第一篇：obama开学演讲（定稿）
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN Wakefield High School Arlington, Virginia 12:06 P.M THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody!Thank you.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.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 not a picnic for me either.”
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.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.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.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（洞察力、眼光）and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination（歧视）, and make our nation more fair and more free.You'll need the creativity and ingenuity（独创性）you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.……
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.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.Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.No one's written your destiny for you, you write your own destiny.You make your own future.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（课外的）activity, or volunteer in your community.Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn.But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.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 college athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't do greatly the first time you sing a song.You've got to practice.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.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you meet your goals.And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country? Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.(Applause.)END 12:22 P.M
第二篇：Obama开学演讲中英文稿
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release September 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.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.I do that every day.Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new.So find an adult that you trust--a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor--and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough.It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation.Young people.Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war;who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon.Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country? Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions.I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part, too.So I expect all of you to get serious this year.I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.I expect great things from each of you.So don't let us down.Don't let your family down or your country down.Most of all, don't let yourself down.Make us all proud.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless America.Thank you.(Applause.)END 12:22 P.M.EDT
Anderson, thank you very much.I think most Americans understand that our country today faces a series of unprecedented crises.The middle class of this country for the last 40 years has been disappearing.Millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages.And yet almost all of the new income and wealth being created is going to the top one percent.As a result of this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, our campaign system is corrupt and is undermining American democracy.Millionaires and billionaires are pouring out of unbelievable money into the political process in order to fund PACs and to elect candidates who represent their interests, not the interests of the working people.Today, the scientific community is virtually unanimous that the climate change is real, it is caused by human activity.And we have a moral responsibility to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy and leave a habitable planet for our children and our grandchildren.Today in America we have more people in jail than any other country on earth.African-American youth unemployment is 51 percent.Hispanic youth unemployment is 36 percent.It seems to me that instead of building more jails and providing more incarceration, maybe-just maybe-we should be putting money into education and jobs for our kids.What this campaign is about is to mobilize our people to take back our government from a handful of billionaires and create a vibrant democracy.We know we can and should have.Thank you.Global Citizen I want to introduce you an amazing woman and her name is Davinia.Davinia was born in Jamaica, emigrated to the US at the age of 18 and now she lives just outside of the Washington DC.She is not a high-powedr political staffer, nor is a lobbyist.She probably tells you she’s quite unremarkable.But she’s having the most inredible impact.What’s incredible about Davinia is that she is willing to spend every single week focusing on people not her, people not her in her neighborhood.
第三篇：obama开学演讲中英文演讲稿
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美国总统奥巴马2010年开学励志演讲
2010年10月01日所属：口语助手来源：星火英语作者：奥巴马
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 be here.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。
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.)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）
outstanding a.杰出的Congressman n.国会议员
principal n.校长
superintendent n.院长
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.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。
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 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.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。
embrace vt.拥抱；接受
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.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。
build friendships 结交新朋友
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.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。
elementary school n.小学
figure out 想明白，弄清楚
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.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。
strain n.压力
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.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。
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
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.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。
handle v.处理，应对
scale back 缩减
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 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.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。
destiny n.命运
accomplish v.完成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.)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）
absolutely ad.绝对地
cram v.临时抱佛脚；吃得过饱
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.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。
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 is not just going to determine your success, it’s going to determine America’s success in the 21st century.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。
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.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。
obligation n.责任，义务
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.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。
佳句欣赏
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。
第四篇：Obama父亲节演讲
“Obama's speech in the Father's Day” 英文版
Today, this day reminds us that we depend on to create the cornerstone of life, the most important thing is family.We must recognize, and certainly the cornerstone of every father to play a key role.His father, patience, and coaching, both direction, and words and deeds.Father is a successful example, but also continue to promote the success of our people.But if we open and injustice, will not admit too many fathers in their place------too many children's lives where, in too many families, the father of this role is missing.The expense of their home responsibilities, acting like the little boy, not man.The basis of our many family and therefore become weak.In speaking these words, I knew that I am not a perfect father-------I know I made mistakes, but the future will make mistakes;I hope to have more time than it is now at home, accompanied by his wife and children, but can not do.All I know, but still have to say this.Because even though we are not perfect, even though we face the difficulties, but still there are some lessons we must strive to experience as a father, to sum up the--------whether we are black or white, rich or the poor, from poor South or from wealthy suburbs.The first lesson is that we must make to their children an excellent
example-------because if we have high expectations for them, we too, should aim high.You have a job is a good thing, there is a college diploma is good enough.If you are getting married, children around the knee, that could not be better, but not the entire weekend at home watching ESPN Sports “sports center.” Many children is under the influence of this growing up near the TV.As a father, as parents, we should spend more time with their children and help them complete their studies, from time to time their TV remote control into the hands of the game or a book.This is the way we lay the cornerstone of the family.We understand that education is the key to creating children's future.We understand that in order to obtain good jobs, they compete with children around the world.We appreciate the hard work required for this purpose,learning and should reach the level of education.To truly compete, they need to graduate high school, then college, and perhaps have to take a
postgraduate diploma.We shook their hands, that they moved his ass in the library's seat now!
