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Over the ensuing decades, I would work for eight presidents of both political parties.
在接下来的几十年里，我为两党的8位总统工作过。
As president of a great university and as Secretary of Defense for both Presidents Bush and Obama, I witnessed the goodness of America's young people,
作为一所伟大大学的校长以及布什总统和奥巴马总统的国防部长，我见证了美国年轻人的善良，
their willingness to volunteer to help their communities, but also to put on a uniform and risk their lives for our country.
他们愿意志愿帮助自己的社区，也愿意穿上军装冒着生命危险为我们的国家服务。
Overcoming the challenges we now face, overcoming pandemic disease, economic hardship unlike any we have seen in 80 years
克服我们现在所面临的挑战，克服流行性疾病，我们80年来从未经历过的经济困难
and destructive political divisiveness will require the willingness of America's best
和具有破坏性的政治分歧，都需要美国各行各业最优秀、
and brightest young people from all walks of life to step forward and bring your talents and fresh perspectives to bear.
最聪明的年轻人站出来，发挥自己的才能、提出新的观点。
As you graduate, I ask you to consider spending some of your time and at least part of your life giving back to your community, your state, or our country.
在你们毕业之际，我请你们考虑用一些时间、至少用一部分时间来回报你们的社区、你们的州或者我们的国家。
I know today's often rancorous and even nasty political discourse can be disheartening.
我知道，如今常常充满敌意、甚至是肮脏的政治话语可能令人沮丧。
And I worry that too many of our brightest young Americans so often public minded, so often engaged as students
我担心，我们这些最聪明的美国年轻人在学校和社区中常常热心公益、参与志愿服务，
when it comes to volunteerism in school and in their communities, turn a side after graduation when it comes to taking a path toward public service.
但在毕业后走上公共服务之路时，他们却选择了退让。
As someone who entered public service nearly years ago, I am more familiar than most with its frustrations and challenges.
作为近几年前进入公共服务领域的人，我比大多数人更熟悉其中的挫折和挑战。
Each person in public service has his or her own story and motives.
每个从事公共服务的人都有他或她自己的故事和动机。
But I believe if you scratch deeply enough you will find that those who serve,
但我相信，如果你深入挖掘，你会发现，那些为国服务的人，
no matter how outwardly tough or jaded, are in their heart of hearts romantics and idealists, and optimists.
无论表面上多么坚韧或疲惫，在内心深处都是浪漫主义者、理想主义者和乐观主义者。
We actually believe we can make a difference, that we can improve the lives of others, that we can better the future of this country and this world.
事实上，我们相信我们可以有所作为，我们可以改善其他人的生活，我们可以让这个国家和这个世界的未来变得更加美好。
One of the great women of American history, in a letter to her son and future president John Quincy Adams during the Revolution, wrote,
美国历史上一位伟大的女性在给她的儿子，也就是后来的总统约翰·昆西·亚当斯的一封信中写道：
"These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life that great characters are formed. Great necessities call out great virtues."
“这是一个天才希望生活的时代，伟大的性格不是在平静的生活中形成的，伟大的需要激发伟大的美德。
So I ask you, the Class of 2020, will you accept the challenge of finding a personal path to serve your fellow citizens?
因此，我问你们，2020年的毕业生们，你们是否愿意接受这个挑战，找到一条为同胞服务的个人道路？
As you graduate into a world of anxiety and fear and hardship for so many, will you be one of those on the other side of the window?
当你们毕业后进入一个对许多人来说充满焦虑、恐惧和艰难的世界时，你会成为窗户另一边的人吗？
Those helping to heal communities and forge a better world. Again, congratulations to you, the Class of 2020, and God bless you.
那些帮助重建社区、打造更美好世界的人。再次祝贺你们，2020届的毕业生们，上帝保佑你们。
