奥巴马总统对全美国学生在线演讲的讲稿全文

第一篇：奥巴马总统对全美国学生在线演讲的讲稿全文

奥巴马总统对全美国学生在线演讲的讲稿全文

2009年9月8日星期二

大家好，大家今天都好吗？我现在是和弗吉尼亚州韦柯菲尔德高中的学生在一起。全国各地的学生，从幼儿园到12年级，也都在收听。我很高兴你们大家今天都参与了进来。

我知道对你们中的很多人来说，今天是开学第一天。而对于那些在幼儿园或是刚刚开始初中或高中生涯的你来说，今天还是你们在新学校的第一天，所以你们难免会有一点紧张，这是很可以理解的。我还想象着今天会有一些高年级学生这会儿可能感觉挺不错的，因为还有一年就可以毕业了。不管现在你们上几年级了，有些人可能希望现在还是夏天，今天早上可能还会有点不想起床。

我完全理解这种感觉。在我年轻的时候，我们家在印度尼西亚生活过几年。那时候我妈妈没有足够的钱送我去年全是美国孩子念书的学校。所以她决定自己给我额外补一些课，开始于周一到周五的每天早上4:30。

起这么早我可是不怎么有愉快的心情。很多次，我就趴在厨房的桌子上睡着了。但是每一次我要抱怨的时候，我妈妈就会那样看着我说：“这对我来说也不是什么享受，小家伙。”

所以我知道你们中有一些人还在调整自己重返学校。但是我今天在这里的原因是有一些重要的事情想和你们商讨。我在这里是因为想和你们谈谈你们的学习，在新学年里对大家的期望。

关于教育我做了很多次演讲了。而且有关责任我也谈了很多。我已经谈过了你们的教师启发你们，推动你们学习的责任。我讲过了你们的父母让你们坚持学习，做家庭作业，不要整天看电视，玩Xbox的责任。我讲了很多政府制定高标准，支持教师和校长，改善那些运转不良学生得不到应有机会的那些学校的责任。

但是最后，我们可以有最专注的教师，最支持的父母，以及世界上最好的学校，而只有当你们都履行了你们的责任时，这些因素才能发挥作用。只有你们到学校来上课，注意听老师讲课，听父母，祖父母以及其他大人的话，努力学习，才能成功。

这就是今天我想重点讲的主题：你们每一个人对你们的教育所负有的责任。我想先讲讲你们对自己的责任。

你们每一个人都有自己的擅长。你们每一个人都可以贡献一些东西。你们有责任自己发现这些究竟是什么。这是教育可以提供的机会。

可能你能够成为一名出色的作家，可能可以写本书或为报纸撰稿，但是你只有在英语课上完成你的文章才能发现这一点。可能你会成为一名革新者或者发明家，可能你的作品可以和下一个iPhone比美，还可能研制出新的药物或疫苗，但是只有当你实践科学课上的项目才会发现这一点。可能你会成为市长，参议员或者最高法庭大法官，但是只有参加学生自治或辩论小组你才会发现这一点。

不管你将来想做什么，我保证你都需要教育才能实现。你想成为医生，教师或是警官吗？你想成为护士，建筑师，律师或是军中的一员吗？要想从事其中的任何一种职业，都需要接受良好的教育。不辍学完成学业才能找到一份理想的工作。你们必须为之努力，为之接受培训，为之学习相关的知识。

而且这不仅对你自己的生活，你自己的将来来说是重要的。你们怎样完成教育将会决定这个国家的未来。你们今天在学校学习的东西将会决定我们作为一个国家能否接受未来的挑战。

你们将会需要科学和数学课上所学的知识和解决问题的技巧来治疗象癌症和艾滋病这样的病症，来开发新的能源技术，保护我们的环境。你将需要在历史课和社会学课上所学的洞察力和批判性思考来和贫穷，无家可归，犯罪和歧视作斗争，使我们的国家变得更加公正自由。你们将会需要在所有课程中锻炼出来的创造性和独创性来建立新的公司，创造新的工作机会，推动我们的经济发展。

我们需要你们中的每一个人发展自己的聪明才智，这样你们才能帮助我们解决最困难的一些问题。如果你们不这样做，如果你们辍学，你们放弃的不仅是自己的未来，还是你们国家的未来。

我知道要想在学校表现得好并非易事。我知道你们中很多人的生活中现在正面临着挑战，使你们很难集中精力于学业。我知道，我了解这是怎样的滋味。我父亲在我两岁的时候离开了我的家庭，我是由作为单亲母亲的妈妈养大的，她曾经为了生活苦苦挣扎，没有那么多钱给我们买别的孩子通常都会有的东西。我曾经怀念在我的生活中有父亲的那段日子。我也曾经孤独寂寞，感到自己很难适应。

所以有时候我可能没能专注于学业。我做了一些令自己惭愧的事情，使自己陷入了更多的麻烦。我的生活很可能转变得很糟糕。但是我很幸运。我的人生中有很多第二次机会，而有机会上了大学，上了法学院，实现自己的梦想。我的妻子，我们的第一夫人米歇尔?奥巴马，她与我有着相似的经历。她的父母都没有机会上大学，而且也不富裕。但是他们都很努力，这样她才有机会上了美国最好的大学。

你们中的有些人可能没有这些有利条件。可能你的长辈并没有能给与你所需要的支持。可能你的家庭现在失业了，经济出现了困顿。可能你居住的地区并不安全，或者有一些朋友强迫你做一些你知道是错误的事情。

但是，说到底，你生活的环境，你的外表，你的家乡，你有多少钱，你埋怨家里的什么，这些都不能成为你不做家庭作业，态度消极的借口。没有任何借口可以和老师顶撞，翘课或是辍学。这些都不能成为你没有努力尝试的借口。你现在是什么样子不能决定你将来会是什么样子。每人能决定你的命运。在美国，你的命运掌握在你的手里，由你自己来书写。你决定自己的未来。

这就是遍布全国各地的你们，现在每一天正在做的事情。

德克萨斯州Roma的杰兹明?皮瑞兹（Jazmin Perez）就是你们当中的一员。杰兹明刚开始上学的时候不会说英语。在她的故乡，几乎没有人上过大学，她的父母也没上过大学。但是她学习非常刻苦，成绩优秀，拿到了布朗大学的奖学金，现在正在研究生院学习公共卫生，将会成为杰兹明?皮瑞兹医生。

我还想到了来自加利福尼亚州Los Altos的安东尼?斯楚茨（Andoni Schultz），他从三岁起就开始和脑癌作斗争。他经受了各种各样的治疗和手术，其中有一次影响了他的记忆，所以他需要花更长的时间来作作业，几百个小时的额外时间。但是他的学业从来没有落后过，今年秋季，他就要上大学了。

还有来自我的故乡伊利诺斯州芝加哥的山泰尔?史蒂夫（Shantell Steve）。尽管不断在最恶劣地区的一个收养家庭到另一个收养家庭间转换，她还是设法在当地医疗中心找到了一份工作，开创了一个项目来使年轻人脱离帮会。她将要从高中荣誉毕业，去上大学。

他们三个人和你们都一样。他们和你们一样面临着各自生活中的挑战。但是他们决不会屈服。他们选择承担起自己在教育中的责任，树立了自己的人生目标。我期待你们也能和他们一样。

这就是为什么今天，我号召你们每一个人树立自己的教育目标，然后尽自己最大的努力实现这些目标。你们的目标可以是一些很简单的事情，比如完成所有的作业，课堂上注意听讲，或者每天花时间读一本书。可能你们会决定参加课外活动，或参加社区的自愿者活动。或许你们会支持那些因为自己的身份或外貌受到欺负的孩子，因为你们和我一样相信每一个孩子都应该有安全的环境来看书学习。或许你们决定更好的照顾自己，以便更好的学习。除此之外，我还希望你们能够勤洗手，不舒服的时候就不要来上课，这样我们就可以共同抵抗秋冬季节的流感。

