Remarks by the President at Worcester Technical High School Commencement Ceremony
[1] THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please, everybody, be seated. Good afternoon. (Applause.) It is great to be back in Massachusetts, and it is great to be here at Worcester Tech. (Applause.)
[2] I want to thank Reggie for that outstanding introduction. (Applause.) I want to thank Naomi for those inspiring words. (Applause.) I want to thank your outstanding, fabulous principal, Sheila Harrity, who has done so much to make this school a success. (Applause.) Let me just say, when you’re the National High School Principal of the Year, you’re doing something right. There are a lot of principals out there, and we could not be prouder of what she’s doing.
[3] I want to thank your Mayor, Joseph Petty; your outstanding Governor and a great friend of mine, Deval Patrick; wonderful Congressman, Jim McGovern. (Applause.) And most of all, I want to thank the class of 2014. (Applause.) Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day. And you all look great. And I want to thank all the parents and all the grandparents, and the family and the friends —— this is your day, too. Part of the reason I’m here is because I’ve got to practice, because Malia is graduating in two years. So I’m trying to get used to not choking up and crying and embarrassing her. So this is sort of my trial run here
[4] I have to say, I do not remember my high school graduation speaker. I have no idea who it was. (Laughter.) I’m sure I was thinking about the party after graduation. (Applause.) I don’t remember the party either. (Laughter.) I’m just telling the truth here. You will remember the speaker at this graduation because there’s a lot of Secret Service around, not because of anything that I say that’s so inspiring.
[5] But I know this day has been a long time coming. Together, you made it through freshman initiation. You survived Mr. O’Connor’s English class, which I understand is pretty tough. (Applause.) Everybody has got to have, like, a Mr. O’Connor in their life just to kind of straighten you out. And now it’s the big day —— although I notice that none of you are wearing your IDs. Rumor has it some of you haven’t been wearing them for years. (Laughter.) Today I’m exercising my power as President and granting an official pardon for all of you who did not follow the rules there. Consider it my graduation gift to you.
译文：但我知道这一天已经等了很久了.你们从新生开始,一起走到了现在.你们从奥康纳先生的英语课中幸存下来.在我理解看来,它非常枯燥.每个人都曾经在他们的生命中有,比如奥康纳先生,他只是让你理解清楚一些事情.现在是个大日子——虽然我注意到你们中没有人带着你们的证件.据说你们中一些人已经有几年时间不带着它们了.今天,我在行使我作为总统的权力,给予你们中那些不守规则的那些人一个官方的谅解.把它当成我给你们的毕业礼物.
inspiring a. 鼓舞人心的
initiation [in·i·ti·a·tion || ɪ‚nɪʃɪ'eɪʃn] n. 开始, 创始; 入会, 加入; 开始实施;
straighten ['streitn] vt. 弄直, 整顿, 清理, 使改正 vi. 直起来, 改正, 好转
initiation fee入会费，
straighten sb out 改善行为
I thought that once he got married that would straighten him out.
straighten sth⇔out 有解决处理的意思。
There are some mistakes in your paper. Straighten them out, please.你的文章里有一些错误,请改过去。
To grant a general pardon to. 赦免,大赦对…实行特赦
[6] I know a lot of folks watching at home today will see all of you in your caps and your gowns and they’ll think, well, maybe this is just another class of graduates at another American high school. But I’m here today because there is nothing ordinary about Worcester Tech or the Class of 2014. You have set yourselves apart. This high school has set itself apart.
[7] Over the past four years, some of you have learned how to take apart an engine and put it back together again. Some of you have learned how to run a restaurant, or build a house, or fix a computer. And all of you are graduating today not just with a great education, but with the skills that will let you start your careers and skills that will make America stronger.
[8] Together, you’re an example of what’s possible when we stop just talking about giving young people opportunity, when we don’t just give lip service to helping you compete in the global economy and we actually start doing it. That’s what’s happening right here in Worcester. And that’s why I’m here today. I mean, I like all of you, and I’m glad to be with you, but the thing I really want to do is make sure that what we’ve learned here at this high school we can lift up for the entire nation. I want the nation to learn from Worcester Tech. (Applause.)
give lip service：嘴上说说，耍嘴皮子
译文：你们作为一个整体，就是活生生的例子，我们不再仅是随便谈谈给年轻人机遇，我们不再仅仅是随口说说要帮助年轻人获取社会竞争力，在伍斯特高中，我们就在做这件事。这也是我今天为什么会来这里的原因，我喜欢你们，喜欢和你们一起，但是我更想做的是把我们在这学到的东西能推举到整个美国。我想让整个国家都向伍斯特学习。
[9] Of course, your journey is just beginning. Take a look around at all the smiles from the parents and the grandparents and all the family members. Everything your families have done has been so that you could pursue your dreams, so that you could fulfill your potential. Everybody here has a story of some sacrifice that’s been made on your behalf. And whether you’re heading to college, or the military, or starting your career, you’re not going to be able to take them with you now. Some of your moms and dads probably wish they could hang onto you a little bit longer. Some of you, maybe they’re ready to get rid of you. (Laughter.) Regardless, though, you are now entering into a stage where it’s up to you. And what you can do is remember some of the lessons that you’ve learned here and carry them with you, wherever you’re going.
