【乔布斯在斯坦福大学毕业典礼上的英文演讲稿（英语演讲稿）】Good afternoon, everyone.

It’s an honor to be here with you today. I’m not sure if I should call this a commencement speech or a farewell speech — because I’ve never been to a graduation before, and I don’t know what comes after. But I do know that this is a moment of transition for you, and I feel privileged to share a few thoughts with you.

I want to talk about three stories — three different parts of my life. These are the stories that have shaped who I am, and I hope they might resonate with you in some way.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

When I was 17, I dropped out of college. That’s right — I left school. But I didn’t drop out of everything. I stayed on for another year, just to take some courses that interested me. I had no idea where that would lead. But looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

After dropping out, I began taking classes at the local community college. One of them was a calligraphy class. I learned about different fonts, about the beauty of typography, and how it can affect the way people read and feel about words. At the time, I thought it was useless. But years later, when I was designing the first Macintosh computer, I remembered that calligraphy class. And that’s why the Mac has beautiful typography. It was all about connecting the dots.

So, the lesson here is: you can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in the future.

The second story is about love and loss.

I was adopted as a baby. My biological parents were young, unmarried, and decided to put me up for adoption. I was raised by a family in a small town in California. They were not rich, but they loved me very much. I was lucky. But I also felt different from others. I always felt like an outsider. I remember thinking, “Why am I here?” I used to dream about finding my birth parents, but I never did. Not until I was 27.

When I finally found them, it turned out that my mother had given me up for adoption because she couldn’t afford to raise me. She was a young woman, and she made a difficult choice. I felt a mix of emotions — sadness, anger, confusion, and even relief. But over time, I came to understand that my life had been shaped by that decision. I wouldn’t be who I am without it.

So, the lesson here is: love and loss are part of life. They shape us, challenge us, and ultimately define who we become. Don’t be afraid to face them. They’re part of the journey.

The third story is about death.

I’m going to be honest with you — I’ve been dying for a long time. I was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2003. The doctors said I had only a few months to live. I didn’t think I’d make it to this day. But I did. And I’m grateful for every moment I’ve had since then.

This experience changed me. It made me realize that life is short, and that we shouldn’t waste it living someone else’s life. We should live our own. We should follow our hearts, our passions, and our dreams.

So, the lesson here is: remember that you are going to die. That’s the most important thing. It helps you avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. When you realize that you’re going to die, you start living more fully.

Now, I don’t know what your future holds. But I hope that you will find your own path, follow your passion, and never stop learning. And most importantly, never stop believing in yourself.

Thank you, and congratulations on your graduation.

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