不管你决定做什么，我都希望你能真正致力于这些事情，为之努力。我知道有些时候，你可能会从一些电视节目得到这样的印象，我们可以不用付出很多努力就变得富有成功，你们通过成为说唱歌手，或者篮球明星，或者现实电视节目明星就可以取得成功。而很可能是你们不可能成为这其中的任何一种人。

真实情况是，成功并非易事，需要付出艰苦的努力。你不会爱好每一门课程，喜欢每一位老师。并不是每一份家庭作业当下看起来都很重要。而且你第一次尝试做某事时，并不一定都会成功。

这些都没有关系。世界上一些最成功的人士恰恰就是那些失败次数最多的人。JK Rowling写的第一部哈里波特小说在最后终于出版之前，被拒绝了12次。迈克尔?乔丹被高中篮球队裁掉，在职业生涯中输了数百场比赛，数千次头球未中。但是他有一次说，“我在一生中经历了一次又一次的失败。这就是我成功的原因。”

这些人之所以能够成功是因为他们知道不能让失败所左右，而要从失败中学习到成功之道。你必须从中懂得下一次该怎样做。如果你身陷麻烦之中，这并不意味着你是个制造麻烦的人，只是意味着你需要更加努力。如果你的成绩不佳，这并不意味着你不够聪明，只是意味着你需要在学习上花更多的时间。

没有人生而知之，必须通过努力获得。你不会第一次从事一个项目就能成为大学校队成员。你不会第一次唱歌就唱准所有的音符。你必须不断地练习。学业也是同样的道理。你可能会数遍尝试解一道数学题，才能最后得到正确答案，或者数遍读一段文字才能最后理解其中的含义，或者打很多遍草稿才能最后把作文上交。

不要怕问问题。在需要时，不要怕寻求帮助。我每天都会问问题，寻求帮助。寻求帮助并不是弱小的表现，而是力量的表现。这显示了你有勇气承认自己不会的地方，就能学到新的知识。所以找到一位信任的长辈，父母，祖父母，老师，教练或者咨询者，让他们帮助你来实现自己的目标。

就算在苦苦奋斗，心灰意冷，好像别人都放弃了你的时候，自己也不要轻言放弃。因为你放弃了自己，就是放弃了你们的国家。美国人可不是轻易在困难时候就放弃了的民族。美国人是永远坚持，不断尝试，深深热爱自己的祖国并为之尽自己全力的民族。美国的历史讲述了250年前的学生坐在今天你们坐着的地方，发起了革命，建立了今天的国家。75年前的学生就坐在今天你们坐着的地方，战胜了经济大萧条，赢得了世界大战的胜利，为公民权力而战，把一位宇航员送上了月球。20年前的学生就坐在今天你们坐着的地方，创建了Google，Twitter和Facebook，改变了今天我们的交流方式。

所以今天，我想问问你们，你们的贡献将会是什么？你们将会解决什么问题？你们将会有什么探索发现？20年，50年，或者是100年后的总统会站在这里，讲述你们为国家做出的什么贡献？

你们的家庭，你们的老师还有我，尽我们最大的努力来确保你们得到回答这些问题所需要的教育。我正在努力修整你们的教室，使你们得到学习需要的课本，设备和计算机。但是你们也要做好自己应尽的职责。所以我希望你们今年能认真思索，尽全力做好每一件事情。我希望你们每一个人都能有骄人的成绩。所以不要辜负我们的期望，不要辜负你的家庭，你的国家，以及你自己的期望。让我们都为你而自豪吧。我知道你们一定能做到。

谢谢你们，上帝保佑你们，上帝保佑美国。

第二篇：奥巴马总统2011感恩节演讲

Thanksgiving Day, 2011 A Proclamation? By the President of the United States of America

2011年感恩节

美利坚合众国总统公告

2011年11月16日

?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? November 16, 2011 One of our Nation's oldest and most cherished traditions, Thanksgiving Day brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives.The observance recalls the celebration of an autumn harvest centuries ago, when the Wampanoag tribe joined the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony to share in the fruits of a bountiful season.The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives.We take this time to remember the ways that the First Americans have enriched our Nation's heritage, from their generosity centuries ago to the everyday contributions they make to all facets of American life.As we come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate, let us set aside our daily concerns and give thanks for the providence bestowed upon us.感恩节（Thanksgiving Day）是我国最悠久、最宝贵的传统之一。这个节日带给我们更浓郁的亲情，令我们反思给予我们丰富多彩的生活的万般恩典。这个传统上溯至几百年前万帕诺亚格部落（Wampanoag tribe）和普利茅斯殖民地（Plymouth Colony）清教徒移民分享秋收果实的欢庆时节。当时的盛宴表达了对万帕诺亚格部落向新移民传授当地狩猎和农作知识的慷慨友情的赞赏；今天，我们继续向所有美洲印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民表示感恩。让我们值此时刻重温美国最早期的人们对我国文化传统的贡献——他们不仅在数百年前慷慨相助，而且每一天都在为美国生活的各方各面作贡献。在我们与朋友、家人和邻居聚首欢庆的日子里，让我们抛开日常烦恼，为上帝对我们的眷顾而感恩。

Though our traditions have evolved, the spirit of grace and humility at the heart of Thanksgiving has persisted through every chapter of our story.When President George Washington proclaimed our country's first Thanksgiving, he praised a generous and knowing God for shepherding our young Republic through its uncertain beginnings.Decades later, President Abraham Lincoln looked to the divine to protect those who had known the worst of civil war, and to restore the Nation “to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”

虽然我们的传统与时俱进，但是作为感恩节核心的恩惠与谦卑精神贯穿于我们历史的各段篇章，始终如一。乔治·华盛顿（George Washington）总统发表了美国第一个感恩日公告，感谢慷慨而全能的上帝护卫我们年轻的共和国度过风雨莫测的初始阶段。几十年后，亚伯拉罕·林肯（Abraham Lincoln）总统祈求神灵保佑深领内战不幸的人们，让国家重享完全的“和平、和谐、安宁与联邦团结”。

In times of adversity and times of plenty, we have lifted our hearts by giving humble thanks for the blessings we have received and for those who bring meaning to our lives.Today, let us offer gratitude to our men and women in uniform for their many sacrifices, and keep in our thoughts the families who save an empty seat at the table for a loved one stationed in harm's way.And as members of our American family make do with less, let us rededicate ourselves to our friends and fellow citizens in need of a helping hand.无论时逢逆境还是一帆风顺，我们通过对恩典和赋予我们生命意义的人们谦卑地表示感恩而得到心灵的升华。今天，让我们向付出各种牺牲的男女军人表示感谢，也让我们心系那些在餐桌边为值守在险境中的亲人留着空位的家庭。面对精简度日的美国大家庭的成员，让我们再次向需要帮助的朋友和国人献出爱心。

As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives.Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come.当我们聚会在社区和家中，围坐在餐桌旁、火炉边时，我们向彼此表示感谢，我们向将仁慈与温馨带到我们生活中的上帝表示感谢。让我们驻足凝思鼓舞我们的生活的点滴恩惠，并立志来年报恩。

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 2011, as a National Day of Thanksgiving.I encourage the people of the United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share our bounty with others.为此，我，美利坚合众国总统巴拉克·奥巴马，以美国宪法和法律赋予我的权力，特此宣布2011年11月24日星期四为全国感恩节。我呼吁美国全体人民，不论是在家中、在敬拜场所、在社区中心，还是在任何与亲朋好友及左邻右舍欢聚的地方，共同对我们过去一年所得的一切表示感谢，向那些用他们的生命丰富了我们的生活的人表示感谢；并与他人分享自己所受之恩。

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.我谨于公元2011年11月16日，即美利坚合众国独立第236年，亲笔在此签名为证。

