公众人物毕业演讲第394期:奥巴马2012年哥伦比亚大学毕业演讲(12)

 　　Throughout American history though, they have lost that bet and I believe they will this time as well.

　　可是纵观美国历史他们一再下错赌注我相信这一次也不例外

　　But ultimately Class of 2012, that will depend on you Don't wait for the person next to you.

　　可是说到底2012届的同学们 这将取决于你们不要等待你身旁的人

　　To be the first to speak up for what's right Because maybe, just maybe they're waiting on you.

　　第一个为正义发言因为有可能 只是有此可能他们正在等你带头

　　Which brings me to my second piece of advice Never underestimate the power of your example The very fact that you are graduating.

　　这就涉及我的第二条建议切勿低估以身作则的力量你们即将毕业的事实

　　Let alone that more women now graduate from college than men is only possible because earlier generations of women your mothers, your grandmothers, your aunts.

　　且不说目前大学毕业的女生人数超过男生都是因为前辈女性你们的母亲 祖母 姨婶

　　Shattered the myth that you couldn't or shouldn't be where you are I think of a friend of mine who's the daughter of immigrants When she was in high school, her guidance counselor¹ told her.

　　打破了你不能或者不应当身在此处的谎言我想起一位朋友 她是移民的女儿念中学时 她的指导老师告诉她

　　You know what, you're just not college material You should think about becoming a secretary Well, she was stubborn, so she went to college anyway.

　　你不是念大学的材料你应当考虑去当秘书她很固执 所以还是念了大学

　　She got her master's She ran for local office, won She ran for state office, she won.

　　进而拿到硕士学位她竞选地方公职 结果胜选她竞选州政府公职 再度胜选

　　She ran for Congress, she won And lo and behold² Hilda Solis did end up becoming a secretary.

　　她竞选国会议员 又是胜选请听好了希尔达.索利斯最终的确成为一名秘书

1 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

2 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。