奥巴马对美国中学生的演讲

第一篇：奥巴马对美国中学生的演讲

奥巴马：:我们的教育我们的未来

（2009年9月8日弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿威克菲尔德高中）

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。在我小的时候，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，改善那些运转不良以至于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，是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，而又有机会上了大学，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。没有人能决定你的命运。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 3 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，数千次投球未中。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4 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。

奥巴马向全美中小学生演讲被批搞个人崇拜

中新网9月10日电 美国总统奥巴马8日在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿威克菲尔德高中首次向全美中小学生发表新学年致辞，要求青少年们珍惜时光，用功学习，为自己和国家未来担负起受教育的责任。他在答问环节又告诫大家使用社交网站Facebook时要小心，以免将来反受其害。虽然演说不含政治内容，但仍遭到反对人士的抗议，有人甚至指他在搞“个人崇拜”。

据香港《文汇报》报道，奥巴马在弗州威克菲尔德高中的篮球场馆，面对近千名高中生演讲“我们的教育，我们的未来”，以自己的求学经历勉励学生们要学会在逆境中奋发向上，“命运和未来掌握在自己手中”，“美国的未来取决于你们”。

称最想与甘地用餐

在演讲中，奥巴马要求学生刻苦用功、设立目标、担负起个人教育的责任。在答问环节，一名学生问他对想当上美国总统的人有何忠告？奥巴马告诫说，要很小心贴在Facebook上的个人资料，因为年轻时会犯错，做蠢事，到长大找工作时就会有人上网搜索你曾经贴到网上的东西，“在YouTube时代，无论你做什么，将来都可能再被提起”。

在演讲前，奥巴马曾在一所学校的图书馆与40名学生交谈，有学生问他如果只能选一个人，他最想与谁一起就餐，奥巴马的答案是印度圣雄甘地，因为他的“非暴力抵抗”主张激励了黑人民权领袖马丁路德金，并改变了世界。

被轰搞个人崇拜

奥巴马并非第一位向学生“训话”的总统，有媒体将他的讲话精神概括为“好好学习，天天向上”，这被指责为给孩子洗脑，是借机宣传其左倾议程，超越了联邦政府对学校管理的界限。一些学校拒绝播放演讲。为了消除各方顾虑，白宫不得不于7日在网站提前公布了演讲全文。

有保守派人士指责说，教育部长邓肯曾致信给各校校长，敦促让学生观看演讲直播，甚至建议将“如何帮助奥巴马”作为学生作文主题。保守派草根组织“全国茶党联盟”发言人莱希说：“这是以奥巴马为中心，是搞奥巴马崇拜”。

第二篇：美国大选奥巴马演讲全文

美国大选奥巴马演讲全文：我们需要的变革（中英对照）

奥巴马：我们需要的变革 obama: the change we need 现在是美国历史的关键时刻。我们面临着大萧条以来最为严重的一场经济危机：今年以来已经有76万人失业；企业和家庭无法获得信贷；房价不断下滑，养老金日益缩水；工资降到了十年来的最低水平，同时医疗和教育成本却涨到了有史以来的最高点。this is a defining moment in our history.we face the worst economic crisis since the great depression--760,000 workers have lost their jobs this year.businesses and families can’t get credit.home values are falling, and pensions are disappearing.wages are lower than they’ve been in a decade, at a time when the costs of health care and college have never been higher.在眼下这样的危急时刻，我们承受不起又一个四年的支出增长、千疮百孔的减税措施、或是监管全无──即使是美国联邦储备委员会(fed)前主席格林斯潘(alan greenspan)现在也承认那是个错误。美国需要一个新的方向。这也正是我竞选美国总统的原因所在。

at a moment like this, we can’t afford four more years of spending increases, poorly designed tax cuts, or the complete lack of regulatory oversight that even former federal reserve chairman alan greenspan now believes was a mistake.america needs a new direction.that’s why i’m running for president of the united states.明天，也就是周二，你们将有能力赋予这个国家我们所需要的变革。tomorrow, you can give this country the change we need.我的竞选对手麦凯恩参议员为美国作出的贡献令人尊敬。他甚至可以指出他过去曾有几次与自己的党派分道扬镳。然而，在过去八年中，他十之八九都赞同布什总统的主张。而在经济问题上，他仍然无法向美国民众说明，他与布什的做法会有什么太大区别。