BARACK OBAMA（巴拉克·奥巴马）

第三篇：奥巴马总统对全美学生的激情演讲

奥巴马总统对全美学生的激情演讲

美国总统奥巴马８日在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿高中面向全美中小学生发表电视开学演讲，鼓励学生不畏逆境、发奋学习。

【学生也要承担教育责任】

奥巴马说,他先前多次谈及教师、家长和政府为教育所承担的责任,但若学生不承担责任,这三方努力全无效果.所以,他当天主要谈学生对教育所承担的责任.“每人都有长处、有可表现的地方。发现它，这是你们对自己的责任。”“你为自己教育所做的努力不仅关乎你自己的人生和前途,还关乎这个国家的未来.”他说“你们如果放弃学业,意味着不仅放弃自己,还抛弃你们的国家”。

【给自己设立教育目标】

奥巴马呼吁所有学生为自己设立教育目标。“你的目标可以简单到完成全部作业、上课注意听讲或者每天花点时间读一本书。”

他提醒学生，不可能不劳而获。“我知道你们有时会从电视节目中产生这样一种感觉：不必努力工作就能致富，譬如做歌手、篮球运动员或者真人秀明星。不过，现实是你成为这些人的几率极低，而成功很难。”

【如何面对失败】

以“飞人”迈克尔·乔丹曾遭高中篮球队刷掉等名人受挫经历为例,他说:“这些人之所以成功,是因为他们知道不能为失败所限,而要从失败中学习.你必须从失败中明白下次如何改进，所以如果你陷入麻烦,不意味着你就是惹事包,而说明你需要更努力做正确的事情.如果你成绩差,并不意味着你笨,而仅仅说明你需要花更多时间学习.没有人生来万能,你需要经过努力才能擅长某方面”。

【我也曾走过弯路】

奥巴马在演讲中多次谈及自身经历。“今天是开学第一天，”奥巴马演讲开篇说道，“你们一些人可能希望继续过暑假，那样可以多赖一会儿床。”奥巴马以他幼年时接受母亲教导、从早晨４时３０分开始学习为例，说他知道早起难熬。

“我父亲在我两岁时离家，我的单亲母亲不时要为生活苦苦挣扎……当时我没有全身心投入学业，惹出不应有的麻烦。如果不走这些弯路，我的人生路会更轻松。”

【米歇尔家并不富裕】

奥巴马以妻子米歇尔求学经历鼓励家境不佳的学生.“米歇尔的父母未曾上大学,没有多少钱.但他们努力工作,她勤奋学习,所以能进入美国最好的学校就读......也许你们中一些人的家人失去工作,生活不充裕......但种种不利环境不应成为你不做作业、不好好上学的理由”他强调“眼下境遇不决定你今后的地位......命运由你自己掌握”。

附讲话全文：

总统：大家好！

谢谢你们。谢谢你们。谢谢你们大家。好，大家请就坐。你们今天都好吗？（掌声）蒂姆·斯派塞（Tim Spicer）好吗？（掌声）我现在与弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿郡韦克菲尔德高中的学生们在一起。美国各地从小学预备班到中学12年级的学生正在收听收看。我很高兴大家今天都能参与。我还要感谢韦克菲尔德高中出色的组织安排。请为你们自己热烈鼓掌。

我知道，今天是你们很多人开学的日子。对于进入小学预备班、初中或高中的学生，今天是你们来到新学校的第一天，心里可能有点紧张，这是可以理解的。我能想象有些毕业班学生现在感觉很不错——（掌声）——还有一年就毕业了。不论在哪个年级，你们有些人可能希望暑假更长一点，今天早上还能多睡一小会儿。

我了解这种感觉。我小时候，我们家生活在海外。我在印度尼西亚住了几年。我妈妈没有钱送我上其他美国孩子上的学校，但她认为必须让我接受美式教育。因此，她决定从周一到周五自己给我补课。不过她还要上班，所以只能在清晨四点半给我上课。

你们可以想见，我不太情愿那么早起床。有很多次，我趴在餐桌上就睡着了。但每当我抱怨的时候，我妈妈都会那样地看我一眼，然后说：“小子，这对我也并不轻松。”（笑声）

我知道你们有些人还在适应开学后的生活。但我今天来到这里是因为有重要的事情要和你们说。我来这里是要和你们谈谈你们的教育问题，以及在这个新学年对你们所有人的期望。

我做过很多次有关教育问题的演讲。我多次谈到过责任问题。

我谈到过教师激励学生并督促他们学习的责任。

我谈到过家长的责任，要确保你们走正路，完成家庭作业，不要整天坐在电视前或玩游戏。

我多次谈到过政府的责任，要制定高标准，支持教师和校长的工作，彻底改善不能为学生提供应有机会的、教育质量差的学校。

然而，即使我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长和全世界最好的学校——如果你们大家不履行你们的责任，不到校上课，不专心听讲，不听家长、祖父祖母和其他大人的话，不付出取得成功所必须的勤奋努力，那么这一切都毫无用处，都无关紧要。这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。

我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每个人都有自己的长处。你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会。

你或许能成为一名出色的作家——甚至可能写书或在报纸上发表文章——但你可能要在完成那篇英文课的作文后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名创新者或发明家——甚至可能设计出新一代iPhone或研制出新型药物或疫苗——但你可能要在完成科学课的实验

后才会发现自己的才华。你或许能成为一名市长或参议员或最高法院的大法官——但你可能要在参加学生会的工作或辩论队后才会发现自己的才华。

不论你的生活志向是什么，我敢肯定你必须上学读书才能实现它。你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你想当护士、建筑师、律师或军人吗？你必须接受良好的教育，才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后能碰上个好工作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。

这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。可以毫不夸大地说，教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。美国的未来取决于你们。你们今日在校学习的知识将决定我们作为一个国家是否能够迎接我们未来所面临的最严峻挑战。

你们将需要利用你们通过自然科学和数学课程所学到的知识和解决问题的能力来治愈癌症、艾滋病及其他疾病，开发新的能源技术和保护我们的环境。你们将需要利用你们在历史学和社会学课堂上所获得的知识和独立思考能力来抗击贫困和解决无家可归问题，打击犯罪和消除歧视，使我们的国家更公平、更自由。你们将需要利用你们在所有课堂上培养的创造力和智慧来创办新公司，增加就业机会，振兴我们的经济。

我们需要你们每个人发挥你们的聪明才智和技能，以便帮助老一辈人解决我们面临的最棘手问题。如果你们不这样做，如果你们辍学，你们不仅仅是自暴自弃，也是抛弃自己的国家。

我自然知道要做到学业优秀并非总是易事。我知道你们许多人在生活中面临挑战，难以集中精力从事学业。

我明白这一点。我有亲身感受。两岁时，我父亲离家而去，我是由一位单亲母亲抚养成人的，母亲不得不工作，并时常为支付生活费用而苦苦挣扎，但有时仍无法为我们提供其他孩子享有的东西。有时，我渴望生活中能有一位父亲。有时我感到孤独，感到自己不适应社会。

我并非总是像我应该做到的那样专心学习，我也曾做过我如今不能引以为豪的一些事情，我曾惹过不应该惹的麻烦。我的人生原本会轻易陷入更糟糕的境地。

但是，我当年际遇不错。我有过许多第二次机会，我有幸能上大学，上法学院，追求自己的理想。我的妻子，我们的第一夫人米歇尔·欧巴马，也有着类似的经历。她的父母都未曾上过大学，家里很穷。但他们非常勤奋，她也是如此，因此她得以进入一些美国最好的学校。

你们中有一些人可能没有那些有利条件。或许你们生活中没有成年人为你们提供你们所需要的支持。或许你们家中有人失业，经济非常拮据。或许你们生活在使你们感觉不安全的社区，或有朋友逼迫你们去做你们知道不对的事情。

