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Perhaps because going to college is so much a part of the American dream, many people go for no particular reason.
可能因為上大學是美國夢的很大一部分，所以許多人上大學并沒有什么特別的原因。
Some go because their parents expect it, others because it's what their friends are doing.
有人是因為父母期望他們上大學，其他人則是因為他們的朋友在上大學。
Then, there's the belief that a college degree will automatically ensure a good job and high pay.
人們相信，大學學位將自然而然能確保有一份好工作和高工資。
Some students drag through four years, attending classes, or skipping them as the case may be,
有些學生單調地度過了大學四年，上課或看情況逃課，
reading only what can't be avoided, looking for less demanding courses,
只讀那些不能回避的書，尋找要求較低的課程，
and never being touched or changed in any important way.
從不會被觸動或發生重要改變。
For a few of these people, college provides no satisfaction.
對于其中幾個人，大學并不能讓他們滿意。
Yet because of parental or peer pressure, they cannot voluntarily leave.
但由于父母或同伴的壓力，他們不能隨便離開大學。
They stop trying in the hope that their teachers will make the decision for them by failing them.
他們不再嘗試離開學校，希望老師通過讓他們不及格來替他們做決定。
To put it bluntly, unless you're willing to make your college years count,
說白了，除非你想讓你的大學生活有價值，
you might be better off doing something else.
否則你做其它事可能更好。
Not everyone should attend college, nor should everyone who does attend begin right after high school.
并不是每個人都應該上大學，也不是要高中畢業后就立即上大學。
Many college students profit from taking a year or so off.
很多大學生從一年左右的休學中受益。
A year out in the world helps some people to sort out their priorities and goals.
離開學校一年幫助一些人整理出他們的輕重緩急和目標。
If you're really going to get something out of going to college, you have to make it mean something.
如果你確實想從上大學得到什么，那你得讓這個經歷有意義。
And to do that you must have some idea why you're there,
為了做到這一點，你必須清楚你為什么在大學里，
what you hope to get out of it, and probably even what you hope to become.
你希望從中學到什么，甚至可能要知道你希望成為什么樣的人。