my opponent, senator mccain, has served his country honorably.he can even point to a few moments in the past where he has broken from his party.but over the past eight years, he’s voted with president bush 90% of the time.and when it comes to the economy, he still can’t tell the american people one major thing he’d do differently from george bush.如果提出的税收计划没有让1亿多美国中产阶级获得一分钱的税项减免，这不是变革──即使是《国家评论》(national review)杂志和其他保守派组织也抱怨说，这个计划对造福中产阶级贡献寥寥。在近年来不断累积的财政赤字上再添5万亿美元，这不是变革。如果解决房市危机的计划又将另外3,000亿美元纳税人的钱置于风险之中，这不是变革──《华尔街日报》编辑委员会称这一计划“产生的问题比解决的问题多”。

it’s not change to come up with a tax plan that doesn’t give a penny of relief to more than 100 million middle-class americans--a plan that even the national review and other conservative organizations complain does far too little to benefit the middle class.it’s not change to add more than $5 trillion to the deficits we’ve run up in recent years.it’s not change to come up with a plan to address our housing crisis that puts another $300 billion of taxpayer money at risk--a plan that the editorial board of this newspaper said ’raises more questions than it answers.’ 如果说我们从此次经济危机中学到了什么的话，那就是我们要患难与共。从首席执行长到公司股东，从金融家到工厂工人，我们每个人都休戚相关，因为美国的民众越富足，美国才会越繁荣。

if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this economic crisis, it’s that we are all in this together.from ceos to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success BECause the more americans prosper, the more america prospers.这就是为什么我们有些企业巨头把提高员工薪酬作为自己的一项使命，让员工能买得起自己生产的产品，比如巴菲特(warren buffett)这样的商界人士。我对能有他的支持感到自豪。这就是为什么美国经济不仅是世界上最伟大的财富创造者，也是世界上最伟大的就业机会制造者。它一直托举着有史以来规模最大的中产阶级之舟。

that’s why we’ve had titans of industry who’ve made it their mission to pay well enough that their employees could afford the products they made--businessmen like warren buffett, whose support i’m proud to have.that’s why our economy hasn’t just been the world’s greatest wealth creator--it’s been the world’s greatest job generator.it’s been the tide that has lifted the boats of the largest middle class in history.为了重塑美国中产阶级，我将给予95%的工人及其家庭税收减免待遇。如果你工作，就交税；如果年收入不足20万美元，你会获得减税；即使你的年收入超过了25万美元，你所负担的税率也比上世纪九十年代要低──资本利得税和股息税要比里根总统时期低三分之一。

to rebuild that middle class, i’ll give a tax break to 95% of workers and their families.if you work, pay taxes, and make less than $200,000, you’ll get a tax cut.if you make more than $250,000, you’ll still pay taxes at a lower rate than in the 1990s--and capital gains and dividend taxes one-third lower than they were under president reagan.通过重建日益破败的基础设施、在美国的各个角落接通宽带，我们将创造200万个就业岗位。未来的十年中，我将每年在可再生能源领域投资150亿美元，进而新增500万个岗位；这些工作环保、薪酬丰厚、不能外包，而且能帮助我们摆脱对中东石油的依赖。

we’ll create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and laying broadband lines that reach every corner of the country.i’ll invest $15 billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating five million new, green jobs that pay well, can’t be outsourced, and can help end our dependence on middle east oil.在医疗问题上，我们不必在政府运营的体系和目前这种我们难以负担的体系之间进行选择。我的竞选对手提出的方案会令美国人有史以来首次为自己获得的医疗福利纳税。我的计划则会让医疗保健成为每个美国人都负担得起、享受得到的服务。根据我的计划，如果你已经有了医疗保险，你将看到的唯一一个变化是保费降低；如果你还没有医疗保险，你将能与国会议员们享受到同样的医疗福利。when it comes to health care, we don’t have to choose between a government-run system and the unaffordable one we have now.my opponent’s plan would make you pay taxes on your health-care benefits for the first time in history.my plan will make health care affordable and accessible for every american.if you already have health insurance, the only change you’ll see under my plan is lower premiums.if you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of plan that members of congress get for themselves.为了让每个孩子享受到世界级的教育，让他们能在全球经济中竞争21世纪的工作岗位，我将投资早期教育，并且增加师资力量。不过，我同时也会要求更高的标准和更多的责任。我们向每个美国年轻人作出承诺：如果你致力于服务你的社区或是你的国家，我们将确保你能负担得起自己的学费。

