美国第一夫人米歇尔北大演讲全文

美国第一夫人米歇尔北大演讲全文篇1

2014年3月22日上午，美国第一夫人米歇尔造访北京大学，并接受北大校长赠书。之后，米歇尔在北京大学斯坦福中心以“读万卷书不如行万里路”为开场进行了约20分钟的演讲。在米歇尔的演讲中，“留学”成为关键词。她化用中国古语“读万卷书，不如行万里路”，并结合自身经历现身说法，希望让更多青年人拥有留学的机会。演讲英文全文请见下文：

MRS.OBAMA:(Applause.)Thank you.Well, ni-hao.(Laughter.)It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me.Now, before I get started today, on behalf of myself and my husband, I just want to say a few very brief words about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.As my husband has said, the United States is offering as many resources as possible to assist in the search.And please know that we are keeping all of the families and loved ones of those on this flight in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.Now with that, I want to start by recognizing our new Ambassador to China, Ambassador Baucus;President Wang;Chairman Zhu;Vice President Li;Director Cueller;Professor Oi, and the Stanford Center;President Sexton from New York University, which is an excellent study abroad program in Shanghai;and John Thornton, Director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University.Thank you all for joining us.But most of all, I want to thank all of the students who are here today.And I particularly want to thank Eric Schaefer and Zhu Xuanhao for that extraordinary English and Chinese introduction.That was a powerful symbol of everything that I want to talk with you about today.See, by learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr.Schafer and Ms.Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more.And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe.That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state.We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or leaders--they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people.So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before.Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button.Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe.And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent.So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester;it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy.Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important.It’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders –-experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own.Or, as the Chinese saying goes: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.”

But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future.It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share.Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time-– whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear weapons--these are shared challenges.And no one country can confront them alone.The only way forward is together.That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation.You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.That’s how you come to understand how much we all share.That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success--that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.And that’s when the connections you make as classmates or labmates can blossom into something more.That’s what happened when Abigail Coplin became an American Fulbright Scholar here at Peking University.She and her colleagues published papers together in top science journals, and they built research partnerships that lasted long after they returned to their home countries.And Professor Niu Ke from Peking University was a Fulbright Scholarship--Scholar in the U.S.last year, and he reported--and this is a quote from him--he said, “The most memorable experiences were with my American friends.”

These lasting bonds represent the true value of studying abroad.And I am thrilled that more and more students are getting this opportunity.As you’ve heard, China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans studying abroad, and today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S.are from China.But still, too many students never have this chance, and some that do are hesitant to take it.They may feel like studying abroad is only for wealthy students or students from certain kinds of universities.Or they may think to themselves, well, that sounds fun but how will it be useful in my life? And believe me, I understand where these young people are coming from because I felt the same way back when I was in college.See, I came from a working-class family, and it never occurred to me to study abroad--never.My parents didn’t get a chance to attend college, so I was focused on getting into a university, earning my degree so that I could get a good job to support myself and help my family.And I know for a lot of young people like me who are struggling to afford a regular semester of school, paying for plane tickets or living expenses halfway around the world just isn’t possible.And that’s not acceptable, because study abroad shouldn’t just be for students from certain backgrounds.Our hope is to build connections between people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds, because it is that diversity that truly will change the face of our relationships.So we believe that diversity makes our country vibrant and strong.And our study abroad programs should reflect the true spirit of America to the world.And that’s why when my husband visited China back in 2009, he announced the 100,000 Strong initiative to increase the number and diversity of American students studying in China.And this year, as we mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of relationships between our two countries, the U.S.government actually supports more American students in China than in any other country in the world.We are sending high school, college and graduate students here to study Chinese.We’re inviting teachers from China to teach Mandarin in American schools.We’re providing free online advising for students in China who want to study in the U.S.And the U.S.-China Fulbright program is still going strong with more than 3,000 alumni.And the private sector is stepping up as well.For example, Steve Schwarzman, who is the head of an American company called Blackstone, is funding a new program at Tsinghua University modeled on the Rhodes Scholarship.And today, students from all kinds of backgrounds are studying here in China.Take the example of Royale Nicholson, who’s from Cleveland, Ohio.She attends New York University’s program in Shanghai.Now, like me, Royale is a first-generation college student.And her mother worked two full-time jobs while her father worked nights to support their family.And of her experience in Shanghai, Royale said--and this is her quote--she said, “This city oozes persistence and inspires me to accomplish all that I can.” And happy birthday, Royale.It was her birthday yesterday.(Laughter.)And then there’s Philmon Haile from the University of Washington, whose family came to the U.S.as refugees from Eritrea when he was a child.And of his experience studying in China, he said, “Study abroad is a powerful vehicle for people-to-people exchange as we move into a new era of citizen diplomacy.”

“A new era of citizen diplomacy.” I could not have said it better myself, because that’s really what I’m talking about.I am talking about ordinary citizens reaching out to the world.And as I always tell young people back in America, you don’t need to get on a plane to be a citizen diplomat.I tell them that if you have an Internet connection in your home, school, or library, within seconds you can be transported anywhere in the world and meet people on every continent.And that’s why I’m posting a daily travel blog with videos and photos of my experiences here in China, because I want young people in America to be part of this visit.And that’s really the power of technology –-how it can open up the entire world and expose us to ideas and innovations we never could have imagined.And that’s why it’s so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the Internet and through the media, because that’s how we discover the truth.That’s how we learn what’s really happening in our communities and our country and our world.And that’s how we decide which values and ideas we think are best –-by questioning and debating them vigorously, by listening to all sides of an argument, and by judging for ourselves.And believe me, I know how this can be a messy and frustrating process.My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens.And it’s not always easy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.Because time and again, we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices of and opinions of all their citizens can be heard.And as my husband has said, we respect the uniqueness of other cultures and societies, but when it comes to expressing yourself freely and worshipping as you choose and having open access to information, we believe those universal rights--they are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet.We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential as I was able to do in the United States.And as you learn about new cultures and form new friendships during your time here in China and in the United States, all of you are the living, breathing embodiment of those values.So I guarantee you that in studying abroad, you’re not just changing your own life, you are changing the lives of everyone you meet.And as the great American President John F.Kennedy once said about foreign students studying in the U.S., he said “I think they teach more than they learn.” And that is just as true of young Americans who study abroad.All of you are America’s best face, and China’s best face, to the world--you truly are.Every day, you show the world your countries’ energy and creativity and optimism and unwavering belief in the future.And every day, you remind us--and me in particular--of just how much we can achieve if we reach across borders, and learn to see ourselves in each other, and confront our shared challenges with shared resolve.So I hope you all will keep seeking these kinds of experiences.And I hope you’ll keep teaching each other, and learning from each other, and building bonds of friendship that will enrich your lives and enrich our world for decades to come.You all have so much to offer, and I cannot wait to see all that you achieve together in the years ahead.Thank you so much.Xie-Xie.(Applause.)END

