Oprah Winfrey’s Speech at Stanford’s Commencement
Ceremony June 15, 2008
同志社国際中学校

３年

水川恵梨子

Earth, to be like a school and our life the classrooms. And sometimes here inthis Planet Earth school the lessons often come dressed up as detours or
roadblocks. And sometimes as full-blown crises. And the secret I’ve learned togetting ahead is being open to the lessons, lessons from the grandest
university of all, that is, the universe itself.
It’s being able to walk through life eager and open to self-improvement
and that which is going to best help you evolve, ‘cause that’s really why we’rehere, to evolve as human beings. To grow into more of ourselves, always
moving to the next level of understanding, the next level of compassion andgrowth.
So, today, I just want to share a few lessons ― meaning three ― that I’ve
learned in my journey so far. The three lessons that have had the greatest
impact on my life have to do with feelings, with failure and with finding
happiness.
When you’re doing the work you’re meant to do, it feels right and every
day is a bonus, regardless of what you’re getting paid.
It’s true. And how do you know when you’re doing something right? How
do you know that? It feels so. Every right decision I’ve made ― every rightdecision I’ve ever made ― has come from my gut. And every wrong decision I’ve
ever made was a result of me not listening to the greater voice of myself.
If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. That’s the lesson. And that lesson alone
will save you, my friends, a lot of grief. Even doubt means don’t. This is whatI’ve learned. There are many times when you don’t know what to do. Whenyou don’t know what to do, get still, get very still, until you do know what todo.
So, I say to you, forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, justharness your power to your passion. Honor your calling. Everybody has one.

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中学生―Ｉ部門

The world has so many lessons to teach you. I consider the world, thisTrust your heart and success will come to you.
So, how do I define success? Let me tell you, money’s pretty nice. I’m notgoing to stand up here and tell you that it’s not about money, ‘cause money
is very nice. I like money. It’s good for buying things.
中学生―Ｉ部門

But having a lot of money does not automatically make you a successful
person. What you want is money and meaning. You want your work to bemeaningful. Because meaning is what brings the real richness to your life.
What you really want is to be surrounded by people you trust and treasureand by people who cherish you. That’s when you’re really rich.
So, follow your feelings. If it feels right, move forward. If it doesn’t feelright, don’t do it.
Let me end with one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King. Dr.
King said, “Not everybody can be famous.” And I don’t know, but everybody
today seems to want to be famous.
So, Dr. King said, “Not everybody can be famous. But everybody can begreat, because greatness is determined by service.” Those of you who arehistory scholars may know the rest of that passage. He said, “You don’t haveto have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject andverb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato or Aristotle to serve.
You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t haveto know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only
need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”24