to give every child a world-class education so they can compete in this global economy for the jobs of the 21st century, i’ll invest in early childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers.but i’ll also demand higher standards and more accountability.and we’ll make a deal with every young american: if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition.在国防安全问题上，我将负责任地结束伊拉克战争，这样我们就不必在这个国家享有巨额财政盈余的情况下每月却要在那里花费100亿美元。为了美国的经济、美国的军队和伊拉克的长期稳定，现在是伊拉克人站出来的时候了。我将最终完成对本·拉登(bin laden)和基地组织恐怖分子的打击，正是这些人制造了9/11恐怖袭击，同时我还会建立新的合作关系、击退21世纪出现的威胁，恢复我们的道德威望，让美国仍然是地球上最后也是最好的希望。

and when it comes to keeping this country safe, i’ll end the iraq war responsibly so we stop spending $10 billion a month in iraq while it sits on a huge surplus.for the sake of our economy, our military and the long-term stability of iraq, it’s time for the iraqis to step up.i’ll finally finish the fight against bin laden and the al qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11, build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century, and restore our moral standing so that america remains the last, best hope of earth.这些事情没有一件是轻而易举能办到的，也不是一朝一夕能完成的。但是，我坚信我们能成功，因为我对美国深信不疑。是美国使我们的父辈相信，即使他们自己无法上大学，也可以每周积攒下一些钱来，让他们的孩子接受好的教育；即使他们不能拥有自己的企业，也可以通过努力工作让自己的孩子创办企业。在美国历史的每个时刻，我们都勇敢地站起来面对挑战，因为我们从来没有忘记过这样一个基本真理：在美国，我们的命运并非天定，而是掌握在我们自己的手中。none of this will be easy.it won’t happen overnight.but i believe we can do this because i believe in america.this is the country that allowed our parents and grandparents to believe that even if they couldn’t go to college, they could save a little bit each week so their child could;that even if they couldn’t have their own business, they could work hard enough so their child could open one of their own.and at every moment in our history, we’ve risen to meet our challenges because we’ve never forgotten the fundamental truth that in america, our destiny is not written for us, but by us.所以，明天，我恳请你们书写美国下一个伟大的篇章。我恳请你们不只相信我带来变革的能力，还有你们自己的能力。明天，你们可以选择这样一种政策──向美国中产阶级进行投入、创造新的就业岗位、实现经济增长让人人都有成功的机会。你们可以选择希望而非恐惧、选择团结而非分裂、选择变革的希望而非墨守成规。如果你们投我的票，我们将不仅赢得此次竞选，还将一起改变这个国家、改变这个世界。

so tomorrow, i ask you to write our nation’s next great chapter.i ask you to believe--not just in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.tomorrow, you can choose policies that invest in our middle class, create new jobs, and grow this economy so that everyone has a chance to succeed.you can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo.if you give me your vote, we won’t just win this election--together, we will change this country and change the world.

第三篇：奥巴马对大学生演讲

OBAMA:I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through 12th grade.I'm glad you all could join us today.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, 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 longer this morning.I know that feeling.When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday--at 4:30 in the morning.Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early.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 say, “This is no picnic for me either，buster.”

So I know 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 a lot about responsibility.I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with

that Xbox.I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities.Unless you show up to those schools;pay attention to those teachers;listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults;and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.And 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 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 good writer--maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper--but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class.Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor--maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine--but you might not know it until you do a 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 can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job.You've got to work for it and

train 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.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, skills and intellect so you can help 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 that's like.My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had.There were times when I missed having a father in my life.There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been.I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have.And my life could have easily taken a turn for

the worse.But I was fortunate.I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams.My wife, our first lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story.Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much.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--that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude.That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school.That's

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.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.Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either.But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr.Jazmin Perez.I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three.He's endured 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, and 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, she managed to get a job at a local health 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.Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you.They faced challenges in their lives just like you do.But they refused to give up.They chose to take responsibility 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 to 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 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 kids 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, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the

flu this fall and winter.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 the 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, when chances are, you're not going

to be any of those things.But the truth is, being successful is hard.You won't love every subject you study.You won't click with every teacher.Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute.And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.That's OK.Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published.Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and 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 is why I succeed.”

These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you--you have to let them teach you.You have to let them show you what to do differently next time.If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave.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 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.It's the same with your schoolwork.You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or 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.It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new.So find an adult you trust--a parent, grandparent or teacher;a coach or 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, and 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 found this nation.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, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.So today, I want to ask 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 twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?

