Dean Baucum，Leaders，Faculty，Parents，Friends，and members of the graduating class of 2008，

I am indeed honored to be able to say a few words today in celebration of your accomplishments. Today is indeed a special day for you! It is a milestone in your life.

Think of all you have done! An American humorist has said, “you have come along way baby!!!!” So far on your journey of life, you learned to walk and talk; your learned to read and write; first Chinese, then English! You learned to share and play fair. You learned how to make friends, maybe, but hopefully not, some enemies as well. You have learned how to love, hug, laugh and cry!

Remember life is a journey not a destination. Enjoy the journey. You have journeyed through childhood and school. Now you will continue on to new places. You have worked hard, gained new knowledge and made many friends. Be proud of all you have done!

Think back to when you arrived here as a scared and lowly freshman. You knew few people and it was your first time away from the loving security of grandparents, parents and classmates. You were on your own in a strange place and had to struggle to find your way! Some had to fight off tears and terrible homesickness. Others had difficulty finding their place. Adjustments came hard. But you did it. You had courage and you did not even realize it!!! You just did it! You stayed with it through all the good times and all the bad times! Your struggles and efforts led you here today to this celebration.

Now your journey continues. Where will you go? What will you do? What road will you chose to travel down?  Vermont poet Robert Frost writes of, The Road Not Taken. He came to a crossroads in the woods and had to make a choice. He could choose the road everyone generally took or he could take a far less traveled road. You will have to choose. Life’s journey is filled with choices. Some choices are good, some not so good.

One of your first choices will be work. You will be out there looking for a job. Will you work to live or live to work? Will you work only for money or will you look for something that you have a passion for?  Here is where you attitudes will come into play. Be confident about yourself. Look how far you have already come! Know yourself. Take a sheet of paper and make two columns. In one, list your strengths; in the other, list your weaknesses. Build upon your strengths; think about how you might make the weaknesses into strengths. This simple exercise will help you when you interview for a job, as you will know yourself better. It will also help you with choices.

Another choice will be the road of family. Will you marry? Have a child? Your parents will pressure you to do this. Society will pressure you to do this. Will it be the right choice for you? You will make the choice. Think carefully about this choice. Are you ready to accept the responsibilities that come with raising a family?

And what of your choices in friendship? You have made friends along the journey so far and you have learned that some are true friends; others are more acquaintances. You will move on and make new friends and acquaintances. Keep in touch with the old true friends while enjoying the new ones. Treat others, as you want to be treated.

Your choices may not work out well. Then, what do you do? You can despair? Fall into depression. Pity yourself and follow a negative path or you can deal with your situation in a more positive way and take action to try and make things right again.

How can you do that?  You can use a simple problem solving method. Ask yourself: “What am I trying to do?” Then, “What is preventing me from doing it? Finally, define your options. What choices might work to help me deal with the barriers I face?

Again this is where you have to know yourself. You have to like yourself. Friends and family may offer advice. Listen but then realize that you have to talk to and listen to yourself. It is your journey. You make the choices. You have to stand on your own two feet.

Live a balanced life. Learn some; think some, sing and dance and play and work some everyday. Make time for friends, family and yourself. Enjoy you life’s journey. It is very short and each of us only gets to make this journey once.

“You have come along way, baby.”  Celebrate today.  Tomorrow you are on your way to further adventures.

We all wish you every success on your continuing journey of life.

Thank you.

鲍院长，领导们，老师们，家长们，朋友们和2008届的毕业生，

今天我很荣幸在这个庆祝你们的所得成就的时刻说上几句话。今天对你们来说是一个特别的一天，是你们人生的里程碑。

想想你们做过的一切！一名美国幽默家曾说“宝贝，你进步很大！” 你的生命旅途至今，你学会了说话，学会了走路；你学会了认字，学会了写字，先是中文，然后是英文！ 你学会了分享和遵守规矩。你学会了怎样结交朋友，可能也有了一些敌人，但希望没有。你学会了怎样去爱，拥抱，笑和哭。

请记住人生是一个旅程而不是目的地。享受这场旅程。你已经渡过了童年期和学习期。你现在将会继续去新的地方。你曾努力地付出，获得了知识，也结交了许多朋友。你们要为你们所做的感到骄傲！

回头想想当你刚来到这里的时候，你还是一个惊恐的无助的新生。你几乎不认识任何人，这次是你第一次离开爷爷奶奶，爸爸妈妈，和同学们的关爱。你独自一人在一个陌生的地方，要努力生存。有一些还因为太想家而掉了泪。有一些找不到自己要去的地方。这些调整都很难，但是你们都做到了。连你自己都不知道你有这个勇气。你就这么做到了。你还坚持了下来，渡过了一些好时光，也渡过了一些坏时光！你的挣扎和你的努力把你带到了今天的庆典。

现在你的旅程还在继续。你将会去哪里？你将做什么？你将要选择哪条路继续前进？佛蒙特州诗人罗伯特·福斯特写过一首诗，‘没有走过的路’。 他走到了森林里的十字路口，他必须要做出选择，是要选择大多数人都走的那条路，还是选择那条人烟稀少的路。你必须要做出一个选择。生命的旅程充满了选择。有一些是好的选择，有一些是不好的选择。

你其中最首要的选择应该是工作。你会去找工作。你是为生活而工作还是为工作而生活？你是只是因为钱而工作还是为你感兴趣的事工作？你的态度将在这里发挥作用。要对自己有信心。你看看你已经走了多远。认识你自己。拿一张纸在上面画一条线分成两列。在一边写下你的强项，另一边写下你的弱项。培养你的强项；想想怎样把你的弱项变成强项。这个简单的训练在你更了解自己的同时也对面试有用。这也会帮助你做出选择。

另一个选择就是走上成家之路。你会不会结婚？生小孩？你的父母会给你压力。社会也会给你压力。这对你是一个正确的选择吗？你将做出选择。仔细考虑这个选择。你是否做好准备迎来一个家庭带来的责任。

那么，你又是怎么选择朋友的？你在这一路上结交了不少朋友，你也发现有一些是真正的朋友；另一些只是熟人。你将继续前行，将结识更多的朋友和熟人。在结交新朋友的同时也要和旧日的好朋友联系。你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对待别人。

你的选择也许没有成功。那么，你会做什么？你可以感到绝望，陷入抑郁情绪。自怜自艾选择消极，或者你也可以选择以更加积极的方式去面对，采取行动去尝试新鲜事物，从新站起来。

你怎样能做到呢？你可以用一个简单的解决问题方法。问你自己：“我要做什么？”接着，“是什么阻拦我去做？”最后，确定你有哪些选择。哪一种选择可以帮我处理我面对的困难呢？

再次你要认识你自己。你必须要喜欢你自己。朋友和家人可以提出建议。听取这些建议但却要知道你必须和你自己交谈和倾听你自己的声音。这是你的旅途。你自己作选择。你必须自己靠自己的双脚站立起来。

过一个平衡的生活。每一天学一些，想一些，唱歌跳舞，工作玩乐一些。为朋友，家人，和自己找一些时间。享受你的生命旅程。这个旅程很短，我们每一个人只能过一次。

“宝贝，你进步很大！” 今天让我们庆祝。明天你们将踏上探险之途。

祝愿你们在未来的生命旅程中获得每个成功！

谢谢大家！