I graduated from Hubei University years ago and went back only once in my first year of working. In the past several years, I've been longing to return for a visit. I finally found a chance and went back last Friday.

To my surprise, everything has changed beyond recognition. All I found is an alien environment. Where the old dormitory stood is a large lawn, and the English department is said to move to another building.  Walking on campus, I couldn't find a familiar face. Every one just passed by without giving me so much as a casual look. After all, I' m only a visitor like hundreds of others  to this school.

Shahu Lake, which had haunted my dream times and again, made me feel even worse. The beautiful garden by the lake was turned into a big construction site with machine thundering. Willows were still there, but the clean bank where they grew was replaced by a smelly dump. Fish ponds were covered with duckweed and fallen leaves. A recently built bridge spans the lake, dividing it in half. The size of the lake shrinks considerably. Farmers were busy fertilizing their rape field with collected manure. I was told that, owing to the soaring price of housing estate, the local government reclaims the lake excessively, reducing its size almost by half. You can imagine how I felt. I don't understand how the school authorities could only stand by, watching all this happen without doing anything to fulfill their responsibility, or even play an active part in destroying it. Are they so short-sighted as to give away the gift nature has bestowed on the campus.

I still remember how delighted I was to discover our campus bordered by a beautiful lake the day I registered. I was so proud that I would show my former classmates around the lake when they visited me. Their envy made me proud. Shahu Lake has become a symbol of my college life. But now I hardly know her. Standing there, I was filled with disappointment and sorrow. Does that really mark an end of my college days, and gone with it  are my memories of them?  Secretly we all feel as if we are forever students whenever we think of the school we graduated from. It's kind of like a man who, however old, remains a child in front of his mother and has an occasional tantrum.

Perhaps it's the time to say good-bye to my college life and Shahu Lake. I don’t know if I will come back or what will become of her if I come back.