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, equipment and computers you need to learn.But you've got to do your part too.So I expect 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 or your country or yourself down.Make us all proud.I know you can do it.Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

第四篇：奥巴马演讲

奥巴马演讲

Hello, everybody.In the State of the Union, I laid out three areas we need to focus on if we're going to build an economy that lasts: new American manufacturing, new skills and education for American workers, and new sources of American-made energy.These days, we're getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future.Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb.Only this time, it's happening earlier.And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car;everyone who owns a business.It means you have to stretch your paycheck even further.Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.Now, some politicians always see this as a political opportunity.And since it's an election year, they're already dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas.I'll save you the suspense: Step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.We hear the same thing every year.Well the American people aren't stupid.You know that's not a plan – especially since we're already drilling.It's a bumper sticker.It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge.It's a strategy to get politicians through an election.You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.If we're going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more.We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks;in our buildings and plants.That's the strategy we're pursuing, and that's the only real solution to this challenge.Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America.That's why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade.And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I've directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what's going on in the oil markets.But over the long term, an all-of-the-above energy strategy means we have to do more.It means we have to make some choices.Here's one example.Right now, four billion of your tax dollars subsidize the oil industry every year.Four billion dollars.Imagine that.Maybe some of you are listening to this in your car right now, pulling into a gas station to fill up.As you watch those numbers rise, know that oil company profits have never been higher.Yet somehow, Congress is still giving those same companies another four billion dollars of your money.That's outrageous.It's inexcusable.And it has to stop.A century of subsidies to the oil companies is long enough.It's time to end taxpayer giveaways to an industry that's never been more profitable, and use that money to reduce our deficit and double-down on a clean energy industry that's never been more promising.Because of the investments we've already made, the use of wind and solar energy in this country has nearly doubled – and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.And because we put in place the toughest fuel economy standards in history, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.Now Congress needs to keep that momentum going by renewing the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil.Look, we know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight.But what we can do is get our priorities straight, and make a sustained, serious effort to tackle this problem.That's the commitment we need right now.And with your help, it's a commitment we can make.Thank you.

第五篇：奥巴马演讲

Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you very much.Everybody, please have a seat.Well, Madam President, that was an outstanding introduction.(Laughter.)We are so proud of Donae for representing this school so well.And in addition, I also want to acknowledge your outstanding principal, who has been here for 20 years--first as a teacher, now as an outstanding principal--Anita Berger.Please give her a big round of applause.(Applause.)I want to acknowledge, as well, Mayor Gray is here--the mayor of Washington, D.C.is here.Please give him a big round of applause.(Applause.)And I also want to thank somebody who is going to go down in history as one of the finest Secretaries of Education that we’ve ever had--Arne Duncan is here.(Applause.)

Now, it is great to be here at Benjamin Banneker High School, one of the best high schools not only in Washington, D.C., but one of the best high schools in the country.(Applause.)But we’ve also got students tuning in from all across America.And so I want to welcome you all to the new school year, although I know that many of you already have been in school for a while.I know that here at Banneker, you’ve been back at school for a few weeks now.So everything is starting to settle in, just like for all your peers all across the country.The fall sports season is underway.Musicals and marching band routines are starting to shape up, I believe.And your first big tests and projects are probably just around the corner.I know that you’ve also got a great deal going on outside of school.Your circle of friends might be changing a little bit.Issues that used to stay confined to hallways or locker rooms are now finding their way onto Facebook and Twitter.(Laughter.)Some of your families might also be feeling the strain of the economy.As many of you know, we’re going through one of the toughest economic times that we’ve gone through in our lifetime--in my lifetime.Your lifetime hasn’t been that long.And so, as a consequence, you might have to pick up an after-school job to help out your family, or maybe you’re babysitting for a younger sibling because mom or dad is working an extra shift.So all of you have a lot on your plates.You guys are growing up faster and interacting with a wider world in a way that old folks like me, frankly, just didn’t have to.So today, I don’t want to be just another adult who stands up and lectures you like you’re just kids--because you’re not just kids.You’re this country’s future.You’re young leaders.And whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation is going to depend in large part on you.So I want to talk to you a little bit about meeting that responsibility.It starts, obviously, with being the best student that you can be.Now, that doesn’t always mean that you have to have a perfect score on every assignment.It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to get straight As all the time--although that’s not a bad goal to have.It means that you have to stay at it.You have to be determined and you have to persevere.It means you’ve got to work as hard as you know how to work.And it means that you’ve got to take some risks once in a while.You can’t avoid the class that you think might be hard because you’re worried about getting the best grade if that’s a subject that you think you need to prepare you for your future.You’ve got to wonder.You’ve got to question.You’ve got to explore.And every once in a while, you need to color outside of the lines.That’s what school is for: discovering new passions, acquiring new skills, making use of this incredible time that you have to prepare yourself and give yourself the skills that you’re going to need to pursue the kind of careers that you want.And that’s why when you’re still a student you can explore a wide range of possibilities.One hour you can be an artist;the next, an author;the next, a scientist, or a historian, or a carpenter.This is the time where you can try out new interests and test new ideas.And the more you do, the sooner you’ll figure out what makes you come alive, what stirs you, what makes you excited--the career that you want to pursue.Now, if you promise not to tell anybody, I will let you in on a little secret: I was not always the very best student that I could be when I was in high school, and certainly not when I was in middle school.I did not love every class I took.I wasn’t always paying attention the way I should have.I remember when I was in 8th grade I had to take a class called ethics.Now, ethics is about right and wrong, but if you’d ask me what my favorite subject was back in 8th grade, it was basketball.I don’t think ethics would have made it on the list.But here’s the interesting thing.I still remember that ethics class, all these years later.I remember the way it made me think.I remember being asked questions like: What matters in life? Or, what does it mean to treat other people with dignity and respect? What does it mean to live in a diverse nation, where not everybody looks like you do, or thinks like you do, or comes from the same neighborhood as you do? How do we figure out how to get along?