Bring this idea of excellence instilled into the child's mind, it rely on us as fathers and parents.We have a responsibility to tell our daughters, do not let your own values affect the image of being on television, because I expect you to dream without limit, expect you to pursue those dreams.We have a
responsibility to tell our son, although the radio songs glorified violence, but in my house, we celebrate achievements, self-esteem and hard work.We have the responsibility to these expectations, it means that we ourselves must also meet these expectations, we have to do in life, a remarkable example.The second experience was as a father, we should identify with the values passed to the child.Not sympathy, but empathy------to put themselves for the sake of others, see the world from the perspective of others.Sometimes we are so easily obsessed with the “we” word, should forget our obligations to each other.Our society has a cultural concept, keep in mind that these obligations is a sign of weakness--------we should not look weak, so we should not be people that care.However, our young children or children---------------girls will observe this.They will see you ignore his wife punched and kicked, they will observe your selfish, so at school or in the street to see the same behavior behavior is not surprising.This requires that we must lead by example, to have empathy with people and pass to our children.We need to set an example to the children, tell them stronger than other people down, but to help others up.This is why we should take responsibility as a father.We should take these practices to our children a solid foundation.But we should also understand that even if we did, even if we do as fathers and
parents to the obligations, even if our government has fulfilled its duties, we will encounter in life are still many difficult challenges.We will still be struggling with the painful days, rain will still be hit.Therefore, we concluded as a father should be the last experience, we can give children is the most precious gift is hope.We hope not words of hope, not the kind of blind optimism, or is the problem faced by the willful neglect.I say hope is the kind of misery in the inner spirit-------Even if all the signs are not optimistic that this spirit we believe a better future waiting for us, as long as willing to work for the the struggle.As long as we have this conviction.We try, we hope, we try to put our house in the most solid foundation to build on.When the wind blows, when the rain when the storm hit our house, we firmly believe that God will guide us, watching us, protect us, to lead his children through the darkest of the hurricane, to a bright bright future.This is Father's Day today, this day I do pray for everyone, which I hold the future of the country's hope.《奥巴马在父亲节的演讲》中文版
今天这个日子提醒我们，在我们缔造生活所依赖的基石中，最为重要的是家庭。我们必须认识并且肯定每一位父亲在基石中起到的关键作用。父亲既循循善诱，又训练指导，既指明方向，又言传身教。父亲是成功的榜样，又是不断推动我们走向成功的人。
但如果我们开诚不公，就会承认还有太多的父亲不在其位------在太多孩子的生活里，在太多的家庭里，父亲的这一角色是缺失的。他们置责任于不顾，表现得像小男孩，而不是男子汉。我们许许多多的家庭的基础也因此变得薄弱。
在讲这些话时，我心里明白，我不是一个完美的父亲-------我知道我犯过错，而且未来还会犯错；我希望能有比现在更多的时间待在家里，陪伴妻子儿女，可是无法做到。所有这些我都明白，却仍然要这样讲。是因为纵然我们不完美，纵然我们面临重重困难，却依然有一些经验教训，是我们身为人父必须努力经历、努力总结的--------不管我们是黑人或白人，富人或穷人，来自贫穷的南区或来自富裕的郊区。
第一个经验是，我们必须给子女做出一个绝佳的榜样-------因为我们如果对他们抱有厚望，我们自己也应该志存高远。你有工作是件好事，有个大学文凭好上加好。如果你结婚成家，儿女绕膝，那再好不过，但不要整个周末在家里看ESPN体育台的“体育中心”。许多孩子就是在这样的影响下傍着电视机长大的。作为父亲，作为家长，我们应该花更多的时间陪伴孩子，帮助他们完成学业，时不时地把他们手中的游戏机或电视遥控器换成一本书。这就是我们打好家庭基石的方法。
我们明白教育是创造孩子未来的关键。我们明白为了获得好的工作，他们跟世界各地的孩子竞争。我们明白为此所需的辛劳、学习和应达到的教育水平。要想真正参与竞争，他们需要高中毕业，然后大学毕业，也许还得拿一张研究生文凭。让我们握握他们的手，叫他们把屁股挪到图书馆的座椅上吧！
要把这种追求卓越的理念灌输到孩子的头脑，就得靠作为父亲和家长的我们。我们有责任告诉我们的女儿，别让你的自身价值被电视上的形象影响，因为我期望你的梦想无极限，期望你去追求这些梦想。我们有责任告诉我们的儿子，虽然收音机里的歌曲美化了暴力，但在我的家里，我们歌颂成就、自尊和辛勤的劳动。我们有责任提出这些厚望，那就意味着，我们自己也必须达到这些期望，我们在生活中也要做一个卓越的榜样。
第二个经验是，作为父亲，我们应该传递给孩子感同身受的价值观。不是同情，而是感同身受------能设身处地地为他人着想，能从别人的角度看世界。有时候我们是那么容易地执着于“我们”二字，忘了我们相互之间应该承担的义务。我们的社会有一种文化观念，认为牢记这些义务是一种软弱的表现--------我们不应该显得软弱，因此我们不应该对人表示关爱。
但是，我们年轻的孩子们-------孩子或女孩子--------会观察到这一点。他们会看到你对妻子置之不理拳打脚踢，他们会观察到你的自私，所以在学校或在街上看到同样举止行为是不足为奇的。这就要求我们必须以身作则，把感同身受和与人为善也传递给我们的孩子。我们需要给孩子做出榜样，告诉他们强者不是把别人击倒，而是把别人扶起来。这就是我们作为父亲应该负起的责任。
我们应该采取这些作法，为我们的孩子打下坚实的基础。但我们也应该明白，即使我们做到了，即使我们作为父亲和家长尽到了应尽的义务，即使我们的政府也履行了职责，我们在生活中仍然会碰到许多艰难的挑战。我们仍然会有挣扎与痛苦的日子，风雨仍然会袭来。
因此，我们作为父亲应该总结最后一个经验，也就是我们可以送给孩子最为贵重的礼物，就是希望。
我们的希望不是空谈的希望，不是那种盲目的乐观主义，或者是对所面临问题的有意忽视。我讲的希望是那种长存于内心的精神-------即使所有的迹象都不乐观，这精神也让我们坚信有更好的未来在等待我们，只要愿意为之努力，为之奋斗。只要我们有这个信念。
我们尝试，我们希望，我们尽力把我们的房子建在最坚实的基石上。当风吹时，当雨打时，当风雨侵袭我们的房子时，我们坚信上帝会引导我们、注视我们、保护我们，引领着他的孩子们穿过最黑暗的暴风骤雨，走向光明的美好未来。这就是今天父亲节这个日子我为大家所做的祈祷，也是我对国家未来所抱的希望。
第五篇：obama演讲1
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama Vice President Announcement
As Prepared For Delivery Springfield, Illinois August 23, 2008