米歇尔北京大学演讲全文(中文版预备稿)

你好，能够在这所伟大的大学里与你们大家在一起，真是莫大的荣幸......非常感谢你们的邀请。

在开始今天讲话之前，我想代表我自己和我丈夫就马来西亚航空公司370航班简短地说几句。

如我丈夫所说，美国正提供尽可能多的资源协助搜寻工作。

请相信，在这个非常艰难的时刻，我们的心和航班上人员的家属和亲人在一起，我们为他们祈祷。

现在，我们首先来认识一下美国新任驻华大使，博卡斯大使、王校长、朱主席、李副校长、Cuelluer主任、Oi教授和斯坦福中心，纽约大学的塞克顿斯校长，该校在上海开设了一个优秀的海外留学项目，以及清华大学全球领袖项目主任约翰〃桑顿，由衷地感谢大家的到来。

最重要的是，我要感谢今天所有到场的学生们......我要特别感谢埃里克〃谢弗和朱宣皓的精彩英文和中文介绍。

这绝佳地诠释了我今天要和大家聊的全部话题。

你们看，通过学习彼此的语言，通过展现对彼此文化的好奇心和尊重，谢弗先生、朱女士以及你们大家正在搭建理解的桥梁，这些桥梁带来更多的丰硕成果。

我今天来到你们这里是因为我知道，我们的未来取决于全球像你们这样年轻人间的这样的联系。

这就是为什么年轻人到彼此国家学习和生活是如此重要。

因为这是你们培养合作习惯的途径，你们通过融入不同的文化，通过了解彼此的故事，通过跨越常常膈膜我们的成见和误解，来做到这一点。

这是你们了解到我们共享多少东西的途径。这是你们认识到我们的工程惠及彼此的途径。在北京发现的治疗方法可以挽救在美国的生命，来自加州硅谷的清洁能源可以改善中国的环境。

全球各地的公司可以进行业务往来和相互竞争。

我们可以与各大洲的人们通过短信、电子邮件和Skype进行沟通。

因此,出国留学不只是以开心的方式度过一个学期—它正迅速成为在全球经济中取得成功的关键。

因为要走在当今职场的前沿，只在学校里取得好成绩或好分数是不够的..….还应拥有对境外世界的真实体验—对非常不同于己的语言、文化和社会的体验。

正如中国的一句古话所说：“读万卷书不如行万里路”。

要明确的是，出国留学绝不只是改善你们自己的未来它还关乎塑造你们国家以及我们大家共同拥有的这个世界的未来。

因为就我们这个时代的决定性挑战而言无论是气候变化、还是经济机会、或是核武器扩散..….这些都是共同的挑战。

没有任何一个国家能够单独应对它们，唯的出路就是共同携手。

这就是为什么像你们一样的年轻人到彼此国家学习和生活是如此重要。因为这是你们培养合作习惯的途径你们通过将自己沉浸在别人的文化里，通过学习彼此的故事，通过跨越经常隔离我们的成见和误解来做到这一点。

这是你们认识到我们都在彼此的成功中拥有攸关利益的途径：在北京这里发现的治疗方法可以挽救在美国的生命，来自加州硅谷的清洁能源技术可以改善中国这里的环境,西安一座古老寺庙的架构可以激发达拉斯或底特律新建筑设计的灵感。

这是你们和同学或实验伙伴所建立的联系能够带来更多收获的时候。

这是阿比盖尔〃科普林(Abigail Coplin)成为北京美国富布赖特学者时发生的事情。她和她的同事们在首屈一指的科学杂志上共同发表论文，他们建立研究伙伴关系，这段关系在他们回到各自国家后还长久地持续着。

来自北京大学的牛可教授是去年的美国富布赖特学者。我引述一下他的话，最难忘的经历是和我的美国朋友们在一起。

这些长久的纽带代表留学的真正价值..….我很兴奋，越来越多的学生正在得到这样的机会。

中国目前是美国人留学的第五大热门目的地。

今天的美国，来自中国的交换生数量很多。

尽管如此，太多的学生从来没有这样的机会…....而一些有机会的学生犹豫是否要抓住它。

他们尽管觉得留学只是有钱的学生或是来自某类大学的学生的事。

或者，他们可能心里想，“嗯，这听起来很有趣，但它在我的生活中真正有多大用处？”

我了解这些年轻人来自哪里，因为我还在上大学的时候也有同样的感受。

我的父母没有上过大学，我将精力集中在进入大学并获得学位，这样我就可以得到一份工作并养活自己。

对于很多像我一样靠奋斗才能读得起一个常规学期的年轻人来说，支付世界另一边的机票或生活费是在是不可能的。

这是不可能接受的，因为留学不应仅是有某些背景的学生的事。

我们希望在所有种族和社会经济背景的人之间建立联系，因为正是这样的多样性让我们的国家如此充满活力和强大..….我们的海外留学项目应向世界反映美国的真正精神。

这就是为什么在2009年我丈夫访问中国时，他宣布了我们的100000强倡议，该倡议旨在增加留学中国的美国学生的数量和多样性。

而今年，在我们纪念我们两国关系正常化三十五周年之际，美国政府实际上支持更多的美国学生在中国(与其世界上任何其他国家相比)学习。

我们正送高中生、大学生和研究生来这里学习中文..….我们正邀请中国老师到美国的学校教授普通话..….我们希望为留学美国的中国学生提供免费的在线咨询..….美中富布赖特项目仍在加强，现在有3000多名学友。

私人部门也在加紧工作。

例如，美国黑石公司的主管史蒂夫施瓦茨曼正在自助清华大学模仿罗德奖学金的一个新项目。

以来自俄亥俄克里夫兰的罗亚尔〃尼克尔森为例，她参加了纽约大学在上海的项目。

像我一样，罗亚尔是家里的第一代大学生……她目前做两份全职工作，而她父亲晚上工作以维持他们的家庭。

谈到她在上海的经历时，她说：“这座城市充满韧性，它激励我完成所有我能做的事。”

还有来自华盛顿的菲力门〃海尔，他还是孩子的时候，他的家人作为厄立特里亚难民来到了美国。

谈到他在中国学习的经历时，他说，“在我们进入公民外交的新时代之际，留学是人民间交流的一种强大工作。”

