Michelle Obama's plea for education

譯者: Coco Shen 審譯者: Zachary Lin Zhao

This is my first trip,

這是我第一次出訪

my first foreign trip as a first lady.

是我作為第一夫人的第一次外交訪問

Can you believe that?

很神奇吧﹖

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And while this is not my first visit to the U.K.,

雖然這不是我第一次來英國，

I have to say that I am glad that this is my first official visit.

但我很高興首次官方訪問是來英國

The special relationship between the United States and the U.K.

美國和英國之間的特殊關係

is based not only on the relationship between governments,

不只是建立與政府間的往來

but the common language and the values that we share,

更建立在我們共同的語言和價值觀上

and I'm reminded of that by watching you all today.

看見你們就使我想到這一點

During my visit I've been especially honored

在訪問期間我特別榮幸地

to meet some of Britain's most extraordinary women --

會見了英國一些最出色的女士。

women who are paving the way for all of you.

這些女士為你們鋪路

And I'm honored to meet you,

我也很榮幸見到你們

the future leaders of Great Britain and this world.

這些英國和世界未來的領導者

And although the circumstances of our lives may seem very distant,

雖然我們的現狀很不一樣

with me standing here as the First Lady of the United States of America,

我作為美國第一夫人站在這裏

and you, just getting through school,

而你們還正在上學

I want you to know that we have very much in common.

我想讓你們知道我們有很多共同之處

For nothing in my life's path

因為在我生命歷程中沒有任何東西

would have predicted that I'd be standing here

曾經預告我會站在這裏

as the first African-American First Lady

作為美國的第一位

of the United States of America.

非裔的第一夫人。

There is nothing in my story that would land me here.

我的資歷裏沒有什麼東西能使我站在這個位置上

I wasn't raised with wealth or resources

我不是用財富和資源養大的

or any social standing to speak of.

也談不上有什麼社會地位

I was raised on the South Side of Chicago.

我是在芝加哥的南邊長大的

That's the real part of Chicago.

那是芝加哥的真實部分

And I was the product of a working-class community.

我出身於工人階級

My father was a city worker all of his life,

我父親一輩子都是市政府的員工

and my mother was a stay-at-home mom.

我母親是個家庭婦女

And she stayed at home to take care of me and my older brother.

她待在家裏照顧我和我哥

Neither of them attended university.

我的父母都沒上過大學

My dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis

我爸爸被診斷有多發性硬化症

in the prime of his life.

在他壯年的時候

But even as it got harder for him to walk

但就在他變得難以行走

and get dressed in the morning --

到了早上都無法著衣時 --

I saw him struggle more and more --

我看著他越來越困難

my father never complained about his struggle.

我父親卻從來沒有抱怨過他的困境

He was grateful for what he had.

他對於自己擁有的一切心存感激

He just woke up a little earlier and worked a little harder.

他只是起得更早一點，工作得更努力一點

And my brother and I were raised with all that you really need:

我哥哥和我在成長過程中得到了人生真正需要的一切：

love, strong values

愛，強有力的價值觀

and a belief that with a good education

以及一個信念，就是靠著良好的教育

and a whole lot of hard work,

還有大量的辛勤工作

that there was nothing that we could not do.

沒有什麼是我們做不到的。

I am an example of what's possible

我的例子就表明女孩子能創造奇跡

when girls from the very beginning of their lives

只要她們從生命最開始的時候

are loved and nurtured by the people around them.

就受到周圍人的愛護和教養。

I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life:

我的生命中圍繞著非凡的女性。

grandmothers, teachers, aunts, cousins, neighbors,

祖母，老師，姨媽，表姐妹，鄰居

who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.

她們教會我沉默的力量和尊嚴。

And my mother, the most important role model in my life,

還有我母親，我生命中最重要的榜樣，

who lives with us at the White House

她和我們住在白宮

and helps to care for our two little daughters,

幫著照顧我們的兩個小女兒，

Malia and Sasha.

馬利亞和薩莎

She's an active presence in their lives, as well as mine,

她在孩子們和我的生活中都很活躍

and is instilling in them

並正灌輸她們

the same values that she taught me and my brother:

她曾經教給我和我哥的價值觀：

things like compassion, and integrity,

同情心，正直

and confidence, and perseverance --

自信和堅定。

all of that wrapped up in an unconditional love

所有這些都包含在無條件的愛之中

that only a grandmother can give.

那是只有一個祖母才能給予的愛。

I was also fortunate enough to be cherished and encouraged

我也很幸運地從一些男性榜樣那裏

by some strong male role models as well,

得到珍愛和鼓勵

including my father, my brother, uncles and grandfathers.

包括我父親，我哥哥，叔伯和祖父。

The men in my life taught me some important things, as well.