译文：当然,你们的旅程刚刚开始.看一下你周围的父母,祖父母和所有家人的笑容.你家人做的所有事情,因此,你可以追逐自己的梦想,因此,你可以充分发挥你的潜力.在场的每个人都有做出牺牲的故事,代表着你自己的故事.不管你是否要进入大学,参军,或者开启职业生涯,现在你将不能再带着它们.一些你们的爸爸妈妈可能希望他们能够继续和你们一起更长一点儿时间.你们中的一些人,可能他们已经准备好摆脱你们.无论如何,不管怎样,你们现在进入了一个由你决定的阶段.你可以做的事情是,牢记你在这里学到的一些事情,带着它们和你一起上路,无论你将要去哪里.
sacrifice ['sækrifais] n. 牺牲, 供奉, 祭品 vt. 牺牲, 祭祀, 贱卖 vi. 献祭
get rid of you：摆脱
[10] And I want to talk about three of those lessons, a couple of which have already been mentioned by the previous speakers.
[11] First of all, I want you to remember that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere invested in our success. (Applause.) Somebody invested in us. I know that’s true for me. I was raised by a single mom with the help of my grandparents. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up. At times, we struggled. When my mom was going to school at the same time as she was raising my sister and me, we had to scrape to get by.
译文：首先,我想你们应该牢记我们每一个人在这里的唯一原因,是因为有些人在一些地方在我们的成功上进行了投资.一些人在我们身上进行了投资.我知道这对我来说就是事实.我被一个单亲妈妈在外祖父母的帮助下抚养成人.在我成长过程中,我们没有太多钱.你知道的,在那时,我们努力着.当我妈妈在抚养我和妹妹的同时又要去学校学习的时候,我们不得不东拼西凑。
scrape to get by是勉强度日
[12] But we had a family who loved me and my sister. And I had teachers who cared about me. And ultimately, with the help of a community and a country that supported me, I was able to get a good education. And I was able to get grants and student loans, and opportunities opened up. And all of this happened because people saw something in me that I didn’t always see in myself. And that’s not just true for me, that’s true for Michelle, who grew up the daughter of a blue-collar worker and a mom who stayed at home and then became a secretary —— never went to college themselves.
ultimately ad. 最后, 最终
[13] That's true for Duval, who grew up initially on the South Side of Chicago and didn't have a lot, and somebody reached out and gave him a hand up.
[14] It’s true of this city. This is a town that's always been home to smart people with big ideas. The Mayor mentioned Robert Goddard, the father of the modern rocket. He was born here, performed some of the earliest tests on rocketry.
[15] But Worcester has also prepared its workers for the jobs that those big ideas would bring. And that’s why they opened a technical school here more than a century ago —— with a class of 29 ironworkers and 23 woodworkers. And that school became Worcester Tech.
[16] Along the way, the economy changed. Innovation made it possible for businesses to do more with less. The Internet meant they could do it anywhere. Schools like this were finding it harder to prepare students with the skills that businesses were looking for.
译文：一路走来，经济大环境变化了，创新使得企业以少或多成为可能，互联网也让他们摆脱了地域限制，可以随时随地的工作。那么学校也渐渐发现，培养出这些企业需要的技术人才更难了。
innovation [,inәu'veiʃәn] n. 改革, 创新
[17] And then a guy named Ted Coghlin came along. (Applause.) And Ted is known as the “godfather” of Worcester Tech, because about 10 years ago he set out to make this school what he knew it could be —— a place where businesses train new workers, and young people get the keys to a brighter future.
[18] And he put his heart and soul into it. And eventually, that’s what happened. Ted helped raise money for a new building —— and the state and federal government chipped in, as well. And businesses helped create everything from an auto service center to a bank right inside the school. And top-notch teachers got on board —— led by Principal Harrity and the assistant principals here, and an outstanding superintendent. And before long, Worcester Tech was on its way to becoming one of the best schools in this city.
译文：他一心一意地扑在这件事情上.最后,这就是发生的事情.泰德帮助筹集了新教学楼的资金——州和联邦政府也进行了捐助.企业帮助建立了一系列的设施,从汽车服务中心,到在校园里的银行.一流的师资力量也就位了——在海瑞蒂校长,副校长们以及优秀管理团队的领导下.不久以后,伍斯特技术中学逐渐成为这个城市中最好的学校之一.
chip in 插嘴, 捐助, 下注
top-notch a. 最高质量的
principal ['prinsipәl] n. 校长, 首长, 本金, 主犯, 资本, 委托人 a. 主要的, 最重要的, 首要的
superintendent ‚suːpə(r)ɪntəndənt]n. 监督人, 监管者; 警长; 主管, 负责人; 警官
[19] And today, so many students want to come to Worcester Tech that there’s a waiting list more than 400 names long. The number of students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” in math has gone up 100 percent; in English more than 200 percent. (Applause.) Ninety-five percent of students now graduate in four years.
[20] And just as impressive, many of you are leaving here with more than a diploma. You’re already certified as nursing assistants and EMTs and home health aides and preparing to become IT associates. (Applause.) And with the credits that you’ve earned, some of you are already on your way to a college diploma. And as Ted said, “Our students deserve the best so we can help them become the best —— for their future and ours.”
proficient [prә'fiʃәnt] n. 高手, 专家 a. 精通的, 熟练的
certified ['sә:tifaid]a. 证明合格的
EMT急救医疗技术员emergency medical technicians
associate [ә'sәuʃieit] n. 同伴, 伙伴, 关联的事物vt. 使联合, vi. 交往
credit ['kredit] n. 信用, 信任, 荣誉, 贷款, 学分 vt. 归功于, 赞颂, 信任, 相信