“一个公民外交的新时代”—我自己想不出比这更好的说法了。因为这正是我正在谈的，那就是普通公民走向世界。

正像我在美国经常和年轻人说的那样，你不需要登上飞机才能成为公民外交官。

我告诉他们，如果你在家里、学校或者图书馆上网，只要几秒钟，你就可以被带到世界的任何地方，遇见来自每个大陆的人。

这就是为什么我每天都要发一篇旅行博文，里面有我这次中国之行的视频和照片—因为我希望美国的年轻人能够成为这次访问的一部分。

这的确是技术的力量—它如何得以打开整个世界，让我们接触到以前根本难以想象的思想好和创新。

同时，这也是为什么信息和思想在互联网上、以及通过媒体自由流动是如此重要。

因为那是我们如何得以发现真相......那是我们如何得以了解我们的社群、我们的国家和我们的世界到底在发生着什么。那也是我们如何解决我们认为那些价值观和思想是最好的—通过有力地对它们提出疑问，进行辩论......通过每次倾听争论中的所有各方，也通过我们自己进行判断。

有大量的来自我们媒体和公民的质疑和批评，而我丈夫和我位于接收端......这并非易事......但我们不愿意用它来换世界上的任何东西。

因为我们一次又一次地看到，当所有公民的声音和观点都能得到倾听的时候，国家会变得更加强大和繁荣。而正像我丈夫所说过的，我们尊重其它文化和社会的独特性。

然而，就自由地表达自我、选择自己所崇拜，以及享有信息公开而言—我们相信那些是这个星球上的每个人与生俱来的普世权利。

我们相信，所有人都应享有实现自己最大潜能的机会，正如我在美国所能做到的那样。

同时，当你在中国这里以及在美国了解新的文化、结交新的朋友时，你整个人就是那些价值观的鲜活代表。所以我保证，通过出国留学，你们不仅在改变自己的人生，你们也在改变所遇到的每个人的人生。

正像伟大的美国总统约翰〃肯尼迪(John F〃 Kennedy)曾经在谈到留学美国的外国学生时说的那样，“我想他们所教的比他们学到的还要多。”

而对于出国学习的年轻美国人来说也是一样的。

对世界而言，你们所有人都是最好的美国面孔和最好的中国面孔。

每一天，你们都在向世界展示你们国家的能量、创造力、乐观以及对未来坚定不移的信念。

每一天，你们都在提醒我们，通过跨越边界，学会在彼此身上看到我们自己和用共同的决心应对我们共同的挑战，我们可以取得多大的成就。

所以，我希望你们都会不断寻求这样的经历。

我也希望你们会继续教彼此，互相学习，同时建立起友谊的纽带，这些纽带能在未来数十年丰富你们的生活，也丰富我们的世界。

你们大家都有这么多可以给与，我迫不及待地想看到，未来几年里你们一起实现的所有成就。

美国第一夫人米歇尔北大演讲全文篇2

This draft text used by first lady Michelle Obama for her commencement address at Oregon State University on Sunday was made available Monday: Remarks of First Lady Michelle Obama Oregon State University Commencement Corvallis, Oregon June 17, 2012 Thank you so much.I am so proud to receive this honorary degree from this great American university.And I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate the Oregon State University class of 2012 I want to start by thanking President Ray for that very kind introduction.I also want to recognize Provost Sabah Randhawa, Mayor Julie Manning … and all of the outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators here at OSU.And of course, to the stars of today’s show, the class of 2012 … congratulations!We are all so proud of you.非常感谢！此刻我的心情无法言喻,能够在这所优秀的大学获得名誉学位,我深感荣幸!能来这里参加2012年毕业典礼,我也感到受宠若惊!出发吧!海狸们!首先我要感谢雷校长,感谢她的精彩引介还有这项学位的殊荣,也要感谢蓝达瓦教务长,以及朱莉.曼宁市长她也来到了现场,还有所有杰出的教员和管理者们,还有俄勒冈州立大学的领导们。我也要向汤佳(学生会主席)女士,以及所有即将在这个讲台上,发表演说的学生们致敬!我们为你们而倍感自豪!当然要对今天的明星毕业班的同学们说一声,祝贺你们!We are so proud of how hard you’ve worked … and how much you’ve grown … and all that you’ve achieved during your time here at Oregon State.我们为你们深感骄傲!我们为你们所付出的努力,以及取得的进步而感到骄傲!包括你们在这里所取得的各种成就 And I know that none of you did this alone.我知道你们并不是一个人在努力

You all are here today in large part because of those beautiful people up in the bleachers — the folks who pushed you, and believed in you, and answered the phone every time you called — even when you were just calling to ask for money.就像校长之前曾说过的那样,你们今天能够出现在这里,很大程度上要归功于看台那边那些美丽的人.那些勉励你们信任你们,每次都会接听你们电话的人,即使是在你们要钱的时候。

So graduates, let’s give a special round of applause for your families … today is their day too.因此即将毕业的同学们,让我们再次将热烈的掌声送给你们的家人吧!尤其所有的父亲们,恰逢父亲节来临之际,今天也是他们的节日 Now, like all of you, I’m also here today because of my family.As you know, Craig Robinson, your men’s basketball coach, is my big brother.和你们一样，我也是因为家人而出现在这里。大家知道的克雷格.罗宾逊,你们的男篮教练也是我的兄长。

And last fall, Craig called me up and said that if I didn’t speak at this year’s commencement, he would tell mom on me.去年秋天克雷格打电话给我说，如果我不来今年的毕业典礼做演讲的话，他会向妈妈告状的，And since our mother now lives with me, that threat actually still carries some weight.考虑到家母还和我们生活在一起，这种威胁还是管点用的。But seriously, I’m not here today just because Craig has turned the Obamas into a family of Beaver Believers.但说实话我今天能来这里，不只是因为克雷格让奥巴马一家成为海狸队的信徒

I’m also here because I’m proud of everything this university is doing for this country.而他也做到了-----我今天能够骄傲地站在这里，也是由于这所大学为国家所贡献的一切

You’ve built one of the most sustainable campuses in America.你们缔造了美国历史最悠久的学府

You’re conducting groundbreaking research on everything from agriculture, to nanotechnology, to childhood obesity.无论是农业还是纳米技术领域，无论是儿童事业或者肥胖症研究方面，你们都有开创性的研究成果

Y: groundbreaking research 开创性的研究成果

You’re serving others in so many ways — tutoring children, joining our armed forces, fighting hunger and disease here in America and around the world.你们在以各种方式服务着大众，教导孩子们和我们一起，与美国和全世界的饥饿和疾病抗争。

