close
天候漸熱，綠樹成蔭，初夏的畢業季節又將來臨了。不久前，住在美東的表姐發來一個電郵 ：她的長公子即將從高中畢業，學校在徵集親友們的「畢業祝賀信」（Senior Letter）。希望我也能共襄盛舉，寫點什麼給小伙子作紀念。
我在美國住了這麼多年，竟不知道Senior Letter是什麼東西。看了信中附上的說明，才知道這是眾親友寫給畢業生的賀函，學校會統一收集，在畢業餐會上分發給學生。校方還特別聲明：請大家善頌善禱，努力歌功頌德，重溫美好回憶；千萬別在這裏算老賬、放冷箭，說些煞風景的事情。
我當然很樂意為外甥寫Senior Letter。他是個高大英武、彬彬有禮的年輕人；在校成績優良，運動方面也非常出色。但我和他不是很熟，只見過幾次面，比較沒有私密的溫馨回憶可以發揮；所以就寫了封以祝賀、鼓勵為主的短信。貼在這裏和大家分享吧：
Congratulations on your graduation!
These are the best days of your life: You are young. You are healthy. You are smart, carefree, full of energy. The future is bright and the possibilities are endless.
And you are one of the luckiest kids in the world: You were born with perfect health. You grow up in a country which grants all citizens freedom and equal rights, in a family full of love and care, in an environment where all necessities of life are bountiful. I am so happy and proud to see you developing into a confident, intelligent and strong young gentleman.
Be proud of yourself. Take pride in your abilities to learn from the world, to develop your natural talents, to love, to care, to explore, to enjoy the golden life path which is unfolding in front of you.
In the meanwhile, be humble. Be appreciative of the fact that you were not born into the horrible sufferings and deprivations that many people in the world now and past cannot escape from, and try your best to help those who are not as fortunate as you are.
Now it’s time for you to step forward and see the world. You need to be brave but also kind, to be proud but also humble. And do not forget: As your family, we all love you, and will support you always.
外甥雖然念過中文，應該沒有學到能看一般書信的程度。不過我還是把它翻譯一下，以便台灣的親友閱讀：
恭喜你畢業了！
這是你一生中最美好的歲月。你年輕、健康。你聰明俊秀、無憂無慮、渾身是勁。你的前途光明，可以選擇的道路無窮無盡。
而且你是全世界最幸運的孩子之一：你生來擁有完美的健康身體；你降生在一個人人自由平等的國度，成長在一個充滿愛心和關懷的家庭、一個生活物資豐盈的環境。看著你蛻變成一個自信、睿智、堅強的青年，我內心喜樂無限，深深以你為榮。
你要以自已為榮。要自豪你有能力能從世事中學習，能發揮你與生俱來的專長，能夠去愛，去關懷，去探索，去享受在你面前開展的、閃爍如金的生命之路。
但是同時你也要謙虛。要感恩你沒有生在一個苦難、貧乏的境地。從古至今，世上有很多人無法逃脫這種悲慘的宿命。你以後要竭盡所能，幫助那些沒有你幸運的人們。
現在你走出去看世面的時間到了。你必需要勇敢，但同時也要慈悲；要自傲，也要自謙。還有別忘記：我們是一家人。我們愛你，會永永遠遠支持你。
在此祝福所有即將踏出校門的年輕朋友：海闊天空，前途無量！
全站熱搜
留言列表
