But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated¹ teachers, the most supportive parents, 但说到底，即使我们拥有最敬业的教师，最尽力的家长

the best schools in the world—and none of it will make a difference, 和全世界最好的学校——如果你们大家不履行你们的责任，

none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill² your responsibilities, 不到学校上课、不专心听讲，不听父母、祖父母和其他大人的话，

unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, 不付出去的成功所必须的勤奋努力，

unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. 那么这一切都毫无用处，都无关紧要。

That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. 这就是我今天讲话的重点：你们每个人对自己的教育应尽的责任。

I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. 我首先要讲讲你们对自己应尽的责任。

Every single one of you has something that you're good at. 你们每个人都有自己的长处。

Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. 你们每个人都能做出自己的贡献。你们对自己应尽的责任是发现自己的能力所在。

That's the opportunity an education can provide. 而教育能够提供这样的机会。

Maybe you could be a great writer—maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper— 你或许能成为一名出色的作家——甚至可能书写或在报纸上发表文章——

but you might not know it until you write that English paper—that English class paper that's assigned to you. 但你可能要在完成那篇英文课的作文后才会发现自己的才华。

Maybe you could be an innovator³ or an inventor—maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone 你或许能成为一名创新者或者发明家——甚至可能设计出新一代iphone或研制出新型药物或疫苗

or the new medicine or vaccine—but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. 但你可能要在完成科学课的实验后才会发现自己的才华。

Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme⁴ Court justice— 你或许能成为一名市长或参议员或最高法院的大法官——

but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team. 但你可能要在参加学生会的工作或辩论队后才会发现自己的才华。