Nineteen months ago, on a cold February day right here on the steps of the Old State Capitol, I stood before you to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America.We started this journey with a simple belief: that the American people were better than their government in Washington – a government that has fallen prey to special interests and policies that have left working people behind.As I’ve traveled to towns and cities, farms and factories, front porches and fairgrounds in almost all fifty states – that belief has been strengthened.Because at this defining moment in our history – with our nation at war, and our economy in recession – we know that the American people cannot afford four more years of the same failed policies and the same old politics in Washington.We know that the time for change has come.For months, I’ve searched for a leader to finish this journey alongside me, and to join in me in making Washington work for the American people.I searched for a leader who understands the rising costs confronting working people, and who will always put their dreams first.A leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world, with our security and standing set back by eight years of a failed foreign policy.A leader who shares my vision of an open government that calls all citizens – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – to a common purpose.Above all, I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be President.Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I’ve found that leader – a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency – Joe Biden.Joe Biden is that rare mix – for decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn’t changed him.He’s an expert on foreign policy whose heart and values are rooted firmly in the middle class.He has stared down dictators and spoken out for America's cops and firefighters.He is uniquely suited to be my partner as we work to put our country back on track.Now I could stand here and recite a list of Senator Biden’s achievements, because he is one of the finest public servants of our time.But first I want to talk to you about the character of the man standing next to me.Joe Biden’s many triumphs have only come after great trial.He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania.His family didn’t have much money.Joe Sr.worked different jobs, from cleaning boilers to selling cars, sometimes moving in with the in-laws or working weekends to make ends meet.But he raised his family with a strong commitment to work and to family;to the Catholic faith and to the belief that in America, you can make it if you try.Those are the core values that Joe Biden has carried with him to this day.And even though Joe Sr.is not with us, I know that he is proud of Joe today.It might be hard to believe when you hear him talk now, but as a child he had a terrible stutter.They called him “Bu-bu-Biden.” But he picked himself up, worked harder than the other guy, and got elected to the Senate – a young man with a family and a seemingly limitless future.Then tragedy struck.Joe’s wife Neilia and their little girl Naomi were killed in a car accident, and their two boys were badly hurt.When Joe was sworn in as a Senator, there was no ceremony in the Capitol – instead, he was standing by his sons in the hospital room where they were recovering.He was 30 years old.Tragedy tests us – it tests our fortitude and it tests our faith.Here’s how Joe Biden responded.He never moved to Washington.Instead, night after night, week after week, year after year, he returned home to Wilmington on a lonely Amtrak train when his Senate business was done.He raised his boys – first as a single dad, then alongside his wonderful wife Jill, who works as a teacher.He had a beautiful daughter.Now his children are grown and Joe is blessed with 5grandchildren.He instilled in them such a sense of public service that his son, Beau, who is now Delaware’s Attorney General, is getting ready to deploy to Iraq.And he still takes that train back to Wilmington every night.Out of the heartbreak of that unspeakable accident, he did more than become a Senator – he raised a family.That is the measure of the man standing next to me.That is the character of Joe Biden.Years later, Senator Biden would face another brush with death when he had a brain aneurysm.On the way to the hospital, they didn’t think he was going to make it.They gave him slim odds to recover.But he did.He beat it.And he came back stronger than before.Maybe it’s this resilience – this insistence on overcoming adversity – that accounts for Joe Biden’s work in the Senate.Time and again, he has made a difference for the people across this country who work long hours