This is my
first trip, my first foreign
trip2 as a first lady. Can you believe that? (Applause) And
while3 this is not
my first visit to the U.K.4, I
have to say that I am glad5
that this is my first official visit. The special relationship6 between the United States and the
U.K. is based not only7
on the relationship between governments, but the common language and the values8 that we share9, and I'm reminded of that10 by watching you all today. During11
my visit I've been especially honored to meet some of Britain's most
extraordinary women -- women who are paving
the way12 for all of you.
And I'm honored to meet you, the future leaders of Great Britain13 and this world. And although14 the circumstances of our lives may seem15 very distant, with me standing here17 as the First Lady of the United States of America, and you, just getting through school17, I want you to know that we have very much in common. For nothing in my life's path18 would have predicted19 that I'd be standing here as the first African-American First Lady of the United States of America. There is nothing in my story that would land20 me here. I wasn't raised21 with wealth22 or resources or any social standing23 to speak of. I was raised on the South Side of Chicago.
That's the
real part of Chicago. And I was the product of a working-class
community. My father was a city worker all of his life, and my mother
was a stay-at-home mom. And she stayed at home to take care24 of me and my older brother. Neither of them25 attended26
university. My dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the prime27 of his
life. But even as28
it got harder29
for him to walk and get dressed30
in the morning -- I saw him struggle more and more -- my father never
complained31 about
his struggle32. He
was grateful for what he had. He just woke
up33 a little earlier and worked a little harder.
And my
brother and I were raised with all that you really need: love, strong
values and a belief34
that with a good education and a whole
lot of35 hard work, that there was nothing that we
could not do. I am an example of what's possible when girls from the very
beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by36 the people around them. I was surrounded by37
extraordinary women in my life: grandmothers, teachers, aunts, cousins,
neighbors, who taught38
me about quiet strength39
and dignity.
And my
mother, the most important role model40
in my life, who lives with us at the White House and helps to care
for our two little daughters, Malia and Sasha. She's an active
presence in their lives, as well as41
mine, and is instilling
in them the same values that she taught me and my brother: things
like compassion, and integrity, and confidence, and perseverance
-- all of that wrapped up43
in an unconditional love that only a grandmother can give.
I was also fortunate enough44 to
be cherished and
encouraged by some strong male46
role models as well47,
including my father, my brother, uncles and grandfathers. The men in my
life taught48 me
some important things, as well. They taught me about what a respectful relationship49 should
look like between men and women. They taught me about what a strong marriage50 feels like51: that
it's built on faith52
and commitment53 and
an admiration for each other's unique gifts54. They
taught me about what it means to be a father and to raise a family. And
not only to invest in your own home but to reach out and help raise
kids in the broader55
community.
And these
were the same qualities that I looked
for56 in my own husband, Barack Obama. And when we first met57, one
of the things that I remember is that he took me out on a date58. And this date was to go with him to
a community meeting59. (Laughter) I
know, how romantic. (Laughter) But when we met, Barack was a
community organizer. He worked, helping people to find jobs and to
try to bring resources60
into struggling neighborhoods61.
As he talked
to the residents in that community center, he talked about two
concepts. He talked about "the world as it is" and "the
world as it should be." And I talked about this throughout62 the entire campaign. What he
said, that all too often63, is
that we accept the distance between those two ideas. And sometimes we settle64 for the
world as it is, even when65
it doesn't reflect our values and aspirations. But Barack reminded us on
that day, all of us in that room, that we all know what our world
should look like. We know what fairness66
and justice and opportunity look like. We all know. And he urged67 the people in
that meeting, in that community, to devote themselves to closing the gap68 between
those two ideas, to work together to try to make the world as it
is and the world as it should be, one and the same.
And I think
about that today because I am reminded and convinced that all of you in
this school are very important parts of closing that gap. You are the
women who will build the world as it should be. You're going to write the
next chapter in history. Not just for yourselves, but for your
generation and generations to come. And that's why69 getting a good education is so
important. That's why all of this that you're going through70 -- the ups and the downs,
the teachers that you love and the teachers that you don't -- why it's so
important. Because communities and countries and ultimately the
world are only as strong as the health of their women. And that's
important to keep in mind71.
Vocabulary
1. plea = apelo
2. foreign trip = viagem internacional
3. while = embora
4. U.K = United
Kingdom (Reino Unido)
5. Glad =
contente
6. Relationship = relacionamento
7. not only =
não somente
8. values =
valores
9. share =
compartilhamos
10.
I'm reminded of that = eu sou
lembrada disso
11.
During = durante
12.
paving the way =
“pavimentando” o caminho
13.
Great Britain = Grã
Bretanha
14.
although = embora
15.
may seem = podem parecer
16.
standing here = aqui de pé
17.
getting through school = passando pela escola
18.
path = caminho
19.
predicted = previsto
20.
land = desembarcar,
colocar
21.
raised = criada
22.
wealth = riqueza
23.
social standing = posição social
24.
take care = cuidar
de
25.
Neither of them =
nenhum deles
26.
Attended = cursava
27.
Prime = auge
28.
even as = até mesmo
quando
29.
it got harder = ficou mais dificil
30.
get dressed = vestir-se
31.
complained = reclamou
32.
struggle = luta
33.
woke up = acordava
34.
belief = crença
35.
whole lot of = uma
grande quantidade de
36.
nurtured by =
nutrida por
37.
surrounded by =
cercada por
38.
taugh = ensinaram
39.
quiet strength = força tranquila
40.
role model = modelo, exemplo
41.
as well as = assim
como
42.
instilling = incutindo
43.
wrapped up = embrulhado, envolvido
44.
fortunate enough =
afortunada o bastante
45.
cherished = apreciada
46.
male = do sexo masculino
47.
as well = também
48.
taught = ensinaram
49.
relationship = relacionamento
50.
marriage = casamento
51.
feels like = se parece
52.
built on faith = edificado sobre a fé
53.
commitment = compromisso
54.
gifts = dons
55.
broader = mais amplo(a)
56.
looked for = procurei
57.
when we first met =
quando nos encontramos pela primeira vez
58.
date =
encontro
59.
meeting = reunião
60.
resources = recursos
61.
struggling neighborhoods = bairros em luta
62.
throughout = por
todo o, ao longo de
63.
all too often = demasiadas vezes
64.
settle = acomodar-se
65.
even when = mesmo quando
66.
fairness = equidade
67.
urged = motivou, incitou
68.
closing the gap = diminuir a distância
69.
that's why = é porisso que
70.
going through = atravessando
71.
keep in mind = ter em mente