奥巴马演讲稿―我们为什么要读书

Hello,everybody!Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyou,everybody.Allright,everybodygoaheadandhaveaseat.Howiseverybodydoingtoday?(Applause.)HowaboutTimSpicer?(Applause.)IamherewithstudentsatWakefieldHighSchoolinArlington,Virginia.Andwe’vegotstudentstuninginfromallacrossAmerica,fromkindergartenthrough12thgrade.AndIamjustsogladthatallcouldjoinustoday.AndIwanttothankWakefieldforbeingsuchanoutstandinghost.Giveyourselvesabigroundofapplause.(Applause.)嗨，大家好！你们今天过得怎么样？我现在和弗吉尼亚州阿林顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起，全国各地也有从幼儿园到高三的众多学生们通过电视关注这里，我很高兴你们能共同分享这一时刻。Iknowthatformanyofyou,todayisthefirstdayofschool.Andforthoseofyouinkindergarten,orstartingmiddleorhighschool,it’syourfirstdayinanewschool,soit’sunderstandableifyou’realittlenervous.Iimaginetherearesomeseniorsouttherewhoarefeelingprettygoodrightnow--(applause)--withjustonemoreyeartogo.Andnomatterwhatgradeyou’rein,someofyouareprobablywishingitwerestillsummerandyoucould’vestayedinbedjustalittlebitlongerthismorning.我知道，对你们中的许多人来说，今天是开学的第一天，你们中的有一些刚刚进入幼儿园或升上初高中，对你们来说，这是在新学校的第一天，因此，假如你们感到有些紧张，那也是很正常的。我想也会有许多毕业班的学生们正自信满满地准备最后一年的冲刺。不过，我想无论你有多大、在读哪个年级，许多人都打心底里希望现在还在放暑假，以及今天不用那么早起床。Iknowthatfeeling.WhenIwasyoung,myfamilylivedoverseas.IlivedinIndonesiaforafewyears.Andmymother,shedidn’thavethemoneytosendmewherealltheAmericankidswenttoschool,butshethoughtitwasimportantformetokeepupwithanAmericaneducation.Soshedecidedtoteachmeextralessonsherself,MondaythroughFriday.Butbecauseshehadtogotowork,theonlytimeshecoulddoitwasat4:30inthemorning.我可以理解这份心情。小时候，我们家在印度尼西亚住过几年，而我妈妈没钱送我去其他美国孩子们上学的地方去读书，因此她决定自己给我上课——时间是每周一到周五的凌晨4点半。Now,asyoumightimagine,Iwasn’ttoohappyaboutgettingupthatearly.Andalotoftimes,I’dfallasleeprightthereatthekitchentable.ButwheneverI’dcomplain,mymotherwouldjustgivemeoneofthoselooksandshe’dsay,Thisisnopicnicformeeither,buster.(Laughter.)显然，我不怎么喜欢那么早就爬起来，很多时候，我就这么在厨房的桌子前睡着了。每当我埋怨的时候，我妈总会用同一副表情看着我说：“小鬼，你以为教你我就很轻松？”SoIknowthatsomeofyouarestilladjustingtobeingbackatschool.ButI’mheretodaybecauseIhavesomethingimportanttodiscusswithyou.I’mherebecauseIwanttotalkwithyouaboutyoureducationandwhat’sexpectedofallofyouinthisnewschoolyear.所以，我可以理解你们中的许多人对于开学还需要时间来调整和适应，但今天我站在这里，是为了和你们谈一些重要的事情。我要和你们谈一谈你们每个人的教育，以及在新的学年里，你们应当做些什么。Now,I’vegivenalotofspeechesabouteducation.AndI’vetalkedaboutresponsibilityalot.我做过许多关于教育的讲话，也常常用到“责任”这个词。I’vetalkedaboutteachers’responsibilityforinspiringstudentsandpushingyoutolearn.我谈到过教师们有责任激励和启迪你们，督促你们学习。I’vetalkedaboutyourparents’responsibilityformakingsureyoustayontrack,andyougetyourhomeworkdone,anddon’tspendeverywakinghourinfrontoftheTVorwiththeXbox.