and face long odds.This working class kid from Scranton and Wilmington has always been a friend to the underdog, and all who seek a safer and more prosperous America to live their dreams and raise their families.Fifteen years ago, too many American communities were plagued by violence and insecurity.So Joe Biden brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass the 1994 Crime Bill, putting 100,000 cops on the streets, and starting an eight year drop in crime across the country.For far too long, millions of women suffered abuse in the shadows.So Joe Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act, so every woman would have a place to turn for support.The rate of domestic violence went down dramatically, and countless women got a second chance at life.Year after year, he has been at the forefront of the fight for judges who respect the fundamental rights and liberties of the American people;college tuition that is affordable for all;equal pay for women and a rising minimum wage for all;and family leave policies that value work and family.Those are the priorities of a man whose work reflects his life and his values.That same strength of character is at the core of his rise to become one of America’s leading voices on national security.He looked Slobodan Milosevic in the eye and called him a war criminal, and then helped shape policies that would end the killing in the Balkans and bring him to justice.He passed laws to lock down chemical weapons, and led the push to bring Europe’s newest democracies into NATO.Over the last eight years, he has been a powerful critic of the catastrophic Bush-McCain foreign policy, and a voice for a new direction that takes the fight to the terrorists and ends the war in Iraq responsibly.He recently went to Georgia, where he met quietly with the President and came back with a call for aid and a tough message for Russia.Joe Biden is what so many others pretend to be – a statesman with sound judgment who doesn’t have to hide behind bluster to keep America strong.Joe won’t just make a good Vice President – he will make a great one.After decades of steady work across the aisle, I know he’ll be able to help me turn the page on the ugly partisanship in Washington, so we can bring Democrats and Republicans together to pass an agenda that works for the American people.And instead of secret task energy task forces stacked with Big Oil and a Vice President that twists the facts and shuts the American people out, I know that Joe Biden will give us some real straight talk.I have seen this man work.I have sat with him as he chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and been by his side on the campaign trail.And I can tell you that Joe Biden gets it.He’s that unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol;in the VFW hall in Concord, and at the center of an international crisis.That’s because he is still that scrappy kid from Scranton who beat the odds;the dedicated family man and committed Catholic who knows every conductor on that Amtrak train to Wilmington.That’s the kind of fighter who I want by my side in the months and years to come.That’s what it’s going to take to win the fight for good jobs that let people live their dreams, a tax code that rewards work instead of wealth, and health care that is affordable and accessible for every American family.That’s what it’s going to take to forge a new energy policy that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil and $4 gasoline at the pump, while creating new jobs and new industry.That’s what it’s going to take to put an end to a failed foreign policy that’s based on bluster and bad judgment, so that we renew America’s security and standing in the world.We know what we’re going to get from the other side.Four more years of the same out-of-touch policies that created an economic disaster at home, and a disastrous foreign policy abroad.Four more years of the same divisive politics that is all about tearing people down instead of lifting this country up.We can’t afford more of the same.I am running for President because that’s a future that I don’t accept for my daughters and I don’t accept it for your children.It’s time for the change that the American people need.Now, with Joe Biden at my side, I am confident that we can take this country in a new direction;that we are ready to overcome the adversity of the last eight years;that we won’t just win this election in November, we’ll restore that fair shot at your dreams that is at the core of who Joe Biden and I are as people, and what America is as a nation.So let me introduce you to the next Vice President of the United States of America...
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