So I can see why Craig feels so at home here at OSU.因此我只想说，我理解了为什么克雷格可以在这找到家的感觉 Because in so many ways, the values you all embody are the values that he and I were raised with.因为从多方面来讲你们所体现出的价值观，这是我们两个人所推崇的。Craig and I grew up on the South Side of Chicago.克雷格和我在芝加哥南部长大 And our family was close — I mean really close … literally.我们家人之间亲密无间，我指的是字面上的亲近，My mom, my dad, Craig and I lived in a tiny apartment … and for years, Craig and I shared a bedroom divided by a wooden partition to give us the illusion of separate rooms.我们住得非常近，妈妈爸爸克雷格还有我，我们四个人住在一间非常小的公寓里面。有很多年克雷格和我同住一个房间，At night, Craig and I would whisper to each other through the cracks in that partition until one of us feel asleep … or our Mom yelled at us to be quiet.到了夜晚克雷格和我两个人，就会通过隔断的缝隙说悄悄话，直到其中一个人睡着。或者等妈妈对我们喊，闭嘴安静点。反正跑不出这两句吧！

But while we didn’t have much space, our little home was bursting with love.然而当我们的居住空间捉襟见肘之时，我们的小家处处充满了爱。We spent lots of time together as a family — laughing and sharing stories at dinner each night;playing board games and cards for hours, huddled around the kitchen table.我们会有大量的时间和家人一起度过，有说有笑共进晚餐。在餐桌上下棋打扑克，一玩就是好几个小时

We enjoyed the simple pleasures in life … like getting our report cards, because good grades meant pizza for dinner … trying to hold in giggles as we put shaving cream on my Dad’s glasses while he napped … sleeping on the back porch on hot summer nights when the temperature in our little apartment became unbearable.我们享受着生活中点滴欢乐。例如拿回成绩单，成绩好的话晚餐就会有披萨饼吃，这是很诱人的哦！在克雷格把刮胡泡沫涂抹到爸爸的眼镜片上时，我们会尽力不让自己笑出声来。在仲夏夜当我们的小公寓的温度实在难熬时，我们会睡在后院的长廊里，But it wasn’t all fun and games growing up in our house.但成长的轨迹并非总是轻松愉快的，Our parents were big believers in everyone doing their part around the house … Craig often compared Saturday chore time to boot camp.And my parents were even more serious about our academic lives.我们的父母对每位家庭成员的责任是无比信赖的。克雷格总是将周六的家务视作新兵的训练，而我的父母非常重视对我们的教育。My mom taught me and Craig how to read long before kindergarten started.在进幼儿园之前我妈妈就在教我和克雷格识字了

And she spent hours volunteering in our neighborhood public school, making sure we got the education she knew we deserved.That was the kind of childhood we had.她在附近的公立学校做志愿工，确保我们接受的是正当教育，这就是我们的童年

And one day, when my brother was about ten years old, he asked my dad a simple question.“Dad,” he said, “Are we rich?”

令我难忘的实在我哥哥十岁那年的一天。他向爸爸问了一个简单的问题。他说，爸爸，我们是有钱人吗？

To answer his question, my dad took his next paycheck from his job at the city water plant … and instead of depositing that check, he cashed it.为了回答他的问题爸爸拿出了这个月的薪水支票，他在自来水厂上班，而他并没有直接把钱存起来，而是把他们取成零钱，Y: deposit the check 存款

He then came home and dumped out all the bills on the kitchen table.然后回到家中把所有的钱都倒在了餐桌上面。

Craig was impressed — with all that money, we must be rich!克雷格吃了一惊，看到这么多钱他觉得我们一定是有钱人。But then my Dad started explaining where all this money went each month … this much for rent … that much for gas … this much for groceries.不过爸爸接着就开始解释，这些钱每个月会花在哪里，这些用来支付房租，那些是煤气费，这些是用来买日用品的。

And by the time he was done, there wasn’t a single penny left on that table.当爸爸讲完的时候，桌子上一分钱也没剩下。Craig was shocked … and so was I.时克雷格惊呆了我也一样，Here we were, two kids growing up in a family that was just barely working class … but we were convinced that we were wealthy!我是说这就是我们当时的情况，一个抚养着两个孩子的家庭，就是最普通不过的工薪阶层。但我们相信我们很富有，我们深信不疑 And graduates, that’s what I’d like to talk with you about today.I’d like to talk about what Craig and I learned from our family about leading a rich life … no matter how much money you have.同学们这就是今天我要将给你们的，是我和克雷格从家人那里学到的，如何去拥有充实的生命。不管你有多少物质财富。

And while there are plenty of lessons I could share — there are three that I’d like to emphasize today.尽管我有大量的经验可以分享，但今天我要强调三点：

First, no matter what struggles or setbacks you face in your life, focus on what you have, not what you’re missing.第一无论你面临多大的挫折与竞争，要专注你所拥有的而不是你所失去的。

My Dad taught us this lesson every day by how he lived his life.He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when my brother and I were still very young.爸爸每天都在教导我们他的生活之道。在我和哥哥还很小的时候，爸爸就被诊断出患有多发性硬化症，And as he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk … and it took longer for him to dress himself in the morning.当病情加重时他几乎无法走路，每天早上起床都会花更多的时间去穿衣服。

He had been an athlete all his life … he was a boxer and a swimmer in high school.我爸爸一直都是运动健将，中学时他是拳击手也是游泳运动员，So it must have been hard for him to feel his body declining … to go from being an active, vibrant young man to barely being able to make it up the stairs.But if he was in pain … if he was at all disappointed with his fate … he never let on.因此对于机能的衰退他内心一定非常难受，即使他对命运彻底失望他也绝不会表现出来。

He never stopped smiling and laughing … even as he struggled to prop himself up on his crutches to teach us how to catch a ball, or hold a bat, or throw a punch.他总是面带笑容而且.....即使是在艰难地柱起拐杖的时候，也会叫我们如何接球如何握球如何出拳。Y: prop himself up 支撑 And no matter how bad he was feeling, he hardly ever missed a day of work.不管感觉多么不好，他几乎从来因此而耽误过每天的工作，Because he was determined to be our family’s provider and to give me and Craig opportunities he’d never dreamed of.因为他早已做过决定要担负起养家的责任，而且要为我和克雷格创造机会而奉献一切铭记于心。

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about our dad and how much he sacrificed for me and Craig to be the people we are today.And today, as First Lady, I see that same spirit — and that same kind of sacrifice — in people I meet all across this country.今天身为第一夫人我看到了同样的精神，同样的奉献精神，体现在我所见过的所有国人的身上。

I see it in parents like my dad, struggling to support their families … and students like you, working hard to get an education … and young people who are serving this country in uniform, facing challenges that most of us can’t even imagine.今天身为第一夫人我看到了同样的精神，同样的奉献精神，体现在我所见过的所有国人的身上。我在家长们的身上看到了它，而对看那些我们多数人无法想象的挑战。

I’ve seen firsthand the sacrifices that America’s heroes are making.As First Lady, I have the extraordinary privilege of visiting wounded warriors in military hospitals all across this country.我首先看到的，就是我们美国英雄正在践行的奉献精神，身为第一夫人，我被特派去探视那些负伤的士兵，他们在国内多地的军队医院中疗伤。

