We asked a range of well-known Americans what they remembered most about their college years.
Jerry Yang1
Stanford was the only school I applied to that didn’t provide me with ample financial aid. Nevertheless, the opportunity to pursue an exceptional, well-rounded2 education outweighed3 the costs. I have an unforgettable set of memories from Stanford: I remember pulling all-nighters4 with friends, interacting with great professors in electrical engineering and, of course, I remember cheering on my Stanford Cardinal5. Those years just flew by; looking back, I wish I’d spent more time enjoying the campus, friends and the resources available to me—I really should have worked harder on my golf game! When I chose to pursue a graduate degree, I met David Filo6 in the Ph.D.7 program, and together we founded Yahoo ... The rest is history.
Mark Cuban8
When I was applying to college, Indiana University (IU) was the cheapest of the top 10 undergraduate business schools in the country. For a kid with little money but a strong interest in business, attending IU was probably the luckiest move I ever made. As a freshman, I decided to complete the toughest requirements for my major9 early on and take my freshman classes during senior year so that by the time I was old enough to drink10, classes wouldn’t be so hard. By the time the school realized what I’d done, I’d completed the coursework11 for half of an M.B.A.12
Bill O’Reilly13
I went to Marist14 to play on their club football team: I was a quarterback15, kicker16 and punter17. I remember having a lot of laughs at Marist. My friends—many of whom I still stay in touch with—and I had good, clean fun. Probably my fondest memories are of the year I spent abroad at the University of London. That experience helped me open up my eyes to the greater, international world of politics and furthered my interests in policy and journalism18.
Colin Powell19
I grew up in a tenement20 neighborhood in South Bronx21. I graduated from high school with a C average22 and few ideas about my future. I entered City College as an engineering major—my mother’s wishes—and couldn’t believe what I’d gotten myself into. After five months I switched to geology23. I got to study rocks! It might seem surprising, considering my later career, that I didn’t major in political science or history, but it’s not like I was telling people I was going to be Secretary of State24 ... It was unimaginable. In 1954 I joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)25—a program providing me with the discipline and order lacking in my life26.
Blythe Danner27
I grew up in a very conservative28 household—but luckily for me, also quite artistic. When my parents demanded I go to college—I had considered taking a few years off to pursue my theatrical29 interests—I chose Bard30. It’s located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, and was conceived31 as a bohemian32 school. I remember being taught by Anthony Hecht, the renowned33 poet, and performing with Bill Evans, the famous jazz34 pianist. In my spare time I sang and played the flute for a jazz group and participated in some bizarre35, but wonderful, Shakespearean plays. I remember one performance where I performed while standing on a moped36 in a bikini37. I give Bard a lot of credit for38 helping me to begin my career: I learned jazz and theater there. In terms of advice, I’d urge you to pour yourself into everything that interests you. Take advantage of all the opportunities.
摘自http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14325088/site/newsweek/
Notes:
1. Jerry Yang 杨致远，祖籍中国台湾，美国斯坦福大学电机工程专业学士、硕士。1995年他放弃即将完成的博士学位，创建雅虎公司，将网络搜索引擎商业化。
2. well-rounded 全面的，综合发展的
3. outweigh 在重量（或价值等方面）超过
4. pull an all-nighter 熬夜
5. Stanford Cardinal斯坦福红衫队
6. David Filo大卫•费罗，斯坦福大学电机工程系的博士生，雅虎另一创始人
7. Ph.D. 博士学位
8. Mark Cuban马克•库班，达拉斯小牛队老板。1983年创建计算机资讯公司Micro-Solutions，并在网络经济最繁荣时将其卖给了美国最大的在线服务公司。1995年成立广播网Broadcast.com，成为多媒体行业的主要运营商，1999年以57亿美元的价格将其卖给雅虎。2000年1月14日，库班收购了NBA达拉斯小牛队。
9. major 专业
10. drink这里指喝酒
11. coursework 课程作业
12. M.B.A. 即Master of Business Administration, 工商管理硕士
13. Bill O’Reilly 比尔•奥雷利，福克斯新闻频道著名主持人，已出版四部畅销书。
14. Marist 即Marist College, 玛丽斯特学院
15. quarterback 橄榄球四分卫，后场运动员
16. kicker 追加得分射门的球员
17. punter踢悬空球的人
18. journalism 新闻业
19. Colin Powell 科林•鲍威尔，牙买加后裔，生于纽约。1989年被任命为美国参谋长联席会议主席，晋升四星上将。他是美国历史上第一位任该职的黑人，也是最年轻的参谋长联席会议主席。2001年1月出任美国国务卿，成为美国历史上第一位担任该职的黑人。
20. tenement 廉价公寓
21. Bronx布朗克斯区 （美国纽约市一行政区）
22. average平均，平均分
23. geology 地质学
24. Secretary of State 国务卿
25. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 美国后备军官训练团
26. the discipline and order lacking in my life 我生活中所缺乏的纪律和秩序
27. Blythe Danner布利茨•丹娜，美国女演员，凭借电视剧《精神病医师赫夫》（Huff）中的表演获第57届艾美奖最佳女配角奖
28. conservative 保守的
29. theatrical 剧场的，演剧的
30. Bard巴德学院
31. conceive 认为
32. bohemian 不受陈规束缚的
33. renowned 有名望的，著名的
34. jazz爵士乐
35. bizarre 奇异古怪的
36. moped机动脚踏两用车
37. bikini （三角裤与胸罩分开的）比基尼
38. give sb. credit for 为……而赞扬某人
|