然而说到底，你们生活的环境、你们的肤色、你们的原籍、你们的经济收入、你们家中的境况等等，这一切都不能成为你们不用功或不努力的理由。你们没有理由不服从你们的老师、逃学、或辍学。没有理由不付出努力。

你们目前的状况并不决定着你们的未来。没有人决定你们的命运，在美国，你们决定自己的命运。你们掌握自己的未来。

这就是像你们这样的年轻人每天都在做的事情，全美各地都是如此。

来自得州罗马城的贾兹敏·佩雷斯（Jazmin Perez）就是一个例证，她刚开始上学时并不会说英文。她的父母都没有上过大学。然而，她非常勤奋，成绩优秀，获得了布朗大学的奖学金，她如今正在读研究生，攻读公共卫生专业，不久将成为贾兹敏·佩雷斯博士。

我想起了加州洛斯阿尔托斯城的安多尼·舒尔茨（Andoni Schultz），他从三岁开始就一直与脑癌进行抗争，他不得不忍受各类治疗和手术带来的痛苦，其中一项手术曾影响了他的记忆，因此他花在功课上的时间比一般人长得多，要多出数百个小时。然而，他从未落后。他今年秋季将迈进大学。

我还想起家乡伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的尚特尔·史蒂夫（Shantell Steve）。她曾在芝加哥最困难的社区生活，寄养于多个不同的家庭，但她最终在一家地方医疗中心找到工作，并开始了一项帮助年轻人远离流氓团伙的计划，她即将以优异成绩从中学毕业，紧接着将上大学。

贾兹敏、安多尼和尚特尔与你们中间的每个人没什么两样。跟你们一样，他们在生活中面临种种挑战。在某些情况下，他们的处境比起你们许多人更差。但他们拒绝放弃。他们决定要为自己的一生、自己的教育负起责任，为自己设定各项奋斗目标。我期待你们大家都会这样做。

因此，我今天呼吁你们每一个人为自己的教育设定目标，并尽自己的最大努力来实现这些目标。你的目标可以是一件十分简单的事情，例如完成家庭作业、上课专心听讲、或每天花一点时间读一本书。也许你会决定要参加课外活动或在你的社区提供志愿服务。也许你会决定挺身而出保护那些因为身份或长相而受人戏弄或欺负的孩子，原因是你和我一样认为所有的年轻人都应该享有一个适合读书和学习的安全环境。也许你会决定更好地照料自己，以便有更充沛的精力来学习。顺便提一下，除了这些事情外，我希望大家要勤洗手，身体感到不舒服的时候要呆在家里不去上学，这样我们能防止人们在今年秋冬季节染上流感。

但无论你决定做什么，我希望你保证去做。我希望你脚踏实地地去做。

我知道有时候你会从电视上得到这样的印象：你不用做任何艰苦的工作就能发财致富并取得成功，唱小调、打篮球或成为真人秀明星是走向成功的途径。但实际情况是：你可能不会成为其中的一员。

事实上，取得成功不是轻而易举的事情。你不会喜欢你学习的每一门课目。你不会与你的每一位老师都很投契。不是所有的家庭作业似乎都与你眼前的生活完全有关。你第一次尝试做每件事的时候，不一定成功。

这些都没关系。世界上最成功的人士中有一些是遭遇失败最多的人。作者J·K·罗琳（J.K.Rowling）所写的系列小说《哈利·波特》（Harry Potter）第一部在获得出版之前被退稿12次。

迈克尔·乔丹（Michael Jordan）曾被他的高中篮球队除名。在乔丹的篮球生涯中，他输过数百场比赛，有成千上万个球没有投中。但他曾说过：“在我的一生中，我失败了一次又一次、一次又一次。这就是我成功的原因。”

这些人士获得成功，因为他们懂得：你不能让失败来限制你，而必须让失败来开导你。你必须让失败向你展示下次如何以不同的方式去做这件事情。因此，如果你遇到麻烦，那并不表示你是麻烦的制造者，而意味着你需要更加努力去把它做对。如果你有一门课分数低，那不表示你比别人笨，而只表示你需要花更多的时间学习。

没有一个人天生擅长做各种事情。你通过勤奋而变得擅长于各种事情。第一次从事新的体育项目时，你不可能是一位主力队员。第一次唱一首歌曲时，你不可能唱准每个音。你必须练习。同样的道理适用于你的学业。你可能要把一道数学题做几次才把它做对。你可能要把一些材料阅读几遍才能理解。在交出一篇优美的作文之前，你肯定需要打几遍草稿。

不要害怕提问。不要在需要帮助时害怕请求别人帮助。我天天请求别人的帮助。请求帮助不是软弱的表现，它是力量的标志，因为它表明你有勇气承认自己对某些事情不懂，这样做会使你学到新的东西。因此，请确定一位你信任的成年人，例如家长、祖父母或老师、教练或辅导员，请他们帮助你遵循既定计划实现你的目标。

即使当你苦苦挣扎、灰心丧气、感到其他人对你不抱希望时，也不要对你自己丧失信心，因为当你自暴自弃时，你也抛弃了自己的国家。

书写美国历史的不是在困难时刻退缩的人，而是坚持不懈、加倍努力的人，他们对国家的爱促使他们全力以赴。

书写美国历史的是250年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们后来进行了独立战争并创建了这个国家。还有75年前坐在你们的位置上的年轻人和学生，他们走出了大萧条并打赢了一场世界大战；他们为民权而奋斗并把宇航员送上了月球。至于20年前坐在你们的位置上的学生，他们创办了谷歌（Google）、叽喳网（Twitter）和脸谱网（Facebook），改变了我们交流沟通的方式。

而今天，我要问问你们大家，你们将做出什么贡献？你们将解决什么问题？你们将有什么发现？20年、50年或100年后来到这里讲话的总统将会怎样评价你们大家为这个国家所做的一切？

你们的家人、你们的老师和我正在竭尽全力保证你们接受必要的教育，以便回答上述问题。我正在努力工作，以便你们的教室得到修缮，你们能够得到学习所需的课本、设备和电脑。但你们也必须尽自己的努力。因此，我希望你们大家从今年起认真对待这个问题。我希望你们尽最大努力做好每一件事。我希望你们每个人都有出色的表现。不要让我们失望。不要让你们的家人或你们的国家失望。而最重要的是，不要辜负你们自己，而要让我们都能[为你们]感到骄傲。

非常感谢你们大家。愿主保佑你们。愿主保佑美国。谢谢你们。

第四篇：奥巴马竞选总统演讲（最终版）

奥巴马竞选总统演讲

篇一：美国第一夫人米歇尔为奥巴马竞选总统的演讲

Transcript: Michelle Obama's Convention Speech

September 4,2012

Thank you so much, Elaine...we are so grateful for your family's service and sacrifice...and we will always have your back.Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country.And everywhere I've gone, in the people I've met, and the stories I've heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.I've seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.I've seen it in people who become heroes at a moment's notice, diving into harm's way to save others...flying across the country to put out a fire...driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.And I've seen it in our men and women in uniform and our proud military families...in wounded warriors who tell me they're not just going to walk again, they're going to run, and they're going to run marathons...in the young man blinded by a bomb in Afghanistan who said, simply, “...I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do.”

Every day, the people I meet inspire me...every day, they make me proud...every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.Serving as your First Lady is an honor and a privilege...but back when we first came together four years ago, I still had some concerns about this journey we'd begun.While I believed deeply in my husband's vision for this country...and I was certain he would make an extraordinary President...like any mother, I was worried about what it would mean for our girls if he got that chance.How would we keep them grounded under the glare of the national spotlight? PBS NewsHour/YouTube

First lady Michelle Obama addresses the DNC after being introduced by military mom Elaine Brye, from PBS NewsHour.How would they feel being uprooted from their school, their friends, and the only home they'd ever known?

