The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didnt already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled，little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said，Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I m eighty－seven years old. Can I give you a hug？I laughed and enthusiastically responded，Of course you may.and she gave me a giant squeeze.
开学的第一天教授做了自我介绍，他还需要大家去结识某位大家还不认识的人。就在我站起来四处张望时，一只手轻轻地搭在了我的肩上。我转过身一看，一位满脸皱纹个子矮小的老太太正冲着我微笑。这微笑使她浑身光彩照人。她说：嘿，帅小伙儿，我叫罗斯，今年８７岁。我可以拥抱你吗？我笑了起来，热情地答道：当然可以啦。她紧紧地拥抱了我。
Why are you in college at such a young，innocent age？I asked. She jokingly replied，Im here to meet a rich husband，get married，have a couple of children，and then retire and travel.No，seriously？I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
你为何在这么年轻而纯真无邪的年龄上大学？我问。她开玩笑地回答说：我要在此遇见一个有钱的老公，结婚，生几个孩子，然后退休，去旅游。是不是真的？不对吧？我问她。我非常想了解，她这么大年龄，是什么促进她同意如此的挑战呢。
I always dreamed of having a college education and now Im getting one.she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milk shake We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonsTOP. I was always mesmerized listening to thistime machineas she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
我一直梦想同意大学教育。而目前我如愿以偿了。她告诉我说。课后大家一同到学生活动楼，共饮了一杯巧克力泡沫牛奶。大家一下子就成了朋友。在此后的三个月中，大家天天都一块离开课堂，聊起来没完没了。在她向我传授她的智慧和经验时，我一直着了迷似地倾听这个时间机器。
Over the course of the year，Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed up her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the 百度竞价推广ester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. Ill never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech，she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said，Im sorry Im so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent(一种威士忌的牌子) and this whisky is killing me. Ill never get my speech back in order so let me just t ell you what I know.As we laughed she cleared her throat and began：We do not sTOP playing because we are old；we grow old because we sTOP playing. There are only four secrets to staying young，being happy，and achieving success.
在这一年里，罗斯成了校园里的偶像。不管到哪儿，她比较容易地就交上了朋友。她喜欢精心打扮，陶醉于其他学生对她的注意。她尽情地享受这所有。到学期末，大家请罗斯在大家的足球宴会上讲话。我永远也不会忘记她给大家的教诲。介绍完毕后她就登上讲台。正当她要开始已筹备好的演讲时，她的５寸长３寸宽的卡片掉在了地上。她有的不知所措，还有点尴尬，于是就挨近话筒干脆说了起来：非常抱歉我这么紧张。我为大斋节戒了啤酒，而这威士忌可是毁了我。按原先筹备好了的讲是不可能了，还是把我所了解的说给你们听吧。大家都笑了，她则清了清嗓子开始说：大家并不由于自己老了而不娱乐；大家由于停止了娱乐而变老。要想维持年轻，过得幸福并获得成功只有４条诀窍。
You have to laugh and find humor every day.
天天都要笑，天天都要找到幽默。
Youve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams，you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead an d dont even know it.
必须要有梦想。失去了梦想，人就去世了。在大家周围有那样多行尸走肉般的人，他们却不自知。
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and dont do one productive thing，you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty－seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty－eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesnt take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.
变老和成熟是有巨大不同的。假如你１９岁，在床上躺一整年，而不做一件有效果的事情，你会到２０岁。假如我８７岁，在床上待一年什么也不做，我也会到８８岁。大家都会老，那无需天才或能力。我的意思是要通过在变化中不断地探寻机会而达到成熟。
Have no regrets. The elderly usually dont have regrets for what we did，but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.
不要后悔。年长的人一般不会为大家所做的事而后悔，而会为大家所没做的事后悔。只有充满遗憾的人才惧怕死亡。
She concluded her speech by courageously singingThe Rose.She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
她勇敢地唱了一首《玫瑰之歌》作为结束，还需要大家每一个人学习歌词并在日常将词意付诸行动。
At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years a go. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
年末，罗斯结束了她多年前就开始的大学生涯，获得了学位。毕业一周之后，罗斯在睡梦中平静地过世。
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that its never too late to be all you can possibly be.
两千多名大学生出席了她的葬礼，对这位了不起的女性表示敬意。她以自己范例教育大家：发挥我们的潜能永不为晚。
Remember，growing older is mandatory，growing up is optional.
记住，衰总是没办法抗拒的，而成熟却是可以选择的。
