卒業式でのスピーチ

先日、掃除をしていたら、懐かしい紙を見つけました。ユタ大学の卒業式では、面白い学生に卒業スピーチをさせることになっていて、僕が卒業した年は、なぜか？僕が選ばれました。大変お世話になっている先生と、ぎりぎりまで相談して、苦労して書き上げたスピーチの下書きの資料です。

初心を忘れないように、ブログしておく事にしました。

スピーチ内の太文字は、スピーチのときに、少し間を置いて、強調したワードです。

Thank you for the introduction.

My name is Atsushi Yamamoto from Tokyo, Japan. I came to this city three years ago, I did not have any money in my pockets. But my pockets were full of desire to design beautiful architecture. At that time, “and still now”, I did not speak much English. I remember the first English I learned. I was at a bar with some friends and they taught me that if you say “drop your pocket”, someone will turn around and look for something they dropped.

The next week, I was very excited to try to use my new English with a beautiful woman. I am always excited to see beautiful women as well as beautiful architecture. So when I saw a beautiful woman, I said “Drop your pocket”. But nothing happened. I still don’t understand that phrase.

It was really hard for me to learn English and architecture. I almost lived in the studio to study all the time. It was intense. The only thing that could satisfy me is the view of the mountains. It is crazy that just yesterday it was snowing. The mountains are celebrating our graduation. I am still thinking about my last studio project. 10 days before the final presentation, when everyone was working hard to make their presentation boards. I completely changed my design, again, that was also crazy.

There were times when I almost lost my desire, the desire that I bought in my pocket, the desire to finish my project. Late at night, 3 am or 4 am, I often thought it seemed to be impossible to finish and make presentation boards and models. But whenever that thought came to me, I saw in the other students’ eyes how serious they were. They gave me the strength to continue. And then I could believe that I would finish my project. After the presentation many students came to me and said your project was really good. I have to say thank you to all of you for helping me finish my project. Because at that time, from your eyes, I felt the desire in your pocket was connected to mine. My pocket was not empty any longer.

From now, we join the real world. I often heard how hard it is to live as an architect. But I will not run away no matter how huge the constraints are, no matter how poor I am and no matter how much I spend the strength and desire in my pocket. Because I know all of you will chase beautiful architecture and realize beautiful architecture. And when I will think of all of you, my pockets will never be empty.

The same thing will happen to you. No matter how boring your work is, no matter how hard your work is, no matter how cheap your salary is, do not complain. Please start to influence and involve the people next to you, your boss and your family with a smile. Because the fact is, that you can make a good impact on the world as long as your pockets are full of desire. All of us will do well and do good somewhere in the world.

So, I also want to say thank you to all the professors who guided me to study architecture and gave me strong connections to others in these circumstances so that I feel that I have infinite strength.

The sky is the limit. And today the sky is clear and we have no limits. Our pockets are full of desire.

This is my final word. “Don’t drop your pocket”.

Can anyone tell me what that really means?

Thank you very much.