Each of these questions led to new questions.And I didn’t always know the right answers, but those discussions and that process of discovery--those things have lasted.Those things are still with me today.Every day, I’m thinking about those same issues as I try to lead this nation.I’m asking the same kinds of questions about, how do we as a diverse nation come together to achieve what we need to achieve? How do we make sure that every single person is treated with dignity and respect? What responsibilities do we have to people who are less fortunate than we are? How do we make sure that everybody is included in this family of Americans?

Those are all questions that date back to this class that I took back in 8th grade.And here’s the thing: I still don’t always know the answers to all these questions.But if I’d have just tuned out because the class sounded boring, I might have missed out on something that not only did I turn out enjoying, but has ended up serving me in good stead for the rest of my life.So that’s a big part of your responsibility, is to test things out.Take risks.Try new things.Work hard.Don’t be embarrassed if you’re not good at something right away.You’re not supposed to be good at everything right away.That’s why you’re in school.The idea, though, is, is that you keep on expanding your horizons and your sense of possibility.Now is the time for you to do that.And those are also, by the way, the things that will make school more fun.Down the road, those will be the traits that will help you succeed, as well--the traits that will lead you to invent a device that makes an iPad look like a stone tablet.Or what will help you figure out a way to use the sun and the wind to power a city and give us new energy sources that are less polluting.Or maybe you’ll write the next great American novel.Now, to do almost any of those things, you have to not only graduate from high school,--and I know I’m just--I’m in the “amen” corner with Principal Berger here--not only do you have to graduate from high school, but you’re going to have to continue education after you leave.You have to not only graduate, but you’ve got to keep going after you graduate.That might mean, for many of you, a four-year university.I was just talking to Donae, and she wants to be an architect, and she’s interning with a architectural firm, and she’s already got her sights set on what school she wants to go to.But it might, for some other folks, be a community college, or professional credentialing or training.But the fact of the matter is, is that more than 60 percent of the jobs in the next decade will require more than a high school diploma--more than 60 percent.That’s the world you’re walking into.So I want all of you to set a goal to continue your education after you graduate.And if that means college for you, just getting into college is not enough.You also have to graduate.One of the biggest challenges we have right now is that too many of our young people enroll in college but don’t actually end up getting their degree, and as a consequence--our country used to have the world’s highest proportion of young people with a college degree;we now rank 16th.I don't like being 16th.I like being number one.That’s not good enough.So we’ve got to use--we’ve got to make sure your generation gets us back to the top of having the most college graduates relative to the population of any country on Earth.If we do that, you guys will have a brighter future.And so will America.We’ll be able to make sure the newest inventions and the latest breakthroughs happen right here in the United States of America.It will mean better jobs, and more fulfilling lives, and greater opportunities not only for you, but also for your kids.So I don’t want anybody who’s listening here today to think that you’re done once you finish high school.You are not done learning.In fact, what’s happening in today’s economy is--it’s all about lifelong learning.You have to constantly upgrade your skills and find new ways of doing things.Even if college isn't for you, even if a four-year college isn't for you, you’re still going to have to get more education after you get out of high school.You’ve got to start expecting big things from yourself right now.I know that may sound a little intimidating.And some of you may be wondering how you can pay for college, or you might not know what you want to do with your life yet.And that’s okay.Nobody expects you to have your entire future mapped out at this point.And we don't expect you to have to make it on your own.First of all, you’ve got wonderful parents who love you to death and want you to have a lot more opportunity than they ever had--which, by the way, means don’t give them a hard time when they ask you to turn off the video games, turn off the TV and do some homework.You need to be listening to them.I speak from experience because that’s what I’ve been telling Malia and Sasha.Don’t be mad about it, because we’re thinking about your future.You’ve also got people all across this country--including myself and Arne and people at every level of government--who are working on your behalf.We’re taking every step we can to ensure that you’re getting an educational system that is worthy of your potential.We’re working to make sure that you have the most up-to-date schools with the latest tools of learning.We’re making sure that this country’s colleges and universities are affordable and accessible to you.We’re working to get the best class--teachers into the classroom as well, so they can help you prepare for college and a future career.Let me say something about teachers, by the way.Teachers are the men and women who might be working harder than just about anybody these days.