我谈到过家长们有责任看管你们认真学习、完成作业，不要成天只会看电视或打游戏机。I’vetalkedalotaboutyourgovernment’sresponsibilityforsettinghighstandards,andsupportingteachersandprincipals,andturningaroundschoolsthataren’tworking,wherestudentsaren’tgettingtheopportunitiesthattheydeserve.我也很多次谈到过政府有责任设定高标准严要求、协助老师和校长们的工作，改变在有些学校里学生得不到应有的学习机会的现状。Butattheendoftheday,wecanhavethemostdedicatedteachers,themostsupportiveparents,thebestschoolsintheworld--andnoneofitwillmakeadifference,noneofitwillmatterunlessallofyoufulfillyourresponsibilities,unlessyoushowuptothoseschools,unlessyoupayattentiontothoseteachers,unlessyoulistentoyourparentsandgrandparentsandotheradultsandputinthehardworkittakestosucceed.That’swhatIwanttofocusontoday:theresponsibilityeachofyouhasforyoureducation.但哪怕这一切都达到最好，哪怕我们有最尽职的教师、最好的家长、和最优秀的学校，假如你们不去履行自己的责任的话，那么这一切努力都会白费。——除非你每天准时去上学、除非你认真地听老师讲课、除非你把父母、长辈和其他大人们说的话放在心上、除非你肯付出成功所必需的努力，否则这一切都会失去意义。Iwanttostartwiththeresponsibilityyouhavetoyourself.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingthatyou’regoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingtooffer.Andyouhavearesponsibilitytoyourselftodiscoverwhatthatis.That’stheopportunityaneducationcanprovide.而这就是我今天讲话的主题：对于自己的教育，你们中每一个人的责任。首先，我想谈谈你们对于自己有什么责任。你们中的每一个人都会有自己擅长的东西，每一个人都是有用之材，而发现自己的才能是什么，就是你们要对自己担起的责任。教育给你们提供了发现自己才能的机会。Maybeyoucouldbeagreatwriter--maybeevengoodenoughtowriteabookorarticlesinanewspaper--butyoumightnotknowituntilyouwritethatEnglishpaper--thatEnglishclasspaperthat’sassignedtoyou.Maybeyoucouldbeaninnovatororaninventor--maybeevengoodenoughtocomeupwiththenextiPhoneorthenewmedicineorvaccine--butyoumightnotknowituntilyoudoyourprojectforyourscienceclass.MaybeyoucouldbeamayororasenatororaSupremeCourtjustice--butyoumightnotknowthatuntilyoujoinstudentgovernmentorthedebateteam.或许你能写出优美的文字——甚至有一天能让那些文字出现在书籍和报刊上——但假如不在英语课上经常练习写作，你不会发现自己有这样的天赋；或许你能成为一个发明家、创造家——甚至设计出像今天的iPhone一样流行的产品，或研制出新的药物与疫苗——但假如不在自然科学课程上做上几次实验，你不会知道自己有这样的天赋；或许你能成为一名议员或最高法院法官，但假如你不去加入什么学生会或参加几次辩论赛，你也不会发现自己的才能。Andnomatterwhatyouwanttodowithyourlife,Iguaranteethatyou’llneedaneducationtodoit.Youwanttobeadoctor,orateacher,orapoliceofficer?Youwanttobeanurseoranarchitect,alawyeroramemberofourmilitary?You’regoingtoneedagoodeducationforeverysingleoneofthosecareers.Youcannotdropoutofschoolandjustdropintoagoodjob.You’vegottotrainforitandworkforitandlearnforit.而且，我可以向你保证，不管你将来想要做什么，你都需要相应的教育。——你想当名医生、当名教师或当名警官？你想成为护士、成为建筑设计师、律师或军人？无论你选择哪一种职业，良好的教育都必不可少，这世上不存在不把书念完就能拿到好工作的美梦，任何工作，都需要你的汗水、训练与学习。Andthisisn’tjustimportantforyourownlifeandyourownfuture.Whatyoumakeofyoureducationwilld