Many of them, your age or younger, have suffered terrible injuries.Some of them have lost a limb … sometimes two limbs, or three limbs.They’ve endured dozens of surgeries … they’ve spent months learning to walk again and talk again.他们当中有很多人和你们同龄或比你们年轻，他们遭受了严重的创伤，有些人失去了四肢中的一只，有人失去了两只甚至三只。他们经受了多次外科手术，他们需要花几个月的时间学习再次行走与讲话，But despite these challenges, they persevere … they aren’t looking back.They aren’t dwelling on what they’ve lost.但不管他们的挑战是什么他们始终不屈不饶，他们不会退缩，他们不会为自己所失去的而感伤。

Instead, they’re making plans … they’re reimagining their futures.They tell me that they’re not just going to walk again … they’re going to run … and they’re going to run marathons.相反他们正在计划开始新的生活，他们反复憧憬着自己的未来。他们对我说他们不仅要再次走起来，他们还要跑起来，而且要去跑马拉松。I recently met a young Navy Lieutenant named Brad Snyder who’d been blinded by an IED explosion in Afghanistan.不久前我见过一名年轻的海军上尉，他叫布拉德斯莱德，在阿富汗战争期间他被土制炸弹炸瞎了双眼。

He competed in this year’s Warrior Games as a runner and a swimmer.在今年的战士比赛中，他以跑步运动员和游泳运动员的身份参赛。And of his service, he said — and these are his words, “I am not going to let blindness build a brick wall around me … I’d give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.” 在他服役期间他说过如下这番话，我不会让失明的现实成为挡在我前面的一堵墙，我会给自己的双眼一百次机会，去做我曾经做过的事，And graduates, more than anything else, that will be the true measure of your success … not how well you do when you’re healthy, and happy and everything is going according to plan.同学们最重要的是，检验你们成功的真正准绳，并不是你们健康快乐，以及一切如己所愿的时候做得有多好，But what you do when life knocks you to the ground and all your plans go right out the window.而是当命运将你击垮。一切都不在自己掌控之时你会做些什么？ In those darkest moments, you have a choice: Do you dwell on everything you’ve lost?

在那些最黑暗的时期你可以去选择，你会对自己所失去的一切无法释怀吗？ Or do you focus on what you still have, and find a way to move forward with passion, and determination, and joy? 还是始终专注于自己依然拥有的一切，并且去寻找激情饱满，坚决果断而充满快乐的前行方式呢？

I know that many of you in this graduating class have already faced this choice in your own lives.我知道你们毕业生中，有很多人已经面临了自身命运的抉择。Take the example of one of today’s graduates, Vanessa Vasquez.Vanessa’s parents are agricultural workers with a grade school education … and she came to Oregon State determined to build a better life for her four-month-old daughter.汤佳今天和我们分享了一些经验，然而还有一位毕业生他叫瓦内萨瓦斯奎兹，瓦内萨的父母都是农民，只有小学文化程度，而她来到俄勒冈州立大学，为了能够让自己那四个月大的女儿过上更美好的生活。In addition to being a single mom, she juggled a full course load and a part-time job.除了是一位单身母亲，她还参加了全日制课程并有一份兼职工作，But it all paid off … and today, she’s receiving her degree in Construction Engineering and Management.但所有的努力都没有枉费。今天她将获得的是自己的建筑工程管理学位，Her advice to other young people is very simple — and these are her words: “With hard work and dedication, anything is possible.”

她对其他年轻人的建议非常简单，她说道：只要努力奋斗勇于奉献一切皆有可能！

Then there’s another member of the class of 2012, Nicolas Sitts, who’s earning his degree in Chemical Engineering.在2012毕业生中还有另一位同学，尼古拉斯西茨他取得了化学工程学位，As a member of OSU’s Solar Vehicle Team, Nicolas spent two years painstakingly building a solar car.我了解到他作为这所大学太阳能车队的一员，尼古拉斯花了两年的时间，煞费苦心地制作了一辆太阳能车

But when he took it out for a test drive last summer, it caught fire and exploded … and Nicolas sustained second-and third-degree burns on his arm, face and leg.但是当他去年夏天进行试驾的时候，车身起火并发生了爆炸，尼古拉斯的手臂面部及腿部，遭受了二到三级的烧伤，But instead of throwing in the towel, within a month, the team was back at work, building another, hopefully less explosive car.但是他并没有就此放弃，在不到一个月内这个团队又开始了工作，去制造另一台爆炸系数可能会低一些的车。

Vanessa and Nicolas and the OSU Solar Team didn’t give up when things got hard.瓦内萨和尼古拉斯还有太阳能车队，在遇到困难的时候他们都没有放弃

Instead, they just dug deeper, and worked harder, and refused to give up on the success that they dreamed of.相反他们更加投入更加努力，拒不放弃那梦寐以求的成功

And that actually brings me to the second lesson I want to share about leading a rich life — and that is to define success on your own terms.这就是我今天要和大家分享的第二点。

关于如何拥有一个充实的生命，那就是要用自己的标准定义成功。Now, growing up, my parents always told me and Craig to be true to ourselves.在成长的轨迹中我的父母经常教育我们，要对自己真诚，But when you’re a kid, it’s hard to know what that really means.And as you grow older, often, it’s just easier to grab for those gold stars and brass rings.不过当你还是个孩子时很难去理解其中的含义。随着年龄的增长，通常会比较容易去理解心中的疑惑，并体会到其中的真正含义。Craig and I both know this from experience.After graduating from college, we did everything we thought we should do to be successful.我和克雷格都在实践中得以领会。从大学毕业后，任何觉得有成功感的事情我们都会去做，Craig went to business school...I went to law school … and we got prestigious jobs at an investment bank and a law firm.克雷格去了商学院而我去了律师学院。我们都找到了体面的工作，We soon had all the traditional markers of success — the fat paycheck, the fancy office, the impressive line on our resumes.他进了一家投资银行而我去了律师事务所。我们很快就获得了那些成功的传统标志，丰厚的薪水、优越的办公环境，个人简历中那几行令人难忘的工作经历，But the truth is, neither of us was all that fulfilled.I didn’t want to be up in some tall office building writing legal memos … I wanted to be down on the ground, helping the folks I grew up with.而事实上我们两个都没有成就感。我不想在高大的办公楼里，撰写那些法律备忘录，我想去外面帮助那些和我一起长大的人们，I was living the dream — but it wasn’t my dream.And Craig felt the same way.So eventually we quit those corporate jobs.我一直在梦想中但结果并非我愿，而克雷格也有和我一样感到困惑，因此我们最终辞掉了原公司的工作。

