Welcomeunit【新生寄语】我们为什么要上学？演讲时间：2009年9月8日——美国总统奥巴马在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿郡韦克菲尔德高中开学典礼的励志演讲稿Iknowthatsomeofyouarestilladjustingtobeingbackatschool.ButI'mheretodaybecauseIhavesomethingimportanttodiscusswithyou.I'mherebecauseIwanttotalkwithyouaboutyoureducationandwhat'sexpectedofallofyouinthisnewschoolyear.Iwanttostartwiththeresponsibilityyouhavetoyourself.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingthatyou'regoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingtooffer.Andyouhavearesponsibilitytoyourselftodiscoverwhatthatis.That'stheopportunityaneducationcanprovide.Andnomatterwhatyouwanttodowithyourlife，Iguaranteethatyou'llneedaneducationtodoit.Youwanttobeadoctor，orateacher，orapoliceofficer?You'regoingtoneedagoodeducationforeverysingleoneofthosecareers.Youcannotdropoutofschoolandjustdropintoagoodjob.You'vegottotrainforitandworkforitandlearnforit.Andthisisn'tjustimportantforyourownlifeandyourownfuture.Whatyoumakeofyoureducationwilldecidenothinglessthanthefutureofthiscountry.Whatyou'relearninginschooltodaywilleterminewhetherweasanationcanmeetourgreatestchallengesinthefuture.Weneedeverysingleoneofyoutodevelopyourtalentsandyourskillsandyourintellectsoyoucanhelpusoldfolkssolveourmostdifficultproblems.Ifyoudon'tdothat－ifyouquitonschool－you'renotjustquittingonyourself，you'requittingonyourcountry.Now，Iknowit'snotalwayseasytodowellinschool.Iknowalotofyouhavechallengesinyourlivesrightnowthatcanmakeithardtofocusonyourschoolwork.Someofyoumightnothavethoseadvantages.Maybeyoudon'thaveadultsinyourlifewhogiveyouthesupportthatyouneed.Maybesomeoneinyourfamilyhaslosttheirjobandthere'snotenoughmoneytogoaround.Maybeyouliveinaneighborhoodwhereyoudon'tfeelsafe，orhavefriendswhoarepressuringyoutodothingsthatyouknowaren'tright.Butattheendoftheday，thecircumstancesofyourlife－whatyoulooklike，whereyoucomefrom，howmuchmoneyyouhave，whatyou'vegotgoingonathome－noneofthatisanexcuseforneglectingyourhomeworkorhavingabadattitudeinschool.That'snoexcusefortalkingbacktoyourteacher，orcuttingclass，ordroppingoutofschool.Thereisnoexcusefornottrying.Whereyouarerightnowdoesn'thavetodeterminewhereyou'llendup.Noone'swrittenyourdestinyforyou，youwriteyourowndestiny.That'swhytodayI'mcallingoneachofyoutosetyourowngoalsforyoureducation－anddoeverythingyoucantomeetthem.Yourgoalcanbesomethingassimpleasdoingallyourhomework，payingattentioninclass，orspendingsometimeeachdayreadingabook.我知道你们有些人还在适应开学后的生活。但我今天来到这里是因为有重要的事情要和你们说。我来这里是要和你们谈谈你们的教育问题，以及在这个新学年对你们所有人的期望。我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。你们每个人都有自己的长处。你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。而教育能够提供这样的机会。不论你的生活志向是什么，我敢肯定你必须上学读书才能实现它。你想当医生、教师或警官吗？你必须接受良好的教育，才能从事上述任何一种职业。你不能指望辍学后能碰上个好工作。你必须接受培训，为之努力，为之学习。这并非只对你个人的人生和未来意义重大。可以毫不夸大地说，教育给你带来的益处将决定这个国家的未来。你们今日在校学习的知识将决定我们作为一个国家是否能够迎接我们未来所面临的最严峻的挑战。我们需要你们每个人发挥你们的聪明才智和技能，以便帮助老一辈人解决我们面临的最棘手的问题。如果你们不这样做，如果你们辍学，你们不仅仅是自暴自弃，也是抛弃自己的国家。现在，我自然知道要做到学业优秀并非总是易事。我知道你们许多人在生活中面...
