I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence.

我在歷史課上學了獨立宣言

But these words had no meaning to me.

但這幾個字對我來說一點意義也沒有

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

生命、自由、追求幸福的權利

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades.

我背誦這些詞只為了得到好成績

These words sounded so strange, so abstract and foreign to me

它們聽起來非常奇怪及抽象

until I came to University of Maryland.

直到我來到馬里蘭大學

I have learned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in America.

才知道在美國，言論自由是多麼神聖

Each day at Maryland, I was encouraged to express my opinions on controversial issues.

在馬里蘭的日子，我被鼓勵針對有爭議性議題提出自己的看法

I could challenge a statement made by my instructor.

我可以挑戰教授的論點

My voice matters.

我的聲音是重要的

Your voice matters.

你的聲音是重要的

Our voices matter.

我們的聲音都是重要的

Civil engagement is not a task just for politicians.

公民參與不只是政客的工作

I have witnessed this when I saw my fellow students marching in Washington D.C.,

當我的同儕們上華府上街遊行和總統大選投票時

voting in the presidential election

我親眼見證了這個道理

and raising money to support various causes.

並且為一些事業籌募資金

Freedom is oxygen.

自由是擁有新鮮的空氣

Freedom is passion.

自由是熱忱

Freedom is love.

自由就是愛

And as a French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said,

法國哲學家尚-保羅·沙特曾說

"Freedom is a choice. Our future is dependent on the choices we make today and tomorrow."

「自由是一個選擇。我們的未來取決於今日和明日所做的決定。」