我生命中的男人們也教會我一些重要的東西。

They taught me about what a respectful relationship

他們教會我互相尊重的男女關係

should look like between men and women.

應該是什麼樣子的。

They taught me about what a strong marriage feels like:

擁有一個牢固的婚姻是什麼感覺。

that it's built on faith and commitment

那是建立在信念和承諾之上

and an admiration for each other's unique gifts.

以及對彼此獨特天賦的讚賞。

They taught me about what it means

他們教我意識到什麼叫

to be a father

當一個父親

and to raise a family.

維繫一個家庭

And not only to invest in your own home

而且不只是關注自己的家庭

but to reach out and help raise kids

也要伸手去幫助那些

in the broader community.

廣大社區裏的孩子

And these were the same qualities

這些同樣的品質

that I looked for in my own husband,

也是我在我丈夫身上尋找的

Barack Obama.

巴拉克•歐巴馬

And when we first met,

在我們最初相識的時候

one of the things that I remember is that he took me out on a date.

我記得，他帶我去約會

And his date was to go with him to a community meeting.

他的約會是和他一起去開一個社區會議

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I know, how romantic.

很浪漫吧

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But when we met, Barack was a community organizer.

我們相識的時候，巴拉克是一個社區組織幹部

He worked, helping people to find jobs

他的工作是幫助人家找工作

and to try to bring resources into struggling neighborhoods.

以及努力把資源帶給有困難的鄰里

As he talked to the residents in that community center,

當他對社區中心裏的居民演講的時候

he talked about two concepts.

他談到兩個概念

He talked about "the world as it is" and "the world as it should be."

他談到“現實世界”和“理想世界”

And I talked about this throughout the entire campaign.

這也是我在競選過程中所談到的

What he said, that all too often,

他說，我們常常

is that we accept the distance between those two ideas.

接受這兩種觀念之間的差距。

And sometimes we settle for the world as it is,

有的時侯我們接受了現實世界

even when it doesn't reflect our values and aspirations.

即使它沒有反映我們的價值觀和願望

But Barack reminded us on that day,

但是那天巴拉克提醒了我們，

all of us in that room, that we all know

在那間屋子裏的所有人，我們都知道

what our world should look like.

我們的世界應該是什麼樣子

We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like.

我們知道公平，正義和機會是什麼樣子

We all know.

我們全都知道

And he urged the people in that meeting,

他敦促那個會上的人們，

in that community,

那個社區裏的人們，

to devote themselves to closing the gap

把他們自己獻身於

between those two ideas,

縮小那兩種觀念之間的差距，

to work together to try to make the world as it is

一起努力把現實世界

and the world as it should be, one and the same.

變成和理想世界一樣。

And I think about that today because I am

我今天想起這些是因為

reminded and convinced that all of you in this school

我確信這所學校裏你們所有的人

are very important parts of closing that gap.

都是縮小這差距非常重要的因素。

You are the women who will build the world as it should be.

你們是要建立理想世界的女性。

You're going to write the next chapter in history.

你們將寫出歷史的下一個篇章。

Not just for yourselves, but for your generation

不只是為你們自己，而且是為你們一代人

and generations to come.

以及未來的幾代人。

And that's why getting a good education

這就是為什麼得到良好的教育

is so important.

是這麼的重要。

That's why all of this that you're going through --

這就是為什麼你們正在經歷的所有這一切

the ups and the downs, the teachers that you love and the teachers that you don't --

好事和壞事，你們喜歡的和不喜歡的老師 --

why it's so important.

為什麼都這麼重要。

Because communities and countries and ultimately the world

因為社區和國家還有歸根結底這個世界，

are only as strong as the health of their women.

它們的強大取決於女性的健康

And that's important to keep in mind.

記住這一點很重要

Part of that health includes an outstanding education.

健康包括出類拔萃的教育

The difference between a struggling family and a healthy one

一個艱困的家庭與一個健康的家庭之間的區別

is often the presence of an empowered woman

通常就是有一個或幾個說話算數的女人

or women at the center of that family.

處於家庭的核心。

The difference between a broken community and a thriving one

一個破敗的社區與一個茁壯成長的社區的區別

is often the healthy respect between men and women

通常取決於男女間能否相互尊重

who appreciate the contributions each other makes to society.

他（她）們感激對方為社會所做的貢獻。

The difference between a languishing nation

一個日趨衰弱的國家

and one that will flourish

與一個強盛的國家的區別

is the recognition that we need equal access to education

就是其中的男孩和女孩

for both boys and girls.