I went to work in the Mayor’s office … Craig got a job coaching basketball … and we both took salary cuts that made our mother cringe.But we were excited about our new careers.我在市长办公室工作，而克雷格找到了一个篮球教练的工作。我们的薪水都大不如前，连母亲都感到心疼。但是我们对于各自的新事业感到兴奋不已

Y：cringe 畏惧，退缩

We looked forward to going to work every morning.And we both realized that success isn’t about how your life looks to others … it’s about how it feels to you.每天清晨上班时我们都洋溢着蓬勃的朝气，而且我们都意识到，成功并不在于你的生命在别人眼中是怎样的，它在于你对它的感受。We realized that being successful isn’t about being impressive … it’s about being inspired.我们认识到取得成功并不在于给人留下印象，而是在于获得激励与鼓舞

That’s what it means to be true to yourself.It means looking inside yourself and being honest about what you truly enjoy doing.这就是对自己真诚的含义所在，就是要看到自己的内心，坦诚面对自己真心想做的事情。

Because graduates, I can promise you that you’ll never be happy plodding through someone else’s idea of success.因为同学们我敢保证，当你们按照别人对成功的标准去做事的时候，你们绝不会感到快乐的。Y：plod thru 辛勤工作 Success is only meaningful — and enjoyable — if it feels like your own.But of course, a successful career alone doesn’t necessarily make for a rich life.只有属于自己的成功才是充满意义与欢乐的。当然只是事业上的成功，未必会让生命变得充实，As you’ve all learned from the friends you’ve made and the relationships you’ve formed here at OSU, what truly makes life rich are the people you share it with.从朋友那里以及从在这里建立的人际关系中，你们都学到的是，真正让生命充实起来的，是那些和你一同分享它的人。

And that brings me to the final lesson I want to offer today — and that is, whatever you do, don’t leave behind any unfinished business with the people you love.这就要引出我今天要讲的最后一点内容，那就是无论你们的去向那里，无论你们做什么，不要将你所爱之人抛在脑后。

My dad died of complications from his MS when I was in my mid-twenties.在我十二岁那年，我们的爸爸就因多样硬化的并发症而逝去。And for months, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.我要说的是，我有几个月的时间感到自己无法呼吸，I had this physical sense of grief, this emptiness in my life that I just couldn’t fill.But as hard as it was to lose him, and as much as I still miss him, I knew that I’d never missed a chance to tell my Dad I loved him … and he’d always done the same for me.我的悲痛之情，生命中的这种空虚感我无法将它填平。然而就像失去父亲的悲痛之情一样，每天我都是那样的思念着他，我知道自己一直都有机会对爸爸说我爱他。而他对我也是如此

And whenever Craig and I saw him struggling to walk … and we worried that life was getting too hard for him … my Mom would always reassure us that he was so proud to be our father that he felt like the luckiest guy ever to walk the Earth.每当我和克雷格看到他挣扎着行走时，我们会为他的艰难命运而担忧。妈妈总是安慰我们，他为我们而深感骄傲，为身为人父而倍感自豪。他觉得自己是世界上最幸运的人

All of that gave me a sense of peace — a sense that I had no unfinished business with my Dad.这些话让我感到安心了，让我感觉自己对父亲没有遗憾 And that’s what allowed me to move forward.而这让我可以继续前行

So graduates, as you make your way in the world, I urge you not to leave behind any unfinished business.因此同学们当你们在世界上努力拼搏的时候，我希望你们不要留有任何的遗憾。If you’re in a fight with someone, make up.If you’re holding a grudge, let it go.If you hurt someone, apologize.If you love someone, let them know.如果你正和某人有争执那就化解吧！如果你心存怨恨那就释然吧！如果你爱某人那就说出来吧！

And don’t just tell people that you love them, show them.And that means showing up.It means being truly present in the lives of the people you care about.不要总是把对他们的爱挂在嘴边付诸行动吧！就是要敞开心扉，要真心坦诚，真心对待那些你所关心的人。

“Liking” them on Facebook does not count … nor does following them on Twitter.facebook网站点一下“赞”这可不算数哦！也不是只在twiter网上关注对方就行的哦！

What counts is making the time to be there, in person.Because I can promise you that years from now, you won’t remember the texts you exchanged with your friends here at OSU.要亲自抽出时间出和对方相处。因为我敢保证若干年后，你们绝对不会记得，曾经给这里的好友发的信息是什么内容。But you’ll remember how they cheered you on at your games.You’ll remember how they brought you chocolate and spent hours comforting you when your boyfriend dumped you.但你们会记得他们为你的比赛而欢呼的样子，你会记得在你被男友甩了以后，为你拿来巧克力并花几个小时的时间安慰你“那些个混蛋” You’ll remember all the hours they spent diligently studying with you in the library.That last one was for your parents.你们会记得那些在图书馆刻苦学习的时光，这个是说给家长听的哦！But seriously, those are the memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.Those are the experiences that make you who you are.但说心里话这些回忆，都将令你们今生难忘。这些经历让你们成就自我，And that is as true for me today as it was back when Craig and I were growing up in that little apartment in Chicago.而这让我回想起从前，我与克雷格在芝加哥的那间小公寓时的时光，You see, when I come out here to Corvallis and visit my family, I’m not the First Lady.I’m Coach Robinson’s little sister.I’m “Miche” to Craig and to my niece and nephews.当我来到科瓦利斯见到家人的时候，我不再是第一夫人，我是罗宾逊教练的妹妹，我是克雷格身边的小八哥，也是侄女侄子的唠叨姑姑。I sleep on the pullout couch in Craig’s guest room … and my daughters pile into the living room with their cousins for a sleepover.我在克雷格客厅的沙发床上酣然入睡，我的女儿们挤在了卧室，和她的表兄妹们彻夜狂欢。

美国第一夫人米歇尔北大演讲全文篇3

25日上午10时50分，成都七中艺术楼音乐厅，在持续20秒的热烈掌声后，美国总统奥巴马夫人米歇尔发表此次访华期间的第二场演讲。她用刚学不久的中文“你好”和“谢谢”作为开场白和结束语，并以讲故事的方式，与成都中学生分享自己的求学经历，强调教育对年轻人的重要性。

Remarks by the First Lady at Number Seven School Chengdu, China March 25, 2014

Ni hao.It is truly a pleasure to be here at the Number Seven School.Thank you so much for your warm welcome.Now, before I get started, on behalf of myself and my husband, I want to say that our hearts go out to all those with loved ones on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.As I said this past weekend when I spoke at Peking University, we are very much keeping all of them in our thoughts and our prayers at this tremendously difficult time.So now, let me start by thanking your Principal, Principal Liu, and your classmate, Ju Chao, for that wonderful introduction.Your English, Ju Chao, is excellent, and you should be very proud.Thank you so much.(Applause.)And I want to thank all of the students here today, both those of you here in person and those of you joining remotely from across the region.I’m thrilled to be visiting your wonderful school.Now, in preparation for this visit, before I left the U.S.I visited the Yu Ying School.It’s a public school near the White House in Washington, D.C., and all of the students at this school study Chinese.And I met with the sixth-grade class, kids who are 11 and 12 years old.They had recently taken a trip here to China, and they were bursting with excitement.They were eager to tell me about everything about what they had seen.But they admitted that before their trip, they had all kinds of misconceptions about China.They thought they would see palaces and temples everywhere they went, but instead they found massive cities filled with skyscrapers.They weren’t sure that they’d like the food here in China, but they actually loved it, and they learned how to use chopsticks.And in the end, one of the students told me –-and this is his quote--he said, “Coming home was really exciting, but was at the same time sad.”

