What impressed me the most during the four years o...

What impressed me the most during the four years of studying at Stanford, and what surprised me the most, was the high degree of freedom in this institution. As the school motto "Die Luft der Freiheit weht" ("let the wind of freedom blow") states, Stanford students enjoy full freedom of choice whether they are in academic courses or in campus life.
First of all, if you want to graduate at Stanford, no course is "compulsory" (each major does have several required courses, but if you really don't want to take these courses, you can choose another major). Even though it is a writing course that has been widely criticized by students, there are more than 20 writing courses on different topics for students to choose from. The content ranges from detective novels to future technology, and even video games. In order for students to choose their favorite courses, there is a three-week "shopping period" at the beginning of each semester-students can freely add or delete the courses they want to take this semester like online shopping during this time, without the need Worrying about your grade point being affected.
Regardless of academic work, students also have full control over their extracurricular life. I still remember that when I first arrived at Stanford for freshmen training, there was a symposium that I was not very interested in. In addition, I wanted to take a break because of the exhausted journey, so I didn't want to participate. I asked the person in charge of the event quietly. Unexpectedly, the person in charge showed a surprised expression-"Of course! At Stanford, there is no event that must be attended. In the future, if you encounter an event that you are not interested in, you will not come directly. That's it, no special instructions are needed." At that time, I was still skeptical, but now looking back over the past few years after graduation, what the person in charge said is indeed sincere and not deceiving me. In the past four years, I have not encountered mandatory lectures, never heard of activities that must be attended, and even the graduation ceremony, if you think the sunshine in California is too much, you can just not attend it. It is this high degree of freedom that makes Stanford students' extracurricular life exceptionally colorful. Every weekend, whether it is sweating like rain with a couple of friends on the sports field, or rehearsing hard for this next performance with classmates from the theater, or going in a line like me for half an hour after being full. To transplant succulents, everyone has several activities that they enjoy, and they can find a group of like-minded friends.
I can't forget Stanford, shopping malls are all street