是否有平等受教育的機會

And this school, named after the U.K.'s first female doctor,

這所學校以英國的第一個女醫生命名，

and the surrounding buildings named for Mexican artist Frida Kahlo,

學校的建築以其他三位女士命名：墨西哥畫家芙烈達·卡蘿

Mary Seacole,

瑪麗•希珂

the Jamaican nurse known as the "black Florence Nightingale,"

她是被稱為“黑人南丁格爾”的牙買加護士，

and the English author, Emily Bronte,

以及英國作家愛蜜利•勃朗特

honor women who fought sexism, racism and ignorance,

這都是為了紀念這些女士，她們與性別歧視，種族歧視和無知做鬥爭，

to pursue their passions to feed their own souls.

從而追求她們的激情以充實自己的靈魂

They allowed for no obstacles.

她們沒有顧及任何障礙。

As the sign said back there, "without limitations."

就像後面這個標語寫的，“全然無限”

They knew no other way to live

她們沒想以其他的方式生活

than to follow their dreams.

而只是追隨她們的夢想

And having done so, these women

正因為如此，這四位女士

moved many obstacles.

去除了很多障礙

And they opened many new doors

她們創造了很多新的機會

for millions of female doctors and nurses

為成百上千萬的女醫生和女護士們

and artists and authors,

女藝術家和女作家們，

all of whom have followed them.

她們都追隨了這四位女士。

And by getting a good education,

通過得到良好的教育

you too can control your own destiny.

你們也可以掌控自己的命運。

Please remember that.

請記住這一點。

If you want to know the reason why I'm standing here,

如果你們想知道我能站在這裏的原因，

it's because of education.

那就是因為教育

I never cut class. Sorry, I don't know if anybody is cutting class.

我從來不蹺課。對不起，我不知道這裏是否有人蹺課。

I never did it.

我從來沒那麼做。

I loved getting As.

我喜歡得‘優’

I liked being smart.

我喜歡做聰明人。

I liked being on time. I liked getting my work done.

我喜歡準時。我喜歡把我的功課做完

I thought being smart was cooler than anything in the world.

我覺得做聰明人比世界上任何事都要酷

And you too, with these same values,

按照同樣的價值觀，你們同樣可以

can control your own destiny.

掌控你們自己的命運。

You too can pave the way.

你們也可以鋪出路來。

You too can realize your dreams,

你們也可以實現你們的夢想，

and then your job is to reach back

然後你們的任務就是伸出手

and to help someone just like you do the same thing.

去幫助像你們一樣的人實現夢想。

History proves that it doesn't matter

歷史證明，無論是

whether you come from a council estate

你們來自窮人家

or a country estate.

或來自富人家。

Your success will be determined

你們的成功取決於

by your own fortitude,

你們自己的堅韌，

your own confidence, your own individual hard work.

你們自己的信心，你們自己的辛勤工作。

That is true. That is the reality of the world that we live in.

真是這樣。這就是我們所生活的世界的真實情況。

You now have control over your own destiny.

你們的命運現在掌握在自己手上。

And it won't be easy -- that's for sure.

但這並不容易。那是一定的。

But you have everything you need.

可是你們擁有你們所需要的一切。

Everything you need to succeed,

要成功所需的一切，

you already have, right here.

你們已經都有了。

My husband works in this big office.

我丈夫在一個大辦公室裏工作。

They call it the Oval Office.

他們管它叫橢圓辦公室。

In the White House, there's the desk that he sits at --

在白宮裏，有一個他坐在那兒辦公的桌子。

it's called the Resolute desk.

那個辦公桌名為“堅決桌”。

It was built by the timber of Her Majesty's Ship Resolute

桌子是用女王陛下“堅決號“船的木料打造的。

and given by Queen Victoria.

是維多利亞女王送的。

It's an enduring symbol of the friendship between our two nations.

它是我們兩國之間友誼的永久象徵。

And its name, Resolute,

它的名字，“堅決”，

is a reminder of the strength of character that's required

提醒我們要有這樣的風骨

not only to lead a country,

不只是領導一個國家，

but to live a life of purpose, as well.

而且要度過一個有意義的人生。

And I hope in pursuing your dreams, you all remain resolute,

我希望在追求你們的夢想時，你們都能保持堅定，

that you go forward without limits,

向前進而不受限制，

and that you use your talents -- because there are many; we've seen them;

發揮你們的才能 -- 因為你們才華橫溢。我們見識過

it's there --

確實有才華。

that you use them to create the world as it should be.

用你們的才華去創建那個理想世界

Because we are counting on you.

因為我們指望著你們。

We are counting on every single one of you

我們指望著你們每一個人

to be the very best that you can be.

盡你們的全力，做到最好。

Because the world is big.

因為這個世界很大。

And it's full of challenges.

充滿了挑戰。

And we need strong, smart, confident young women

我們需要堅強的，聰明的，自信的年輕女性

to stand up and take the reins.

站出來執掌乾坤。

We know you can do it. We love you. Thank you so much.

我們知道你們能做到。我們愛你們。謝謝大家。

(Applause)

（掌聲）