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys...Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandma's house...and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both.And the truth is, I loved the life we had built for our girls...I deeply loved the man I had built that life with...and I didn't want that to change if he became President.I loved Barack just the way he was.You see, even though back then Barack was a Senator and a presidential candidate...to me, he was still the guy who'd picked me up for our dates in a car that

was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door...he was the guy whose proudest possession was a coffee table he'd found in a dumpster, and whose only pair of decent shoes was half a size too small.But when Barack started telling me about his family – that's when I knew I had found a kindred spirit, someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine.You see, Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable –

their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.My father was a pump operator at the city water plant, and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when my brother and I were young.And even as a kid, I knew there were plenty of days when he was in pain...I knew there were plenty of mornings when it was a struggle for him to simply get out of bed.But every morning, I watched my father wake up with a smile, grab his walker, prop himself up against the bathroom sink, and slowly shave and button his uniform.And when he returned home after a long day's work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet him...watching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms.But despite these challenges, my dad hardly ever missed a day of work...he and my mom were determined to give me and my brother the kind of education they could only dream of.And when my brother and I finally made it to college, nearly all of our tuition came from student loans and grants.But my dad still had to pay a tiny portion of that tuition himself.And every semester, he was determined to pay that bill right on time, even taking out loans when he fell short.He was so proud to be sending his kids to college...and he made sure we never missed a registration deadline because his check was late.You see, for my dad, that's what it meant to be a man.Like so many of us, that was the measure of his success in life – being able to earn a decent living that allowed him to support his family.And as I got to know Barack, I realized that even though he'd grown up all the way across the country, he'd been brought up just like me.Barack was raised by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, and by grandparents who stepped in when she needed help.Barack's grandmother started out as a secretary at a community bank...and she moved quickly up the ranks...but like so many women, she hit a glass ceiling.And for years, men no more qualified than she was – men she had actually trained – were promoted up the ladder ahead of her, earning more and more money while Barack's family continued to scrape by.But day after day, she kept on waking up at dawn to catch the bus...arriving at work before anyone else...giving her best without complaint or regret.And she would often tell Barack, “So long as you kids do well, Bar, that's all that really matters.”

Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules...and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean...and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.That's who we are.And standing before you four years ago, I knew that I didn't want any of that to change if Barack became President.Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are.You see, I've gotten to see up close and personal what being president really looks like.And I've seen how the issues that come across a President's desk are always the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data or numbers will get you to the right answer...the judgment calls where the stakes are so high, and there is no margin for error.And as President, you can get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people.But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.So when it comes to rebuilding our economy, Barack is thinking about folks like my dad and like his grandmother.He's thinking about the pride that comes from a hard day's work.That's why he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.That's why he cut taxes for working families and small businesses and fought to get the auto industry back on its feet.That's how he brought our economy from the brink of collapse to creating jobs again – jobs you can raise a family on, good jobs right here in the United States of America.When it comes to the health of our families, Barack refused to listen to all those folks who told him to leave health reform for another day, another president.He didn't care whether it was the easy thing to do politically – that's not how he was raised – he cared that it was the right thing to do.He did it because he believes that here in America, our grandparents should be able to afford their medicine...our kids should be able to see a doctor when they're sick...and no one in this country should ever go broke because of an accident or illness.And he believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care...that's what my husband stands for.When it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never could've attended college without financial aid.And believe it or not, when we were first married, our combined monthly student loan bills were actually higher than our mortgage.We were so young, so in love, and so in debt.That's why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt.So in the end, for Barack, these issues aren't political – they're personal.Because Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.He knows what it means to want something more for your kids and grandkids.Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it...and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love.And he believes that when you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity...you do not slam it shut behind you...you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.He's the same man who started his career by turning down high paying jobs and instead working in struggling neighborhoods where a steel plant had shut down，fighting to rebuild those communities and get folks back to work...because for Barack, success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives.He's the same man who, when our girls were first born, would anxiously check their cribs every few minutes to ensure they were still breathing, proudly showing them off to everyone we knew.That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships.That's the man I see in those quiet moments late at night, hunched over his desk, poring over the letters people have sent him.The letter from the father struggling to pay his bills...from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won't cover her care...from the young person with so much promise but so few opportunities.I see the concern in his eyes...and I hear the determination in his voice as he tells me, “You won't believe what these folks are going through, Michelle...it's not right.We've got to keep working to fix this.We've got so much more to do.”

I see how those stories – our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams – I see how that's what drives Barack Obama every single day.And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago...even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met.I love that he's never forgotten how he started.I love that we can trust Barack to do what he says he's going to do, even when it's hard – especially when it's hard.I love that for Barack, there is no such thing as “us” and “them” – he doesn't care whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or none of the above...he knows that we all love our country...and he's always ready to listen to good ideas...he's always looking for the very best in everyone he meets.And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it – when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost – Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward...with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.And he reminds me that we are playing a long game here...and that change is hard, and change is slow, and it never happens all at once.But eventually we get there, we always do.We get there because of folks like my Dad...folks like Barack's grandmother...men and women who said to themselves, “I may not have a chance to fulfill my dreams, but maybe my children will...maybe my grandchildren will.”

So many of us stand here tonight because of their sacrifice, and longing, and steadfast love...because time and again, they swallowed their fears and doubts and did what was hard.篇二：奥巴马：总统竞选连任胜选演讲

巴拉克·奥巴马：第二次总统选举胜选演说

发表于二零一二年十一月七日

张少军译、校

Barack Obama

Presidential Election Victory Speech

delivered 7 November 2012

[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]

（真实性鉴定；以下文本直接转录自音频资料）

Thank you.Thank you so much.Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward.谢谢你们，非常感谢你们。

今晚，在一个前殖民地赢得了决定自身命运权利两百多年后的今晚，完美我们联邦的任务正在推向前进。

It moves forward because of you.It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression;the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope--the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together, as one nation, and as one people.它的推进是因为你们。它的推进是因为你们重申了赢得战争击败衰退的精神，重申了将这个国家从绝望的低谷提升至希望的巅峰的精神，重申了这样的信念——当我们每个人追求我们各自的梦想时，我们都从属于一个美国大家庭；作为一个国家一个民族，我们共进退同祸福。Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.今晚，在这次选举中，你们——美国人民提醒我们：尽管道路艰难征途漫长，我们已振作精神杀出重围；我们深知，对美利坚合众国而言，最好的时刻尚未到来。

I want to thank every American who participated in this election.Whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time--by the way, we have to fix that.Whether you

pounded the pavement or picked up the phone--whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard, and you made a difference.我要感谢每一位参与这次选举的美国人。无论你在第一时间投票，或是在队伍中等待了很久——顺便说一句，我们必须改进投票程序；无论你是在人行道上蹒跚前移，还是拿起电话投票；无论你举的牌子上，写的是奥巴马还是罗姆尼，你的声音都会被听到，你也一样举足轻重。

I just spoke with Governor Romney, and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply, and we care so strongly about its future.From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service, and that is a legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.我刚刚与罗姆尼州长通过话，我祝贺他和保罗·瑞安在这场艰苦的选战中的出色表现。也许我们有过激烈的较量，但那只因为我们都深深地爱着这个国家，我们都如此强烈地关注着它的未来。从乔治到埃莉诺（罗姆尼的父母，曾分别任州长与参议员——译者注）到他们的儿子米特，罗姆尼家族选择了投身公共服务来回报美国，这是今晚值得我们尊敬和赞美的一份遗产。在今后的日子里，我也期待与罗姆尼州长坐下来，讨论在哪些方面我们能够共同合作，把这个国家推向前进。

I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America’s happy warrior--the best Vice President anybody could ever hope for--Joe Biden.我想感谢我过去四年里的朋友和伙伴，美国的快乐斗士——超出任何人想象的最好的副总统——乔·拜登。

