政治社会学英语（社会学 政治）

President[Name],Faculty,Parents,Classmates,andGuests,Iamhonoredtostandheretodayasyourvaledictorian.Thepaththatledmetothispodiumrequiredhardwork,determination,courage,andmotivation.ThesearequalitiesthatIalsoadmireinmyclassmates,andIamproudtobeapartofthisclassandthiscollege.Today,welooktoourhorizonsandseethefuturestretchedoutbeforeus.Thisshouldalsobeadaywhenwerememberandpaytributetoourpasts.

Thepaththatledmeheretookanimportantturnoneseeminglyordinarydayinhighschool.Isatinclassasmy10thgradehistoryteachercontinuedourunitonWorldWarII.Onthisday,hesplittheclassintosmallgroupsandtoldusthatwewouldbetakingtheperspectiveofthevariouscountriesthatwereinvolvedinWorldWarIIinadebate.Ashedistributedthenamesofcountries,eachgrouphopedtoopenitspaperandseeAmerica?writteninboldletters.Whenourgroupreceivedthefoldedslip,weopeneditandreaditwithdismay:Japan.Thinkingweweresuretolosethedebate,wesettleddowntoprepareourexplanationforattackingPearlHarbor.Afterafewminutes,IrealizedthatIwascomingupwithlogicalreasonsforthisattack,andwasshockedthatitwaspossibletothinkthisway.IfoundmyselfabletounderstandanactionthatIhadbelievedimpossibletojustify.ThoughIstillbelievedthattheattackwaswrong,Iunderstoodthattherewasanothersidetotheissue,andthattherewasareasonbehindtheactionsofthisside.

Fromthisexperiencearoseadesiretoenterthefieldofforeignpolicy.Iwantedtodevelopandusemyabilitytounderstandthelogicofothernations?choicesand,bydoingso,tohelpourcountryrelatetothosenations.Idecidedtostudythephilosophiesbehindinternationalpoliticsandtodevelopmyowntheoriesinthatarea.Eagertostartonthiscareerpath,Ijoinedthestudentgovernmenttoexperiencetheworkingsofpoliticsonasmallscale.WhileIservedasclassrepresentativemyjunioryear,andtheschoolvicepresidentmysenioryear,Isucceededinresolvingissuesthroughmyabilitytotakeanother'sperspective.

Myexperienceinstudentgovernmentfueledmydesiretostudypolitics.IoptedtotakeAdvancedPlacementEuropeanHistorymysenioryear,andlearnedtoanalyzethepastasawayofpredictingoutcomesinthefuture.AsIpreparedforcollege,Isoughtaprogramthatwouldallowmetoworkwithsomeofthebestprofessorsinthefieldandthatwouldofferopportunitiestoworkingovernmentoffices,becomeinvolvedwithstudentgovernment,andjoincampuspoliticalgroups.Ichose[nameofcollege].

At[Nameofcollege],Iexcelledinmycourses,drivenbymypassionforpoliticaltheoryandpolicy.Ibecameinvolvedinthestudentgovernment,andwasproudtorepresentmyschoolasthestudentcouncilpresident.Workingwithmyoneofmyprofessorsoverthesummer,Ico-authoredandpublishedanarticleontheforeignpolicychangesinpost-WorldWarIIJapan.Throughourgraciousalumni,IwasgiventhechancetoworkasaninternonCapitolHill,wheremyknowledgeofforeignpolicywassupplementbyhands-onexperience.

Standingheretoday,Iamthankfulforalltheopportunities,support,andknowledgethatallowedmetotravelthispath.IlookforwardtomycareerandtosuccessinmychosenfieldasIcontinuetotravel.Lookingback,IknowthatIpossessthequalitiesofdetermination,strengthandunderstanding.Thesequalities,incombinationwithmyexperiences,willallowmetobringpositivechangetotheworldthroughmywork.Iencourageyou,myclassmates,tolookbackwithprideuponthepaththathasledyouhere,andtouseyourindividualstrengthsandexperiencestobettertheworldthathasofferedussomanyopportunities.