利田小子

在未名空间的八闽大地版闲逛时，看到别人发的一个帖子，标题是《一个来自福州的学生在密西根大学毕业典礼上的演讲》，在提供的链接里，有密西根大学（University of Michigan）2009年5月2日的毕业典礼视频。我从头看了一遍，感触很深，不仅是这位来自福州的学生，George Dong，和Larry Page， Google创始人之一，的演讲，整个commencement的氛围让我感触很深。这里就不说国内教育和国外教育的差别了，网上已经有很多。说说自己吧，能在名校读书一直是我的梦想，它曾经离我很近，但命运使然，它成了一个永远的梦想留在我心里。虽然已经无法实现，但我未因此而自甘堕落，我依然会一步一个脚印，走好现在的路。这样的毕业典礼，一直是自己期望的，希望K-State也能有这样的，不论怎样，不能让自己的拼搏和努力止步于K-State，止步于PhD。以下是视频的链接，各位想看看美国大学的毕业典礼是什么样的，可以看；想练练听力的，听听正宗的美语，可以看；想一睹这位福州学生和Larry Page的风采，可以看。直接点击链接，便可观看。没找到完整版的下载，只找到George Dong那一段演讲的下载地址。我也很想下个完整版的，可惜。

完整版观看地址：
http://umtv-live.rs.itd.umich.edu/nis/commencement050209.asx
提示：George Dong演讲在01:35:00左右开始，Larry Page的演讲在02:03:33左右开始

George Dong演讲部分的观看地址：
http://www.ns.umich.edu/podcast/video.php?id=832
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqp5_L8o3VE

George Dong演讲部分的下载地址：
http://www.ns.umich.edu/Vid/dong_sprcom_may_09.flv

George Dong演讲原文（没有考证过）：

Good morning. First let me express my deepest gratitude for my unusual presence on this podium today. I came to Michigan from Fuzhou, China, about 7 thousand miles away. When I first came, I barely spoke English. In fact, I was so confused that I thought the Fishbowl was an aquarium, the Big House was a prison, and that North Face jackets and UGG boots were the unofficial school uniforms. As it turns out, I was only right about the last one.

Standing here today, I am extremely proud of Michigan’s rich tradition, I am grateful for my parents’ unconditional love and profound sacrifice that made this moment even possible, and I am aware of the diverse culture and heritage of all 50 states and 120 countries that are represented in the audience today.

Although our hometowns may be thousands of miles apart, it is the same Michigan experience that connects us all. It is the same Michigan Time that always saved us ten minutes of more sleep. It is the winged football helmets and the Hot Dog Man that we worshipped.

We have learned to speak different languages, learned to appreciate and celebrate different cultures, and learned to use our knowledge, talent and passion to engage our communities. It is the Michigan experience that has taught us to dream, that has taught us that yes we can and yes we will change the world one day.

It was October 14th, 1960, when President John F. Kennedy addressed students on the steps of our Michigan Union and proposed the establishment of the Peace Corps. Almost five decades later, Michigan men and women have continued to answer his call

For example, this past summer, the Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU) started a maternal mortality prevention program in Ghana.

A student group called the Youth Hope Organization traveled to Anhui, China, to work with the AIDS Orphan Salvation Association.

I know many of you will work to alleviate poverty in Asia, to provide humanitarian aid in Africa, and to transform education and infrastructure in Latin America.

As for me, a Chinese student who barely spoke English years ago, I will be teaching English in the inner city of Chicago after graduation.

With the education and experience that this University has given us, we have learned that we share the same desire for peace and prosperity, the same quest for justice and equality, and the same love for openness and opportunity.

This past November, students of every color and every nationality united on the Michigan Diag to celebrate the historical election of the first African-American president, Barack Obama.

That chilly night on the Diag, I heard cheers and I saw tears. Not only was I watching a moment of excitement, but I was witnessing a movement for service to those less fortunate, both here and abroad. As President Obama said: “Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.”

You and I, my fellow graduates of the Class of 2009, my maize and blue brothers and sisters, and my fellow citizens of the world, let us embrace all the peoples of the world with the binding force of our warm Michigan spirit and love, with courage and devotion, with strength and sacrifice to make a true Michigan Difference in the world.

To me, that is why it’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

Go Blue!