And I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago.Let me say this publicly--Michelle, I have never loved you more.I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation’s First Lady.Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes, you're growing up to become two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom.And I’m so proud of you guys.But I will say that for now, one dog is probably enough.如果没有20年前同意嫁给我的那位女人，我将不会是今天站在这里这个男人。让我告诉所有人吧：米歇尔，我从未像今天这样爱你；我也从未像今天这样为你骄傲——看到你作为我

们国家的第一夫人，赢得了其他美国人的爱。萨沙和玛丽亚，在我们的眼皮底下，你们正成长为坚强、聪明、漂亮的年轻女人，像你们的妈妈那样。我是如此为你们这两个小家伙骄傲，但是现在我要说，一条狗大概就足够了。（在奥巴马的第一次胜选演说中，他当众宣布送给两个女儿一条狗作为胜选礼物——译者注）

To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics--the best.The best

ever.Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning.But all of you are family.No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history we made together, and you will have the lifelong appreciation of a grateful President.Thank you for believing all the way, through every hill, through every valley.You lifted me up the whole way.And I will always be grateful for everything that you've done and all the incredible work that you put in.对政治史上最好的竞选团队与志愿者们——最好，永远的最好。你们有些人是这次选举聚集的新人，有些则从最初的时刻就站在我的身边；然而你们全都亲如家人。不管你们从事何种职业，将从这里走向何方，你们都将拥有一个心怀感激的总统的铭记终身的赏识。越过每一道山峰，穿过每一个低谷，感谢你们始终不逾的信任。对你们所做的每一件事，你们奉献的所有难以置信的工作，我将永怀感激之情。

I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly.And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics who tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos, or the domain of special interests.But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies, and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late at a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else.我明白，政治选战有时可能显得琐屑甚至愚蠢。它给那些愤世嫉俗者提供了大量的炮弹，他们告诉我们，除了给那些自负的家伙竞争的机会和给那些特殊利益者较量的场所，政治毫无价值。然而，如果你有机会和那些在我们的大会上聚集或挤在高中体育馆的队伍中的人们谈谈，或目睹人们在竞选办公室工作到很晚，你可能会发现一些别的东西。

You’ll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who’s worked his way through college, and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity.You’ll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who’s going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift.You’ll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse who’s working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for

this country ever has to fight for a job, or a roof over their head when they come home.That’s why we do this.That’s what politics can be.That’s why elections matter.It's not small;it's big.It's important.你会在一个年轻的选区组织者的话语中听出决心，他通过上大学闯出了自己的人生之路，他要确保每个孩子都有同样的机会。你会在一个志愿者的话语中听出骄傲，他挨家挨户动员人们去投票因为当本地的汽车工厂增加工作班次他的兄弟最终被录用。你会在一个军人配偶的话语中听出深深的爱国精神，她为助选拨打电话直到深夜，以确保没有任何为这个国家而战的人，退伍回家后又得为工作而战，为栖身之所而战。

Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated.We have our own opinions.Each of us has deeply held beliefs.And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.That won’t change after tonight--and it shouldn’t.These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty, and we can never forget that as we speak, people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.在一个有着三亿人口的国家里，民，主，政，治可能显得喧嚣、混乱、复杂。我们有自己的观点，我们每个人都有自己深挚的信仰。每当我们面对艰难时世，每当我们国家要作出重大的决定，它都必然会激起热情，引发争论。这些将不会在今晚之后改变，也不应被改变。我们拥有的这些争论是我们自由的一个标志。我们决不能忘记，就在我们说话的此刻，那些遥，远，国度，的人们，正冒，着，生，命的危险，仅仅为争得一个讨论重要问题的机会，一个像我们今天一样投，票，的机会。

But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future.We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers--a country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt;that isn’t weakened by inequality;that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.不管我们有怎样的分歧，多数人对美国的未来还是享有某些共同的期待。我们希望我们的孩子们生长在一个这样国家：在那里，他们能上最好的学校有最好的老师；在那里，他们实践先辈的遗训，成为科技、发明、创新的世界领导者，拥有随之而来的最好的工作机会与新兴 的产业。我们希望我们的孩子生活在这样一个美国：它不再背负债务，不再为不平等所削弱，不再为这个正在变暖的星球的破坏性力量所威胁

We want to pass on a country that’s safe and respected and admired around the world;a nation that is defended by the strongest military on Earth and the best troops this world has ever known--but also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being.我们希望交给后人这样一个美国，它安全并享有遍及全球的尊重与羡慕；这样一个美国，它由地球上最强大的军事力量，这个世界所知道的最好的军队所捍卫；它同时又是这样一个国家，它自信地超越这个时代的战争，去塑造一个奠基于给每一个人以自由与尊严的承诺之上的和平。

We believe in a generous America;in a compassionate America;in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant’s daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag.To the young boy on the South Side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner.To the furniture worker’s child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an

engineer or entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a President.That’s the future we hope for.That’s the vision we share.That’s where we need to go.Forward.That's where we need to go.我们信仰一个慷慨的美国，一个富于同情心的美国，一个海纳百川的美国。它对一个移民的女儿展开怀抱，她在我们的学校念书对我们国旗宣誓；它对芝加哥南部的男孩展开怀抱，他眼中的生活超越了他身边的街角；它对北卡罗来纳州的木匠的孩子展开怀抱，他想成为医生或科学家，成为工程师或企业家，成为外交官甚至成为总统。那就是我们希望的未来，那就是我们共同的愿景，那就是我们希望的乐土。“逝将去汝，适彼乐土。乐土乐土，爰得我所。”

Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there.As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts.It's not always a straight line.It's not always a

smooth path.By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock, or solve all our problems, or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus, and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward.But that common bond is where we must begin.眼下，对如何达成目标，我们意见分歧，有时这种分歧还十分严重。正如两个多世纪以来，发展总是潮起潮落一样，它不会是一条直线，不总是一马平川。就其本身而言，意识到我们

篇三：奥巴马演讲稿

贝拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马二世(Barack Hussein Obama II)，1961年8月4日生于美国夏威夷州火奴鲁鲁（檀香山），父亲是一位祖籍肯尼亚的黑人穆斯林，母亲是堪萨斯州的美国人。父亲贝拉克·奥巴马是一名在夏威夷念书的肯尼亚留学生。母亲安·邓纳姆是一个白人，原本来自堪萨斯州。

1983年毕业于哥伦比亚大学，1985年到芝加哥工作。1991年毕业于哈佛大学的法学院，是第一个担任哈佛法学评论主编的非洲裔美国人。

1992年和米歇尔·拉沃恩·奥巴马结婚。1996年，奥巴马从芝加哥当选为伊利诺伊州州参议员并在之后的3年中连任；2000年，在竞选美国众议院议员席位失败后，奥巴马将主要精力投入到伊利诺伊州的参议工作中。

2007年2月10日，奥巴马在伊利诺伊州斯普林菲尔德市正式宣布参加2008年美国总统大选，并提出了重点在“完结伊拉克战争以及实施全民医疗保险制度”的竞选纲领。2008年6月3日，奥巴马被定为民主党总统候选人；同年8月23日，在民主党全国代表大会上奥巴马被正式提名，从而成为了美国历史上首个非洲裔总统大选候选人。

2008年1月1日，奥巴马开通了自己的微博网，通过网络渠道对竞选进行宣传，后来被人们称为Web2.0总统，可见奥巴马对网络的重视。2008年11月5日，奥巴马击败共和党候选人约翰·麦凯恩，正式当选为美国第四十四任总统（届数：第56届，任数：第44任，位数：第43位，政党：民主党）。于2009年1月20日，在美国首都华盛顿特区参加就职典礼，发表就职演说，并参加了游行。任期4年。根据美国法律，他还可以在2012年，再次竞选总统。

