“Your story matters. Your ideas matter. Your experiences matter.” In a virtual commencement speech posted online, former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the class of 2020.
Obama acknowledged that the generation is one defined by activism, particularly around climate change, gun violence, and some other important issues. She encouraged young people to share their stories, to embrace the uncertainty of life and to channel anger into action.
She told them: “Never let anyone tell you that you’re too angry or that you should keep your mouth shut.” Obama believed the graduates will create a better future by carrying the lessons they have learned in these hard times.
友善讓你懂|解說:
受到疫情影響,今年許多世界各地的畢業生都沒辦法參加畢業典禮,但前第一夫人 Michelle Obama 仍然在網路上發表致詞影片,鼓勵2020年應屆畢業生。她說:「你的故事很重要,你的想法很重要,你的經驗也很重要。」
Michelle Obama 認為,即將畢業的這一代,是由行動主義所定義,特別是在面對氣候變遷、槍枝暴力以及其他議題等。因此她鼓勵年輕人勇於講出自己的故事、擁抱生活中的不確定性,並將憤怒轉化為具體行動。
她甚至說:「永遠別讓他人批評你太憤怒了,或是告訴你應該閉嘴。」因為這一代將帶著這段歷經全球疫情、種族歧視等艱難時刻所學到的心得,在未來建立一個更美好的世界。
輕鬆帶著走|學習:
matter 用作動詞,指的是「很重要」,為近期常見單字。日前美國上街抗議種族歧視者,手中往往拿著標語「Black Lives Matter」(黑人的命,也是命)。
例句:Your ideas really matter! Could you elaborate on that? 你的想法真的很重要,可以詳細闡述嗎?
本篇相關的單字介紹如下: