriving at the Luermen Tianhou Temple.

The journey included a prayer at Haiwei Chaohuang Temple, a walk along century-old fish ponds, a boat trip through the Sicao Lake "water forest," and a visit to the Taijiang School. As evening approached, the group walked along the Beishanwei coast, taking in views of Gushan and the Zengwen River estuary, reflecting on Taijiang's 400 years of historical change. The pilgrimage concluded with a respectful visit to the Luermen Tianhou Temple to honor Mazu.

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This is my sixth time participating in the Youth Companion Walk. Although the process is tough, I hope to successfully complete the coming-of-age challenge before graduation.

Du Junxing, principal of Hesun Junior High School, highlighted the event's importance as a significant coming-of-age ceremony, encouraging students to connect with the land, friends, family, and themselves through the long walk. Chen Tingzhen, a graduating student from Haidian Elementary School's "Little Taijiang," shared her sixth participation, expressing her determination to complete the challenge before graduation. Huang Huiwen, a teacher at Changan Elementary School, emphasized how the experience allows students to learn about their hometown and foster a sense of identity and belonging by physically engaging with the land and its history.

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By leading students out of the classroom and using their feet to understand the Taijiang Inner Sea and the history of pioneers' reclamation, they can not only learn about their hometown but also find a sense of identity and belonging from the land, making it the most profound life lesson.