奥巴马：我们为什么要上学Hello,everybody!Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyou,everybody.Allright,everybodygoaheadandhaveaseat.Howiseverybodydoingtoday?HowaboutTimSpicer?IamherewithstudentsatWakefieldHighSchoolinArlington,Virginia.AndwevegotstudentstuninginfromallacrossAmerica,fromkindergartenthrough12thgrade.AndIamjustsogladthatallcouldjoinustoday.AndIwanttothankWakefieldforbeingsuchanoutstandinghost.Giveyourselvesabigroundofapplause.Iknowthatformanyofyou,todayisthefirstdayofschool.Andforthoseofyouinkindergarten,orstartingmiddleorhighschool,itsyourfirstdayinanewschool,soitsunderstandableifyourealittlenervous.Iimaginetherearesomeseniorsouttherewhoarefeelingprettygoodrightnow----withjustonemoreyeartogo.Andnomatterwhatgradeyourein,someofyouareprobablywishingitwerestillsummerandyoucouldvestayedinbedjustalittlebitlongerthismorning.Iknowthatfeeling.WhenIwasyoung,myfamilylivedoverseas.IlivedinIndonesiaforafewyears.Andmymother,shedidnthavethemoneytosendmewherealltheAmericankidswenttoschool,butshethoughtitwasimportantformetokeepupwithanAmericaneducation.Soshedecidedtoteachmeextralessonsherself,MondaythroughFriday.Butbecauseshehadtogotowork,theonlytimeshecoulddoitwasat4:30inthemorning.Now,asyoumightimagine,Iwasnttoohappyaboutgettingupthatearly.Andalotoftimes,Idfallasleeprightthereatthekitchentable.ButwheneverIdcomplain,mymotherwouldjustgivemeoneofthoselooksandshedsay,;Thisisnopicnicformeeither,buster.;SoIknowthatsomeofyouarestilladjustingtobeingbackatschool.ButImheretodaybecauseIhavesomethingimportanttodiscusswithyou.ImherebecauseIwanttotalkwithyouaboutyoureducationandwhatsexpectedofallofyouinthisnewschoolyear.Now,Ivegivenalotofspeechesabouteducation.AndIvetalkedaboutresponsibilityalot.Ivetalkedaboutteachersresponsibilityforinspiringstudentsandpushingyoutolearn.Ivetalkedaboutyourparentsresponsibilityformakingsureyoustayontrack,andyougetyourhomeworkdone,anddontspendeverywakinghourinfrontoftheTVorwiththeXbox.Ivetalkedalotaboutyourgovernmentsresponsibilityforsettinghighstandards,andsupportingteachersandprincipals,andturningaroundschoolsthatarentworking,wherestudentsarentgettingtheopportunitiesthattheydeserve.Butattheendoftheday,wecanhavethemostdedicatedteachers,themostsupportiveparents,thebestschoolsintheworld--andnoneofitwillmakeadifference,noneofitwillmatterunlessallofyoufulfillyourresponsibilities,unlessyoushowuptothoseschools,unlessyoupayattentiontothoseteachers,unlessyoulistentoyourparentsandgrandparentsandotheradultsandputinthehardworkittakestosucceed.ThatswhatIwanttofocusontoday:theresponsibilityeachofyouhasforyoureducation.Iwanttostartwiththeresponsibilityyouhavetoyourself.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingthatyouregoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingtooffer.Andyouhavearesponsibilitytoyourselftodiscoverwhatthatis.Thatstheopportunityaneducationcanprovide.Maybeyoucouldbeagreatwriter--maybeevengoodenoughtowriteabookorarticlesinanewspaper--butyoumightnotknowituntilyouwritethatEnglishpaper--thatEnglishclasspaperthatsassignedtoyou.Maybeyoucouldbeaninnovatororaninventor--maybeevengoodenoughtocomeupwiththenextiPhoneorthenewmedicineorvaccine--butyoumightnotknowituntilyoudoyourprojectforyourscienceclass.MaybeyoucouldbeamayororasenatororaSupremeCourtjustice--butyoumightnotknowthatuntilyoujoinstudentgovernmentorthedebateteam.Andnomatterwhatyouwanttodowithyourlife,Iguaranteethatyoullneedaneducationt...
