THECOMMENCEMNTSPEECHbyObamaHello,everybody!Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyou,everybody.Allright,everybodygoaheadandhaveaseat.Howiseverybodydoingtoday?(Applause.)HowaboutTimSpicer?(Applause.)IamherewithstudentsatWakefieldHighSchoolinArlington,Virginia.Andwe'vegotstudentstuningin（收听）fromallacrossAmerica,fromkindergartenthrough12thgrade.AndIamjustsogladthatallcouldjoinustoday.AndIwanttothankWakefieldforbeingsuchanoutstandinghost.Giveyourselvesabigroundofapplause.(Applause.)Iknowthatformanyofyou,todayisthefirstdayofschool.Andforthoseofyouinkindergarten,orstartingmiddleorhighschool,it'syourfirstdayinanewschool,soit'sunderstandable(可以理解的)ifyou'realittlenervous.Iimaginetherearesomeseniorsouttherewhoarefeelingprettygoodrightnow--(applause)--withjustonemoreyeartogo.Andnomatterwhatgradeyou'rein,someofyouareprobablywishingitwerestillsummerandyoucould'vestayedinbedjustalittlebitlongerthismorning.Iknowthatfeeling.WhenIwasyoung,myfamilylivedoverseas.IlivedinIndonesiaforafewyears.Andmymother,shedidn'thavethemoneytosendmewherealltheAmericankidswenttoschool,butshethoughtitwasimportantformetokeepupwithanAmericaneducation.Soshedecidedtoteachmeextralessonsherself,MondaythroughFriday.Butbecauseshehadtogotowork,theonlytimeshecoulddoitwasat4:30inthemorning.Now,asyoumightimagine,Iwasn'ttoohappyaboutgettingupthatearly.Andalotoftimes,I'dfallasleeprightthereatthekitchentable.ButwheneverI'dcomplain,mymotherwouldjustgivemeoneofthoselooksandshe'dsay,"Thisisnopicnicformeeither,buster（老兄）."(Laughter.)SoIknowthatsomeofyouarestilladjustingtobeingbackatschool.ButI'mheretodaybecauseIhavesomethingimportanttodiscusswithyou.I'mherebecauseIwanttotalkwithyouaboutyoureducationandwhat'sexpectedofallofyouinthisnewschoolyear.Now,I'vegivenalotofspeechesabouteducation.AndI'vetalkedaboutresponsibilityalot.I'vetalkedaboutteachers'responsibilityforinspiringstudentsandpushingyoutolearn.I'vetalkedaboutyourparents'responsibilityformakingsureyoustayontrack（坚持到底）,andyougetyourhomeworkdone,anddon'tspendeverywakinghourinfrontoftheTVorwiththeXbox.I'vetalkedalotaboutyourgovernment'sresponsibilityforsettinghighstandards,andsupportingteachersandprincipals（校长）,andturningaroundschoolsthataren'tworking,wherestudentsaren'tgettingtheopportunitiesthattheydeserve.Butattheendoftheday,wecanhavethemostdedicated（有奉献精神的）teachers,themostsupportiveparents,thebestschoolsintheworld--andnoneofitwillmakeadifference,noneofitwillmatterunlessallofyoufulfillyourresponsibilities,unlessyoushowuptothoseschools,unlessyoupayattentiontothoseteachers,unlessyoulistentoyourparentsandgrandparentsandotheradultsandputinthehardworkittakestosucceed.That'swhatIwanttofocusontoday:theresponsibilityeachofyouhasforyoureducation.Iwanttostartwiththeresponsibilityyouhavetoyourself.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingthatyou'regoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhassomethingtooffer.Andyouhavearesponsibilitytoyourselftodiscoverwhatthatis.That'stheopportunityaneducationcanprovide.Maybeyoucouldbeagreatwriter--maybeevengoodenoughtowriteabookorarticlesinanewspaper--butyoumightnotknowituntilyouwritethatEnglishpaper--thatEnglishclasspaperthat'sassigned（布置作业）toyou.Maybeyoucouldbeaninnovator（创新者）oraninventor--maybeevengoodenoughtocomeupwiththenextiPhoneorthenewmedicineorvaccine（疫苗）--butyoumightnotknowituntilyoudoyourprojectforyourscienceclass.Maybeyoucouldbea...