2009年10月9日，据英国广播公司报道，诺贝尔奖评审会称，美国总统奥巴马因“为增强国际外交及各国人民间的合作做出非同寻常的努力”而被授予2009诺贝尔和平奖。民调显示，2009年奥巴马的支持率最高达到59%，而后开始滑落，2011年一月份到达48%的水平，而由于经济手段改革与医疗体制改革，奥巴马的支持率持续走低，到三月份末降到最低的38%，但后又因击毙拉登上升，近期又由于前述原因轻微下降，他的平均支持率平均在4、5成之间，属于中等水平。

2011年11月，福布斯2011权力人物榜：奥巴马排名第一。尽管在处理高失业率和经济衰退问题上的不足导致奥巴马在国内支持率下降，但他在世界舞台上的表现完全不同。随着“基地”组织领导人本·拉登和利比亚前领导总统竞选人卡扎菲相继被击毙，奥巴马的影响力迅速上升。

2012年10月17日，经过90分钟的舌战，美国总统大选结束了第二场总统辩论。首战支持率大跌的奥巴马，此次成功逆转，根据CNN实时投票结果，奥巴马的支持率飙升到46%。

[3]

北京时间2012年11月7日，当地时间6日晚，美国总统奥巴马获得275张选票，连任总统已成定局。他在推特上发文感谢选民。

第五篇：奥巴马对学生的演讲

奥巴马校园开学演讲

综合媒体9月14日报道，根据白宫发布的发布的演讲摘要透露，奥巴马总统14日的演讲将谴责校园暴力，告诉学生们其自身在高中校园中所进行的种族身份斗争。奥巴马将表示，作为一名青少年并不容易，正是一个需要处理很多事情的时期。当他还是学生时，他当时质疑他是谁？一个白人母亲和一个黑人父亲的儿子意味着什么？你们中的一些人可能目前也在经历着自己的问题，寻求是什么因素导致你与众不同。

此次奥巴马在费城朱莉娅马斯特曼实验室与示范学校（Julia R.Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School）的演讲，据其第一次在学校演讲约一年多的时间。当时，奥巴马的演讲引起了共和党和保守派的争议，担心其利用这一机会宣传自己的政治议程。奥巴马在当时演讲的结尾，也呼吁学生们要努力学习，这与14日的演讲颇为相似。

奥巴马总统将宣布，一所高性能的学校在竞争中赢得胜利，他将在这所学校的开学典礼上进行发言。奥巴马表示，如果你的学校是胜者，如果你向大家展示，老师、学生和家长正在齐心协力为孩子的职业生涯作出规划，如果你能展示将如何回馈社区和国家，他将以个人身份对其表示祝贺，并在其开学典礼上进行演讲。

奥巴马也将在演讲中承认，美国目前面临的严峻的经济和安全挑战，许多学生应该能够从其父母的表情和声音中感觉到。他将称，许多学生将不得不表现的比真实年龄成熟，当其兄弟姐妹在海外服役时，必须变得强大起来；当其母亲外出工作时，必须帮助照看年幼的弟妹；当其父亲失业后，必须利用课余时间找一份兼职。

奥巴马还将向学生表示，没有人能够撰写你们的生命，除了你们自己。未来在自己的手中，生活由自己创造，没有任何事情是超越自己的控制的。

美国总统奥巴马开学演讲英语演讲稿。这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称，奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地，也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议，一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”，今年的总统开学演讲，白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”，而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。

Thank you!Hello!(Applause.)Thank you.Thank you.Well, hello, Philadelphia!(Applause.)And hello, Masterman.It is wonderful to see all of you.What a terrific introduction by Kelly.Give Kelly a big round of

applause.(Applause.)I was saying backstage that when I was in high school, I could not have done that.(Laughter.)I would have muffed it up somehow.So we are so proud of you and everything that you’ve done.And to all the students here, I’m thrilled to

谢谢！你们好！（掌声。）谢谢。谢谢。你好，费城！（掌声。）你好，马斯特曼。见到你们真是太好了。Kelly的介绍真是太棒了。让我们对Kelly报以热烈的掌声。在后台的时候我说，我上高中的时候我就做不这么好，我可能会弄的一团糟。所以让我们为你和你做的一切自豪吧。站在这里我很激动。be here.kelly 在奥巴马总统演讲前，一名叫Kelly的学生做了演讲。backstage n.后台

muff v.笨拙地处理，将事情弄糟 thrilled a.激动的

We’ve got a couple introductions I want to make.First of all, you’ve got the outstanding governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, in the house.(Applause.)The mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, is here.(Applause.)Congressman Chaka Fattah is here.(Applause.)Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is here.(Applause.)Your own principal, Marge Neff, is here.(Applause.)The school superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, is here and doing a great job.(Applause.)And the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is here.(Applause.)

outstanding a.杰出的 Congressman n.国会议员 principal n.校长 superintendent n.院长

我想介绍几个人。首先，来到这儿的有，杰出的宾夕法尼亚州州长，Ed Rendell。（掌声。）费城市长，Michael Nutter。国会议员Fattah和Allyson Schwartz（掌声）。你们的校长Marge Neff（掌声）。学校管理人Arlene Ackerman是这个学校的，并且为学校做了很大的贡献。（掌声）。还有教育部秘书长Arne Duncan。（掌声）

And I am here.(Applause.)And I am thrilled to be here.I am just so excited.I’ve heard such great things

about what all of you are doing, both the students and the teachers and the staff here.Today is about welcoming all of you, and all of America’s students, back to school, even though I know you’ve been in school for a little bit now.And I can’t think of a better place to do it than at Masterman.(Applause.)Because you

还有我。（掌声），我感到非常的激动。我耳闻了你们做的那些伟大的事，这里面有在校的学生，老师和工作人员。

今天欢迎你们，欢迎每一个美国学生回校上课，当然你们在学校已经呆了一段时间了。我想不出除了在Masterman外，还有哪个地方更适合做这件事。（掌声）因为你们是费城最好的学校之一。你们在教育方面是领are one of the best schools in Philadelphia.You are a leader in helping students succeed in the classroom.Just last week, you were recognized by a National Blue Ribbon--as a National Blue Ribbon School because of your record of achievement.And that is a testament to everybody here –-to the students, to the parents, to the teachers, to the school leaders.It’s an example of excellence that I hope communities across America can embrace.embrace vt.拥抱；接受

头军。就在上周，由于你们的卓越贡献，被授为国家蓝丝带勋章。这是对每个人的见证，对学生，家长，老师还有学校领导人。我希望全美的社会团体都能欣然接受这个杰出代表的例子。

Over the past few weeks, Michelle and I have been getting Sasha and Malia ready for school.And they’re excited about it.I’ll bet they had the same feelings that you do--you’re a little sad to see the summer go, but you’re also excited about the possibilities of a new

year.The possibilities of building new friendships and strengthening old ones, of joining a school club, or trying out for a team.The possibilities of growing into a better student and a better person and making not just your family proud but making yourself proud.build friendships 结交新朋友

几周前，我和Michelle为Sasha和Malia上学的事做准备。她们两个对这非常的期待。我敢打赌她们和你们一样，有着相同的感觉。你们为夏天的逝去而神伤，但是你们更应该期待新的一年。如你们可以结交新的朋友，加深同老朋友的感情，加入学校俱乐部，参加各种团队的选拔赛。成长为一个更优秀的学生和个人，不仅仅让你的家人自豪，同样让你们自己也很有成就感。

But I know some of you may also be a little nervous about starting a new school year.Maybe you’re making the jump from elementary to middle school, or from middle school to high school, and you’re worried about what that’s going to be like.Maybe you’re starting a new

school.You’re not sure how you’ll like it, trying to figure out how you’re going to fit in.Or maybe you’re a senior, and you’re anxious about the whole college process;about where to apply and whether you can afford to go to college.elementary school n.小学 figure out 想明白，弄清楚

我知道，你们中有些人在新学年会有些紧张。或许你刚从小学升到初中，从初中升到高中，会担心，新的学年将会是什么样的呢。也许你进入一所新的学校，不知道是否会喜欢这个学校，想着怎么来融入这个学校。或许你到了高三年级，对整个的大学入学程序感到不安，比如申请那里的学校，能不能支付上大学的费用等等。fit in 融入，适应 afford to do 承担得起

