We are at that time of year when students are frantically selecting courses for their upcoming year of university. I love getting to talk with first-year students about what courses they want to take and what they hope to do with their degree.
又到了大學(xué)生們開始抓狂為下個學(xué)年選課的時候了。我也很喜歡尤其是和一年級新生們討論他們想修的課程，包括了解他們未來對自己想在學(xué)位上取得成績的預(yù)期。
Best of all, I love the students that come in well-prepared and excited for all of the courses—those students who say, "I can't choose, there are so many that sound interesting." When I hear that, I know that that student is going to do well.
我最喜歡看到同學(xué)們進來的時候都準備好了，對所有課程都感到興奮，躊躇滿志的樣子。尤其那些同學(xué)，他們會說：我簡直無法選擇，太多課程都太有趣了。當(dāng)我聽到這樣的話，我便知道他們都會干得漂亮。
On the other hand, there are the few students that have not yet found their passion and some that just don't seem to want to be here at all. When I ask, "what courses are you most excited about taking?" and the response is, "whatever course is the easiest," I think, "Wow, you are in for a lot of lessons in the subject of life."
而另一方面，也有少數(shù)人并沒有找到學(xué)習(xí)的激情，其中一些看上去甚至都不想來上學(xué)。每當(dāng)我問：“你最想上什么課？”時，他們只是回答：“嗯，最簡單的就好。” 此時我會在想：“不得了，你們生命中可真是有不少課要上了。”
I learned those lessons when I was going into my second year of university. A friend of mine, Jeff, was a year behind because he had been diagnosed with cancer and had been going through intensive chemotherapy during what should have been his first year. I spent many days up on the cancer ward visiting Jeff.
當(dāng)我進入大學(xué)二年級的時候，我學(xué)到了那些生活教給我的課程。我的一個朋友，名叫Jeff, 他落后了一年，因為他被診斷出了癌癥，本該上一年級的時間，他幾乎都用來進行高強度的化療，我也花了許多時間去癌癥病房探望他。

Lessons learned
我學(xué)到的
During my second year, Jeff was able to register for his first year courses and on the days when he was up to it, he would rally all of his energy and go to class. Jeff was told that his diagnosis was terminal and that there was nothing more that they could do for him. Jeff knew that these were the last weeks of his life and his priority was not to go sky-diving and visit exotic lands; all he wanted to do was be a regular 20-year-old and go to his first classes at university.
在我上二年級的時候，Jeff可以注冊上第一年級的課程了。到他終于能夠來上學(xué)的日子，他必須打起十二分的精神來上課。因為Jeff實際上已經(jīng)被告知他的病已是晚期，醫(yī)生也為無力回天。Jeff自己也知道這已經(jīng)是他生命中所剩下的為數(shù)不多的幾周了，但是，他的首選并不是去跳傘，去世界稀奇之地旅游，他最想做的就是做一個正常的20歲的年輕人，去上他大學(xué)的第一堂課。
Jeff would have known that he was never going to graduate and yet he was able to see the value and gift that education was and spent his last few weeks learning. While Jeff was learning about Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus, he was also teaching me an important life-long lesson—Go To Class!
盡管Jeff早已知道他這輩子無法從大學(xué)畢業(yè)了，但他仍然能夠看見用生命中最后的時日來學(xué)習(xí)的價值。當(dāng)Jeff學(xué)習(xí)著化學(xué)、物理、微積分的時候，他也在教我生命中最重要的一堂課——去上課！去學(xué)習(xí)！
It seems un-profound, but really he taught me the importance of taking full advantage of the basic things in life.
這領(lǐng)悟看上去并不那么深刻，但是他真的教會我明白了盡可能利用好生活之本的重要性。
The best things in life are not those rare moments that are exceptional, but those everyday moments, the routine that we create, the regular ways that we occupy our time and build our life. If we can find inspiration in the everyday, we will be present and engaged in ways that will invariably lead to success and happiness.
生活中最好的事并不是那些獨特的，可遇而不可求的瞬間，而是簡單的日常瞬間。那些我們每天的常規(guī)，我們用以填充時間，構(gòu)建生命的普通日常。如果每天都能獲得啟發(fā)，活得有意義，那我們一定會獲得成功和快樂。
The big picture
宏觀地看
Jeff passed away on October 10th of my second year. He only made it to his first month of university. From that moment on, I saw each class and assignment differently. When I started to feel overwhelmed, tired and stressed, I would think of Jeff and it revitalized me. I have always gone to class. It is a simple way that I pay tribute to Jeff's strength and honour his memory.
我大學(xué)二年級的的十月十日，Jeff去世了。他只盡力完成了第一個月的學(xué)習(xí)。從那以后，我開始以新的眼光來看待每一門學(xué)科和每一份作業(yè)。每當(dāng)我開始感覺不勝重負，疲勞，壓力山大時，我一想到Jeff就會重新打起精神。我從不缺課，這也是我向他的力量致敬的方式，他活在我的心里。
Although I graduated many years ago, I am committed to life-long learning. Every year I take another course or attend a conference. I happily engage in the routine of my life and am grateful.
雖然我已經(jīng)畢業(yè)多年，我仍將自己投入了一生的學(xué)習(xí)中。每一年我上一門新的課程或者出席學(xué)術(shù)會議，我都很開心地參與其中，它們就是我的日常，我很感恩。
As you chose your courses and as the school year draws closer, think of Jeff. When you are too tired, too stressed, too bored, too confused; think of Jeff, pick yourself up and Go To Class.
隨著新學(xué)年的到來，當(dāng)你開始選課的時候，也想一想Jeff，當(dāng)你覺得又累又疲憊又無聊乏味又茫然不知所措的時候，想一想Jeff，打起精神來，好好上課吧！