（注：這是女兒于2014年6月作為畢業(yè)生代表在高中畢業(yè)典禮上所做的英文演講辭渗饮，中文為我倆共同翻譯但汞。）
早上好，尊敬的F先生互站，W先生私蕾，各位嘉賓，老師胡桃，家人踩叭，當然，還有我們2014屆畢業(yè)生标捺，
感謝你們給我這個機會懊纳，讓我代表2014屆畢業(yè)班站在這里。這對我是一種至高無上的榮譽亡容。
我們都走過了漫漫長路才到達這里，而我相信每個人都有一個獨特的故事冤今。對于我來說闺兢，我的道路開始于我在中國QD就讀的小學。每一天戏罢，我經(jīng)過一面墻屋谭，上面有一句話：“是金子總會發(fā)光」旮猓”這些鍍金字當時并沒有照進我幼小的心靈桐磁。
在我中學分班考試的一天，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己被陌生的面孔淹沒讲岁。他們既有來頭我擂，又有很多朋友衬以。相比之下，我覺得自己一無是處校摩。他們仿佛是黃金看峻，但我只是鉛。這種沉重感一直伴隨著我衙吩，直到成績揭曉：我萬萬沒有想到—— 在我的500多名同學之中，我的成績排在第一名坤塞。那些金色的字從內(nèi)心沖擊著我：“是金子總會發(fā)光≈槿颍”
兩年后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己又再次陷入了陌生的處境瘫辩。我來到了這所紅磚裝點的學校就讀9年級伏嗜。盡管我僅僅是因為個人喜好而選擇了AIS，當我第一次打卡入校承绸，從臺階走向小櫥時挣轨，一種莫名的恐懼感卻攫住了我军熏。我不知道去哪里，更不知道將會發(fā)生什么卷扮。不久荡澎，我發(fā)現(xiàn)，雖然我的英語寫作水平不錯摩幔，但我在現(xiàn)實生活中根本沒法與人交流鞭铆。我連我的同學都聽不懂；我做夢也不會想到我會在這里成績拔尖车遂；我更無法想象我在這簡短的4年中能與大家建立持久的友誼。很多同學在開學第一天都會經(jīng)歷這種與世隔絕的奇特感覺舶担。但我們是怎么克服這一切挫折，閃耀著走到今天的衣陶？我們挑戰(zhàn)了自我闸氮，忘卻了種種尷尬和無奈狱意。我們把舊有的偏見變成了一視同仁的接納。我們靠著執(zhí)著和堅持走到了這里财骨；而如果我們繼續(xù)相信這些力量藏姐，它們將帶我們走得更遠隆箩。
每個人生來都是金子羔杨。每個人都心懷著遠大的夢想開啟自己的人生。只要相信自己理澎，刻苦努力曙寡，我們的夢想終將成真糠爬。然而举庶，在我們?nèi)松穆贸讨校覀儽煌饷娴氖澜绻噍斄朔N種殘酷的“現(xiàn)實”：比如說镀琉，我們暗淡無光或是瑕疵斑斑; 比如說，我們永遠不會被人發(fā)現(xiàn); 甚至蕊唐，我們根本不是金子，而只是蒙上一層黃色的路邊石子刃泌。有時，這些話在我們一次次努力的時候困擾著我們，以至于我們開始懷疑自己曹体。我們生來的金色就是這樣一點點褪去。難怪一些黃金（元素79）箕别，通過中子俘獲和β衰變滞谢，褪成黯淡的鉛（元素82）除抛。壞消息是，把鉛變回金子要困難得多橄教。因此竹伸，我們必須努力不讓生而具有的金子褪色紊馏。而如果你保持像金子一樣殊鞭，你終究將大放異彩絮缅。
做好準備负饲。外面的世界并不像我們將要離開的小安樂窩一樣友好。比如返十，不論你如何乞求得到一個A，外面的上司都不會把你的成績提高一分一毫涛漂。社會不在乎有多少人性的金子變成鉛检诗；它只想要貨幣的金子奔流不息。這是一個既累人又毫無公道的游戲逢慌，因為并不是每一滴汗水都能帶你到你想去的地方。不要讓你金子般的激情消逝在生活的倦意之中攻泼。
像金子一樣活著。幸運的是何鸡，我們的金色和物理成分毫無關(guān)系牛欢，而是我們心中的信念燃燒出的光華。很快傍睹，我們之中很多同學將登上飛機犹菱，奔赴異域吮炕，奔向另一個嶄新的世界。記住龙亲，不論怎樣，都要像金子一樣活著捆姜。保留你在AIS積累起的珍貴光芒。永遠記住你的熱情與你的博愛泥技；永遠保持你那充滿希望的美麗心靈磕仅。
不要擔心你不是100％的純金。純金是柔軟的榕订，它的完美就像亮閃閃的廣告那樣致命地脆弱，而任何一點逆境就會讓它變形贩幻。包容自己的一點點缺陷，這些缺陷反而會給予你剛性和個性丛楚，來面對生活中的挑戰(zhàn)憔辫。
像金子一樣活著，不管別人怎么看贰您。眺望前方，挑起重擔舶替。不要等到你的夢想破滅消散杠园。不久，我們可能會告別我們摯愛的朋友返劲，老師和家人。但是孵延，這不是故事的終結(jié); 這僅僅是一個全新的開端亲配。這個時代屬于我們。無論你在哪里吼虎，請永遠記住，你是金子思灰，而你遲早一定會發(fā)光。那一天歹颓，我的朋友油湖，并不那么遙遠。環(huán)顧四周乏德，我們已經(jīng)站在這里，穿著我們引以為傲的禮服胧瓜，閃耀著瘾晃，慶祝著我們?nèi)松械谝淮谓鹕膭倮?/p>
恭喜2014屆畢業(yè)班！
英文原文如下：
ValedictorianAddress:
Stay Gold
Good morning, Mr. F, Mr. W, distinguished guests, faculty, family and ofcourse, my class of 2014.
