2009屆的同學們,
I don't think I hurt you.
我不認為這傷害了你們。
First I’d like you to stand up, and wave and cheeryour supportive family and friends!
首先我希望大家都站起來,向支持你們的親朋好友揮手致意!
I’m sure you can find them out there.
我相信你們都能在人群中找到他們。
Show your love!
把你們的愛表現(xiàn)出來吧!
It is a great honor for me to be here today.
今天來到這里我很榮幸。
Now wait a second.
請稍等一下。
I know: that’s such a cliche.
我知道,對于剛才那句陳詞濫調(diào),
You’re thinking: every graduation speaker says that — It’s a great honor.
大家可能會想:每一位畢業(yè)典禮的演講者都會說——很榮幸。
But, in my case, it really is so deeply true--being here is more special and more personal for methan most of you know.
但就我而言,的確字真意深——我來到這里發(fā)言有著你們諸位并不知道的更特殊、更個人的意義。
I’d like to tell you why.
我愿意告訴你們這背后的故事。
A long time ago, in the cold September of 1962,
很久以前,1962年的寒冷9月,
there was a Steven’s co-op at this very university.
這座校園里有一家史蒂文消費合作社。
That co-op had a kitchen with a ceiling that had been cleaned by student volunteers probablyevery decade or so.
此合作社有一間廚房,那里的天花板由學生志愿者打掃,大概每十來年才一次吧。
Picture a college girl named Gloria, climbing up high on a ladder, struggling to clean that filthyceiling.
想象一下,畫面上有位名叫格洛里亞的女大學生爬上了高高的梯子努力地打掃那臟兮兮的天花板。
Standing on the floor, a young boarder named Carl was admiring the view.
一位名叫卡爾的寄宿生站在地上,為該情景欽佩不已。
And that’s how they met.
這就是他倆的初次邂逅。
They were my parents,
他倆就是我的父母親,
so I suppose you could say I’m a direct result of that kitchen chemistry experiment, right hereat Michigan.
所以我想你們會說,我就是這里——密歇根大學那個“廚房化學實驗”的直接成果。
My Mom is here with us today,
我的母親今天也來到了這里,
and we should probably go find the spot ,
也許我們應該去找到他們相遇之處,
and put plaque up on the ceiling that says:"Thanks Mom and Dad!"
并在天花板上鑲嵌一塊銘牌,刻上“謝謝爸爸、媽媽!"