Now, meeting these students reminded me that when we live so far away from each other, it’s easy to develop all kinds of misconceptions and stereotypes.It’s easy to focus on our differences –-how we speak different languages and eat different foods and observe different traditions.But as I travel the world, and I meet young people from so many countries, I’m always struck by how much more we have in common.And that’s been particularly true during my visit here in China.You see, the truth is that I grew up like many of you.My mom, my dad, my brother and I, we lived in a tiny apartment in Chicago, which is one of the largest cities in America.My father worked at the local water plant.And we didn’t have much money, but our little home was bursting with love.Every evening, my family would laugh and share stories over dinner.We’d play card games and have fun for hours.And on summer nights, I remember, when our apartment got too hot, we’d all sleep outside on our back porch.Family meant everything to us, including our extended family.My grandparents lived nearby, and my elderly great aunt and uncle lived in the apartment downstairs from us.And when their health started to decline my parents stepped in, helping my uncle shave and dress each morning, dashing downstairs in the middle of the night to check on my aunt.So in my family, like in so many of your families, we took care of each other.And while we certainly weren’t rich, my parents had big dreams for me and my brother.They had only a high school education themselves, but they were determined to send us both to universities.So they poured all of their love and all of their hope into us, and they worked hard.They saved every penny.And I know that wasn’t easy for them, especially for my father.You see, my father had a serious illness called multiple sclerosis.And as he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk, and it took him longer to get dressed in the morning.But no matter how tired he felt, no matter how much pain he was in, my father hardly ever missed a day of work, because he was determined to give me and my brother a better life.And every day, like so many of you, I felt the weight of my parents’ sacrifices on my shoulders.Every day, I wanted to make them proud.So while most American kids attend public schools near their homes, when it was time for me to attend high school, I took an exam and got into a special public high school where I could get a better education.But the school was very far from my home, so I had to get up early every morning and ride a bus for an hour, sometimes an hour and a half if the weather was bad.And every afternoon, I’d ride that same bus back home and then immediately start my homework, often studying late into the night--and sometimes I would wake up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning to study even more.And it wasn’t easy.But whenever I got tired or discouraged, I would just think about how hard my parents were working for me.And I would remember something my mother always told me –-she said: “A good education is something that no one can take away from you.”

And when it was time for me to apply to university, I had many options, because in America, there are many kinds of universities.There are four-year universities.There are two-year community colleges which are less expensive.There are universities where you take classes at night while working during the day.So you don’t have to be a top student to attend a university.And even if your parents don’t have much money or you live in a tiny town in a rural area, in America, you can still attend university.And you can get scholarships and government loans to help pay your tuition.So I attended Princeton University for my undergraduate degree, and I went on to Harvard University for my graduate degree in law.And with those degrees I was able to become a lawyer at a large law firm, and then I worked as an executive at a city hospital, and then I was the director of an organization that helped disadvantaged young people.And my story isn’t unusual in America.Some of our most famous athletes, like LeBron James, and artists, like the singer Janelle Monae, came from struggling families like mine, as do many business leaders – like Howard Schultz.He’s the head of a company called Starbucks, which many of you may have heard of.When Mr.Schultz was a boy his father lost his job, leaving their family destitute.But Mr.Schultz worked hard.He got a scholarship to a university, and eventually built the largest coffeehouse company in the world.And then there’s this other guy I know who was raised by a single mother who sometimes struggled to afford food for their family.But like me, this guy got scholarships and loans to attend universities.He became a lawyer and a professor, and then he was a state senator and then a national senator.And then, he became President of the United States.This guy I’m talking about is my husband, Barack Obama.(Applause.)

These stories are the stories of so many Americans, and of America itself.Because in America, we believe that no matter where you live or how much money your parents have, or what race or religion or ethnicity you are, if you work hard and believe in yourself, then you should have a chance to succeed.We also believe that everyone is equal, and that we all have the right to say what we think and worship as we choose, even when others don’t like what we say or don’t always agree with what we believe.Now of course, living up to these ideals isn’t always easy.And there have been times in our history where we have fallen short.Many decades ago, there were actually laws in America that allowed discrimination against black people like me, who are a minority in the United States.But over time, ordinary citizens decided that those laws were unfair.So they held peaceful protests and marches.They called on government officials to change those laws, and they voted to elect new officials who shared their views.And slowly but surely, America changed.We got rid of those unjust laws.And today, just 50 years later, my husband and I are President and First Lady of the United States.And that is really the story of America –-how over the course of our short history, through so many trials and struggles, we have become more equal, more inclusive, and more free.And today in America, people of every race, religion and ethnicity live together and work together to build a better life for their children and grandchildren.And in the end, that deep yearning to leave something better for those who come after us, that is something we all truly share.In fact, there’s a Chinese saying that I love that says, “To achieve true happiness, help the next generation.”

And like so many of your parents, my parents sacrificed so much so that I could have opportunities they never dreamed of.And today, as a mother myself, I want even more opportunities for my own daughters.But of course, as I always tell my daughters, with opportunities come obligations.And that is true for all of you as well.You all have the opportunity to receive an education from this wonderful school, and you all have an obligation to take the fullest advantage of this opportunity.And I know that’s exactly what you all are doing.You’re winning prizes in math and science.Here, you are staging musical performances around the world.You’re volunteering in your communities.And many of you are working hard to get an education your parents never dreamed of.So you all have so much to offer –-and that’s a good thing, because the world needs your talent.The world needs your creativity and energy more than ever before.Because we face big challenges that know no borders –-like improving the quality of our air and water, ensuring that people have good jobs, stopping the spread of disease.And soon, it will all fall to all of you to come together with people on every continent and solve these problems together.Now, fortunately, here at this wonderful school, you’re already well on your way.For more than a decade, you’ve been building special relationships with a American school in--an American high school, and many of you will attend universities in America or find other ways to reach out beyond your borders.So in the years ahead, much like you and I are doing here today, you will be creating bonds of friendship across the globe that will last for decades to come.And over the past week, as I have seen both the ancient wonders and the modern achievements of your fascinating country, and as I’ve met with extraordinary young people like all of you, I am more confident than ever before in our shared future.And I cannot wait to see everything that you will achieve here in China and around the world.Thank you again for hosting me and my family at this extraordinary school, and I wish you all the best of luck in your journey ahead.Xie-Xie.(Applause.)