And beyond all those concerns, I know a lot of you are also feeling the strain of some difficult times.You know what’s going on in the news and you also know what’s going on in some of your own families.You’ve read about the war in Afghanistan.You hear about the recession that we’ve been through.And sometimes maybe you’re seeing the worries in your parents’ faces or sense it in their voice.strain n.压力

除此之外，我知道你们还有来自困难时期的压力。你们知道新闻内容，知道你们一些家庭中发发生的事情。你们读过有关阿富汗战争的信息，听说过我们经历过的经济不景气。有时你们还看到了双亲脸上挂着的忧虑，或从他们的声音中感受到了这些。

So a lot of you as a consequence, because we’re going through a tough time a country, are having to act a lot older than you are.You got to be strong for your family while your brother or sister is serving overseas, or you’ve got to look after younger siblings while your mom is working that second shift.Or maybe some of you who are little bit older, you’re taking on a part-time job while your dad’s out of work.as a consequence 结果，所以

tough time 困难时期【tough a.艰难的】 sibling n.兄弟姐妹，同胞 shift n.轮班

所以，因为我们国家面临困难时期，你们许多人的行为看上去比实际年龄要大。姐姐哥哥在海外工作，你们会表现得坚强，或许妈妈去值第二班，你们就要照顾年幼的弟弟妹妹。或许你们有些人年长一点的，父亲失了业，你们还要做兼职。

And that’s a lot to handle.It’s more than you should have to handle.And it may make you wonder at times what your own future will look like, whether

you’re going to be able to succeed in school, whether you should maybe set your sights a little lower, scale back your dreams.handle v.处理，应对 scale back 缩减

有太多事情要做了，很多是你们不应该做的。这让你们迷茫，不知道自己的未来会是什么样，在学校能不能取得好成绩，是不是应该把目光降低些，把理想放低些。

But I came to Masterman to tell all of you what I think you’re hearing

from your principal and your superintendent, and from your parents and 但是，我来到马斯特曼，告诉你们一句话。我想这句话你们的校长、院长、父母以及老师都曾告诉过你们，那就是，没有your teachers: Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.And nothing--absolutely nothing--is beyond your reach, so long as you’re willing to dream big, so long as you’re willing to work hard.So long as you’re willing to stay focused on your education, there is not a single thing that any of you cannot accomplish, not a single thing.I believe that.destiny n.命运 accomplish v.完成

人，只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中，生活由自己缔造。只要志向远大，并努力为之奋斗，没有什么是不能得到的。只要你专注于学业，没有什么事不能实现的。我确信。

And that last part is absolutely essential, that part about really working hard in school, because an education has never been more important than it is today.I’m sure there are going to be times in the months ahead when you’re staying up late doing your homework or cramming for a test, or you’re dragging yourself out of bed on a rainy morning and you’re thinking, oh, boy, I wish maybe it was a snow day.(Laughter.)absolutely ad.绝对地

cram v.临时抱佛脚；吃得过饱

最后这一点，在学校努力奋斗是必要的。因为教育从未像现在这样重要。我确信，几个月后会有一段时间，你们会完善熬夜写作业，为考试临时抱佛脚，或者在一个雨天的早晨把自己从被窝里拖出来，想，哦天，怎么不是下雪天？！（笑）

But let me tell you, what you’re doing is worth it.There is nothing more important than what you’re doing right

now.Nothing is going to have as great an impact on your success in life as your education, how you’re doing in school.More and more, the kinds of opportunities that are open to you are going to be determined by how far you go in school.The farther you go in school, the farther you’re going to go in life.And at a time when other countries are competing with us like never before, when students around the world in Beijing, China, or Bangalore, India, are working harder than ever, and doing better than ever, your success in school

但是让我告诉你，你所做的一切都是值得的。你们现在要做的事情无比重要。没有什么比你的受教育程度以及你在学校的所做之事更能决定你的成功。

能否能抓住机遇，越来越取决于你们在学校的努力。你们在学校的表现越好，生活中就能走得越远。当今，其他国家正与我们竞争，而且比以往任何时候都激烈。在中国北京或者印度邦加罗尔的学生比以前更加努力，而且比以前表现更好。你们在学校的成功并不只决定了自己一人的成功，还决定了美国在21世界是否能够成功。is not just going to determine your success, it’s going to determine America’s success in the 21st century.So you’ve got an obligation to yourselves, and America has an obligation to you, to make sure you’re getting the best education possible.And making sure you get that kind of education is going to take all of us working hard and all of us working hand in hand.obligation n.责任，义务

所以，你们要承担起这样的责任和义务。同时国家也向你们承担责任和义务，那就是为你们提供最好的教育，为此我们要努力，共同奋斗。

It takes all of us in government--from the governor to the mayor to the superintendent to the President--all of us doing our part to prepare our students, all of them, for success in the classroom and in college and in a career.It’s going to take an outstanding principal，like Principal Neff, and outstanding teachers like the ones you have here at Masterman--teachers who are going above and beyond the call of duty for their students.And it’s going to take parents who are committed to your education.佳句欣赏

所有政府工作人员，从州长到市长，到院长，到总统，所有人都要履行职责为我们的学生做好准备，帮助他们在教室、在大学、在事业上取得成功。这就需要我们有一个杰出的校长，像校长Neff，和优秀的老师，正如你们的马斯特曼的老师们。老师们要履行好对学生所应担负起的责任。我也希望家长负起责任。

Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.Your future is in your hands.Your life is what you make of it.没有人，只有你才能书写你自己的命运。未来在你自己手中，生活由自己缔造。

背景知识

这是奥巴马第二次发表开学演讲。奥巴马2009年的演讲招来了许多批评和抵制。一些反对者指责称，奥巴马试图通过演讲向学生灌输政治理念。部分媒体还批评奥巴马试图建立个人崇拜。在美国各地，也有许多家长向当地教育官员表示抗议，一些家长甚至威胁在奥巴马演讲时把孩子离教室。有了去年的“教训”，今年的总统开学演讲，白宫意强调这是一次“非政治活动”，而奥巴马本人也在演讲中回避政治话题。

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________________

______ For Immediate Release Septe

mber 8, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Wakefield High School Arlington, Virginia

12:06 P.M.EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody!Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, everybody.All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat.How is everybody doing today?(Applause.)How about Tim Spicer?(Applause.)I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade.And I am just so glad that all could join us today.And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host.Give yourselves a big round of applause.(Applause.)I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school.And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous.I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now--(applause)--with just one more year to go.And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived overseas.I lived in Indonesia for a few years.And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early.And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”(Laughter.)So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school.But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you.I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education.And I've talked about responsibility a lot.I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world--and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.Every single one of you has something that you're good at.Every single one of you has something to offer.And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.That's the opportunity an education can provide.Maybe you could be a great writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write that English paper--that English class paper that's assigned to you.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class.Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice--but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers.You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future.What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country.The future of America depends on you.What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment.You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.If you don't do that--if you quit on school--you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school.I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.I get it.I know what it's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had.There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.But I was--I was lucky.I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams.My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money.But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.Some of you might not have those advantages.Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around.Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life--what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home--none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.There is no excuse for not trying.Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas.Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school.Neither of her parents had gone to college.But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University--is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr.Jazmin Perez.I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer--hundreds of extra hours--to do his schoolwork.But he never fell behind.He's headed to college this fall.And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They face challenges in their lives just like you do.In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves.And I expect all of you to do the same.That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education--and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book.Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work--that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.The truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject that you study.You won't click with every teacher that you have.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.That's okay.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.J.K.Rowling's--who wrote Harry Potter--her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life.And that's why I succeed.” These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let your failures teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right.If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.No one's born being good at all things.You become good at things through hard work.You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.The same principle applies to your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.