今天我们将进行“少年当自强”系列演讲第三讲——《自立》
today our topic is about self-reliance.
记得小时候听过这样一个童话：小蜗牛背着一个重重的壳，它觉得很累，就问妈妈：“为什么我们要背负着这个又硬又重的壳呢？”蜗牛妈妈说：“因为我们的身体没有骨骼，爬得又慢，所以需要这个壳的保护。”小蜗牛又问：“毛虫姐姐和蚯蚓弟弟也没有骨骼，为什么它们不用背这个又硬又重的壳呢？”蜗牛妈妈告诉它是因为毛虫姐姐能变成蝴蝶，天空会保护她；蚯蚓弟弟会钻进土里，大地会保护他。小蜗牛哭了：“我们好可怜，天空不保护，大地也不保护。”蜗牛妈妈说：“所以我们有壳啊！我们不靠天，也不靠地，我们靠自己！虽然爬得慢，但只要坚持努力，总有一天我们会爬到金字塔的顶端！”
i still remember a tale told in my childhood. a little snail felt so tired with a heavy shell on his back that he asked his mother: why do we have to bear such a heavy and hard shell? his mother answered,“ because we have no bones and move rather slowly, we need the shell for protection.” “then why don’t caterpillar sis and earthworm bro have shells? they don’t have bones either!” asked the little snail. his mother told him that caterpillars can turn into butterflies, which would be protected by the sky; earthworms can dig into the soil and the earth would protect them. the little snail sobbed, “ why isn’t there anyone to protect us?” the snail mother smiled and said, “ but we’ve got shells! we neither rely on the sky nor the earth. we count on ourselves. although we move slowly, we could climb to the top of the pyramid with our persistence.”
是的，我们不靠天，也不靠地，我们靠自己！我们要独立完成自己力所能及的事情，要勇敢的面对生活中的不如意，要坚定自己的理想，不为外力所撼动！要自立自强，走好人生每一步！
indeed, we should be independent. we should spare no efforts to fulfill our greatest potential, to face obstacles with courage, to strive hard for our goals. be independent, and be strong!
一位中国留学生以优异的成绩考入了美国一所著名的大学。怀揣梦想,他告别父母,远离家乡。但是,入学不久，他就提出了退学。理由很简单：生活饮食不习惯，父母所给的生活费已经花完。回到家乡的机场,迎接他的是年近花甲的父亲，但当他高兴的向久违的父亲扑过去时，父亲没有像往常一样抱住他，而是退了一步，儿子扑了个空,一个趔趄摔倒在地。父亲看着尴尬的儿子深情的说:“孩子,这个世界上没有任何人可以做你的靠山,你若想在激烈的竞争中立于不败之地,任何时候都不能丧失那个叫自立、自信、自强的生命支点,一切全靠你自己。”说完，父亲塞给儿子一张返程机票。这位学生没跨进家门就直接登上了返回美国的航班，父亲的话改变了他。后来他不仅获得了学院里的最高奖学金，且有数篇论文陆续发表在有国际影响的刊物上。
a chinese student made it into a renowned american university with excellent grades. hopeful and ambitious, the student left his hometown. but only after a few weeks of american school life, he dropped out. and the reasons are simple: the student was not used to american lifestyle or eating habits. also, he has run out of money. back to china, the student’s father was watching for his son in the airport. so excited to see dad, the student rushed to his father and expected a hug as usual. nonetheless, the father stepped back and left his son falling on the ground. watching his confused son, the father said, “there is no one you can permanently rely on, my child. if you want to be competent, you must always stay independent, confident and ambitious. remember, all you can count on is yourself.” then the father sent the student back to america without a short stay at home. soon, having been encouraged by his father’s words, the diligent student not only won the first prize scholarship in his college, but also published many academic papers on internationally influential magazines.
不久的将来，我们也要踏出国门，我们该怎样面对即将到来的独立生活？我们该如何培养自立自强的能力？郑板桥告诉我们：“流自己的汗，吃自己的饭，自己的事情自己干，靠天靠人靠祖宗，不算是好汉。”毛主席教导我们：“孩儿立志出乡关，学不成名誓不还”；莎士比亚激励我们：不要留恋“饭来张口，衣来伸手”的寄生虫似的生活，要独立，要勇敢的走出去……
also ,we are about to study abroad in the future. then, how could we cultivate the ability for living independently and deal with this sort of life. zheng banqiao once said than be a man and get dependent on yourself. chair mao instructed us that never return to the starting point until being successful. shakespeare inspired us to be away from the life like a parasite and to learn how to be self-dependent.
在很多发达国家里，父母普遍都很重视从小培养孩子的自立能力和精神。因为现在的市场社会要求其成员必须具备这种能力和精神。美国的中学生有句口号：“要花钱自己挣！” 在瑞士，长期依靠父母无法自立的人，被认为是没有出息或可耻的。在日本，孩子很小的时候，就被灌输这样一种思想：“不给别人添麻烦。”上学要自己背包，要利用课余时间参加劳动赚学费等等，即使是富家子弟也不例外。
in many developed countries, parents largely pay attention to teach their kids independence, which is strongly headed in today’s society. american students always claim: to earn money by themselves. swiss consider those dependent on parents disgraceful. japanese kids are told “ do not trouble others” in condition , even those students born rich must go to school by themselves, and take part-time jobs after class.
“自古雄才多磨难，从来纨绔少伟男。” 竹需经霜才成笛，风雨过后见彩虹。自立自强，是生存的基石；自强自立，是人生成功的第一步！“一屋不扫，何以扫天下？”一个什么事都想要依靠别人才能完成的人是没办法成大事的，更不必说撑起祖国的明天了。作为新时代的中华少年，不应三十而立，而是现在就要自强自立。生命会因自立而美好，自立将让人生更辉煌！同学们，让自立自强变成我们的习惯吧！
being independent and ambitious is the first step towards a successful life. without being self-reliant, a man cannot achieve great accomplishments. as vigorous chinese students, we are supposed to become self-reliant right now. an independent life is more pleasant, an independent life is more promising. my friends, let’s rely on ourselves.