米歇尔在成都七中演讲全文

奇速英语整理

你好。非常高兴和荣幸来到第七中学„„谢谢你们的热情欢迎。

我要首先感谢你们的校长——刘校长和你们的同学——琚朝的精彩介绍„„琚朝，你的英语非常棒，你应该为自己骄傲！

我还要感谢今天到场的每一位同学——不论是在现场还是这个区域远程连线进来的。我无比兴奋能访问你们这么好的学校。

在我离开美国之前准备这次访问时，我在华盛顿哥伦比亚特区访问了白宫附近的一所公立学校“育英学校。”

这所学校的所有学生都学习中文„„我和小学六年级一个班的同学们见了面——他们都是十一、十二岁的孩子。

他们最近刚来过中国„„他们都充满了兴奋，急于告诉我他们所看到的一切。

但他们承认，来中国之前，他们有着各种各样有关中国的误解。

他们以为到处都会看到宫殿和庙宇„„可是，他们看到的却是充满摩天大厦的大型城市。

他们原来不知道自己会不会喜欢中国这边的食物,实际上他们却爱上了它——他们甚至学会了使用筷子。

最后，一名学生告诉我——这是原话，“回家真是让人既兴奋又难过。”

和这些学生见面提醒了我，当我们生活在相隔如此遥远的地方，很容易产生各种误解和成见。

人们很容易只关注不同点——我们如何讲不同的语言、吃不同的食物和遵循不同的习俗和传统。

但随着我在世界各地旅行，遇到这么多国家的年轻人，我总是惊讶于我们有更多共同之处的事实。

这次对中国的访问尤其说明了这一点。

你们看，事实是，我的成长经历和你们许多人一样。

我父母和哥哥与我同住在芝加哥的一间小公寓里，芝加哥是美国最大的城市之一。

我父亲曾在当地一家水厂工作-我们没有太多钱„„但是，我们的小家充满了爱。

每天晚上，晚餐时分，我们全家都会在一起说笑和分享故事„„我们会一连几个小时地打牌、玩游戏„„夏天的夜晚，当公寓里太热时，我们都睡在户外的后阳台。

家庭对我们来说意味着一切，这也包括我们的大家庭。

我的祖父母住得很近——我年迈的姨姥姥和姨姥爷住在楼下的公寓里。

当他们的健康状况开始下降，我父母开始每天早晨帮我姨姥爷刮胡子、穿衣服——半夜三更冲到楼下查看我姨姥姥的情况。

所以，在我的家里，我们互相照顾，就像在你们许多家庭里一样。

虽然我们并不富裕„„我父母对我和哥哥抱有远大梦想。

虽然他们自己只有高中学历，但他们决心送我们俩上大学。

因此，她们对我们倾注了全部的爱和希望„„他们拼命工作，积攒每一分钱，我知道这对他们来说并不容易，尤其是对我父亲来说，我父亲患有被称为多发性硬化症的重病。

随着他的病情加重，他的行走变得更加困难，早上他需要花更长时间才能穿好衣服。

但不管他觉得多累„„不管他有多痛苦——我父亲几乎从没耽误过一天的工作。因为他决心给我和哥哥更好的生活。

每一天，像你们之中的很多人一样，我肩上都能感到父母的付出的分量。

每一天，我想让他们感到骄傲。

所以，尽管大多数美国孩子都在家附近的公立学校就读，到了我要读高中的时候，我参加了考试并且进入了一所特殊的公立高中，我认为我能在那里得到更好的教育。

但是，这所学校离我家很远„„因此我不得不每天早上早起，坐一个小时公共汽车，天气不好的时候甚至要一个半小时。

而每天下午，我乘坐同一趟车回家，然后立即开始做家庭作业。经常学到深夜„„有时为了多学点，我在清晨4：30或5：00就起床。

这很不容易。

但每当我疲倦或沮丧的时候，我就想想我父亲为了我正在多么辛苦地工作。

我会记起我妈妈一直告诉我的话——她说：“良好的教育是谁都无法从你身上拿走的东西。”

到了我要申请大学的时候，我有很多选择，因为在美国有许多类型的大学—有四年制大学„„有比较便宜的两年制社区学院„„有让你晚上上课而白天工作的大学„„所以要读大学，你不必是优等生。

即使你的父母没有很多钱，或者你住在乡村的一个小镇上„„在美国，你仍然就读大学„„而且你可以得到奖学金和政府贷款帮助你支付学费。

所以我去了普林斯顿大学攻读本科学位„„后来我又去了哈佛大学攻读法学硕士学位。

有了这些学位，我能在一家大型律师事务所担任一名律师„„然后我在一家城市医院担任管理人员，然后我成了一个帮助弱势青少年组织的负责人。

而我的故事在美国并不异乎寻常。

我们一些最有名的运动员，比如勒布朗.詹姆斯（LeBron James），还有艺术家，比如歌手加奈儿.梦奈（Janelle Monae），都来自困难家庭„„还有很多商界领袖，他成了一名律师，一位法律教授„后来他成了州参议员，然后是国家参议员„再后来，他成了美国总统„没错，这个人就是我的丈夫巴拉克.欧巴马。

这些故事也是太多美国人的故事——也是美国自己的故事。

因为在美国，我们相信，无论你住在哪里„或者你的父母有多少钱„或者你来自什么种族、宗教或族裔„如果你努力，并且相信自己，那么你就有机会成功。

我们也相信，每个人都是平等的，我们都有权利说我们所想，选择我们所崇拜，即使其他人不喜欢我们所说的，或者不同意我们所相信的。

当然，坚守这些理想并非易事——而历史上我们也有做得不尽如人意的时候。

几十年前，美国实际上是有法律允许歧视像我这样美国黑人少数族裔的。

但是随着时间的推移，普通公民决定，那些法律是不公平的。

于是他们举行了和平示威和游行„„他们呼吁政府官员修改那些法律„„他们还投票选举同意他们观点的新官员。

于是慢慢地，但是毫无疑问地，美国改变了。

我们取消了那些不公正的法律。

而如今，仅仅50年之后，我丈夫和我已经是美国总统和第一夫人。

那的确是美国的故事——我们如何在我们短短的历史进程中，通过这么多艰苦磨难和不懈斗争，变得更加平等、更加包容、更加自由。

如今在美国，来自各个种族、宗教和族裔的人居住在一起，共同为子孙后代创造更好的生活。最后，那种为我们后代留下更美好事物的深切渴望——这才是我们真正的共同愿望。