I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to stand beforeyou today. I consider it a great honor to represent the 2014 graduating classof the AIS.
We have all traveled a long way to reach here today, and I believeeverybody has a unique story to tell. For me, my road began in primary school in QD, China. Each day I walked past a quote hanging on the wall thatread: “If you are gold, you will surely shine someday.” These gold-platedcharacters, however, did not shine into my young mind all at once.
On the day of my middle school entrance exam, I found myself submerged ina sea of strange faces, each boasting of prestigious origins and plenty offriends. I felt worthless among them. It seemed as though they were gold, but Iwas only lead. This heaviness stayed with me until the scores came out: I couldnever have guessed -- I was first place among my grade of five hundredstudents. The golden words struck out at me through that inner voice: “If youare gold, you will surely shine some day.”
And two years later, I found myself again in a strange situation, here atour red-brick AIS, about to begin grade nine. Although I chose AIS purelybecause I liked it, when I actually beeped in for the first time and went downthe stairs to the locker area, I felt terrified. I didn't know where to go, orwhat to expect. Soon I found out that despite my confidence in writing English,I was barely able to communicate in English in? a real life situation. Icouldn’t understand my classmates. I didn’t dream I could outscore my peers, orbuild any lasting friendships in these brief four years. Many of my class couldprobably relate to this bizarre sense of feeling like an outcast andexperiencing isolation on? the first days of school. How did we make itthrough, shining like we do today? We challenged ourselves, discardingembarrassment and frustration. We transformed our outdated values into a newer,broader, acceptance. Dedication and perseverance have brought us here, and willbring us further on still, if we trust their power.
Everyone is born gold. Everyone starts life with a big dream beating intheir heart. By believing in ourselves and by working hard our dreams willeventually come true. Throughout the course of our lives, however, we get toldvery harsh “realities” by the outside world: that we are tarnished or impure;that we are never going to be discovered; that we are just not gold, but,instead, roadside pebbles painted yellow. Sometimes these words haunt our everyendeavour, so much so? that we even start to question ourselves. This ishow our natural goldness wears down. This is how some gold (element 79), vianeutron capture and beta decay, turns into lead (element 82). The bad news isthat it is far harder to turn lead back into gold than the reverse. For thisreason, we must strive never to lose that gold we began with. And if you staygold, you are eventually going to shine.
Be prepared. The world outside is not as friendly as this safe littlehaven we are departing from. The authority out there, for instance, won’t giveyou a percentage more on your grade no matter how hard you plead for an A.Society does not care how much human gold it has to turn into lead, as long as money gold flows in seeming prosperity. It is a tiring game, and anunfair one, because not every drop of sweat leads you somewhere you want to go.Don’t let your golden passion fade away in the weariness of life.
Stay gold. Fortunately for us, our goldness does not depend on ourphysical composition, but on the burning faith in our hearts. Very soon many ofus will board a? plane to an alien country and another brave new world.Remember to stay gold and don’t waver. Retain that precious gleam you havebuilt up here at? AIS. Remember both your passion and your compassion,remember your beautiful soul filled with bountiful hope.
Don’t worry that you are not 100% pure gold. Pure gold is soft, like thefragile perfection of advertisements that glitter in your face, but deformswhen confronted with a subtle shake of adversity. Allow yourself to alloy withsome flaws, which actually give you the? rigidity and character towithstand the many challenges you will face in life.
Stay gold, no matter what you are told. Look forward and bear up the load.Don’t wait till your dream is dead and cold. Shortly, we may say goodbye to ourdearest friends, teachers or family. But this is not the end; this is just afresh new beginning. The era ahead of us belongs to us. No matter where youland, please always remember that you are gold, and you will surely shinesomeday. That day, my friends, is not that distant. Look around; we are alreadyhere, in our proud attire, shining in our first golden victory.
Congratulations to the class of 2014.