(Applause.)Whether you go to a big school or a small one, whether you attend a public or a private or charter school –-your teachers are giving up their weekends;they’re waking up at dawn;they’re cramming their days full of classes and extra-curricular activities.And then they’re going home, eating some dinner, and then they’ve got to stay up sometimes past midnight, grading your papers and correcting your grammar, and making sure you got that algebra formula properly.And they don’t do it for a fancy office.They don’t--they sure don’t do it for the big salary.They do it for you.They do it because nothing gives them more satisfaction than seeing you learn.They live for those moments when something clicks;when you amaze them with your intellect or your vocabulary, or they see what kind of person you’re becoming.And they’re proud of you.And they say, I had something to do with that, that wonderful young person who is going to succeed.They have confidence in you that you will be citizens and leaders who take us into tomorrow.They know you’re our future.So your teachers are pouring everything they got into you, and they’re not alone.But I also want to emphasize this: With all the challenges that our country is facing right now, we don’t just need you for the future;we actually need you now.America needs young people’s passion and their ideas.We need your energy right now.I know you’re up to it because I’ve seen it.Nothing inspires me more than knowing that young people all across the country are already making their marks.They’re not waiting.They’re making a difference now.There are students like Will Kim from Fremont, California, who launched a nonprofit that gives loans to students from low-income schools who want to start their own business.Think about that.So he’s giving loans to other students.He set up a non-for-profit.He’s raising the money doing what he loves--through dodgeball tournaments and capture-the-flag games.But he’s creative.He took initiative.And now he’s helping other young people be able to afford the schooling that they need.There is a young man, Jake Bernstein, 17 years old, from a military family in St.Louis, worked with his sister to launch a website devoted to community service for young people.And they’ve held volunteer fairs and put up an online database, and helped thousands of families to find volunteer opportunities ranging from maintaining nature trails to serving at local hospitals.And then last year, I met a young woman named Amy Chyao from Richardson, Texas.She’s 16 years old, so she’s the age of some of you here.During the summer, I think because somebody in her family had an illness, she decided that she was interested in cancer research.She hadn’t taken chemistry yet, so she taught herself chemistry during the summer.And then she applied what she had learned and discovered a breakthrough process that uses light to kill cancer cells.Sixteen years old.It’s incredible.And she's been approached by some doctors and researchers who want to work with her to help her with her discovery.The point is you don’t have to wait to make a difference.You’re first obligation is to do well in school.You’re first obligation is to make sure that you’re preparing yourself for college and career.But you can also start making your mark right now.A lot of times young people may have better ideas than us old people do anyway.We just need those ideas out in the open, in and out of the classroom.When I meet young people like yourselves, when I sat and talk to Donae, I have no doubt that America’s best days are still ahead of us, because I know the potential that lies in each of you.Soon enough, you will be the ones leading our businesses and leading our government.You will be the one who are making sure that the next generation gets what they need to succeed.You will be the ones that are charting the course of our unwritten history.And all that starts right now--starts this year.So I want all of you who are listening, as well as everybody here at Banneker, I want you to make the most of the year that’s ahead of you.I want you to think of this time as one in which you are just loading up with information and skills, and you’re trying new things and you’re practicing, and you’re honing--all those things that you’re going to need to do great things when you get out of school.Your country is depending on you.So set your sights high.Have a great school year.Let’s get to work.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless the United States of America.(Applause.)