Today marks a special day, a day that I am very happy to be here to share with you.

Can we start with first a nice applause for you – for the graduates.

Some thirty years after my own high school graduation, I have been invited to stand here in front of you to wish you well on the next exciting stage of your life.

My aim today, is to give you something – something to think about and something to hopefully motivate you for years to come. I, we at RDF, want you to live rich, well rounded motivated lives pursuing dreams and fulfilling them – one after another.

Today is your day – today is a big day as you will no longer be a high school student, you will soon be university students.

Congratulations.

Today is a day of many things.

Happy.

Sad.

Glad.

I wanted to do something special for you today. I hope you like it.

On your seat is a very small gift that I have prepared for you.

I want to share what this is

In this gift I have embedded five messages

Before we talk about this, can you please take a minute and work with me.

Can you please do this?

Can you please remove the key on red thread?

Now, can you secure this on the ring please?

Thank you very much.

This keyring is the symbol of my messages for you today.

今天是一个特殊的日子，我很高兴在这里与大家共享今日。

让我们为你——毕业生们，鼓掌。

在我自己高中毕业大约三十年后，我站在你们面前，祝福你们在人生的下一个激动人心的阶段一切顺利。我今天的目标是给你们一些东西——一些值得思考的东西，以及一些希望在未来几年激励你的东西。我，我们瑞得福，希望你们过着富有、积极进取的生活，不断逐梦，并实现它们。

今天是你们的大好日子——也是一个重要的日子，因为你将不再是高中生，不久就会成为大学生。

恭喜。

今天是很多事情交织一天。

快乐的。

伤心的。

高兴的。

今天我想为你做点特别的事，希望你们喜欢。

在你的座位上有我为你准备的一个小礼物。

我来说说在这份礼物是什么。

在这个礼物中，我嵌入了五条讯息。

在我们谈论这个之前，请你花一点时间和我一起动动手。可以吗？

请把红线上的钥匙取下来。

现在，你能把它穿在在钥匙圈上吗？

非常感谢。

这个钥匙圈象征着我今天给你们的讯息。

Message ONE: The silver key

Shape the Uncut

第一条讯息：银色钥匙

塑造未被塑造的

Still uncut, is the key RDF gave you. This is your time and your education here. This is the key you have used to gain entry, or perhaps I should say gain exit, into the world beyond the hall in B7 today.

Once you walk out this door today, that one right here, you always remain an RDF alumni and part of RDF‘s history, our dear family – please remember that – but you are no longer a high school student.

Today is a day you all enter a next stage in life, and it’s a very exciting stage. Enjoy that. Use the key, the key of the past, the silver one, to open meaningful doors in meaningful ways.

It does work – trust me. But you must first shape the sides to open locks – this is your character and your person.

The final message, of the silver key, is that you will notice it had black ink? Can you see it?

Can anyone guess what that is?

Wait.

That is Morse Code, for RDF.

I wrote that in permanent marker. It may already be gone on some keys. By the end of today it will likely be gone on a few others.

In a year, if you use this key ring, it will certainly be gone.

If someone decides not to use it, and keep it in a drawer, it maybe there in 30 years from now – who knows?

A fact is, that one day the permanent marker will be gone.

Please remember that.

Permanent is not real. Things will come and go in life, and this is just a beautiful part of nature. All things, will go. Your days at RDF did not last forever, nor will your days at university. Cherish what you have when you have it.

These keys, one day gone. Experiences end. Friends go. Lovers. Family. Myself. And, one day – you. Nothing is permanent – walk mindfully and appreciatively.

I do not say this to make you sad, but to encourage you. Love what you have and appreciate them. One day, they will be gone.

瑞得福给你们的钥匙，是未被切割的。它代表着你们在瑞得福花的时间和受的教育。这是你们今天用来开门，或者我应该说是关门，从而进入 B7 大厅之外的世界的钥匙。

一旦你今天走出这里的这扇门，我们亲爱的家人们——请记住这一点—— 你将永远是瑞得福的校友和瑞得福历史的一部分，但你不再是一名高中生。

今天是你们进入人生下一个阶段的一天，一个非常激动人心的新阶段。好好享受它。请使用这把钥匙，这把过去的钥匙，这把银色的钥匙，以有意义的方式打开有意义的门。

这把钥匙确实有用——相信我。但你必须首先塑造‘开锁的那一面’——也就是你的性格和你自身。

银色钥匙里的最后一条讯息是，你有注意到它有黑色墨水吗？你看到没？

谁能猜出那是什么？

等等。

这就是 RDF 的摩斯密码啊。

我是用永久性记号笔写的。密码可能已经在某些钥匙上已经消失了。到今天结束时，还有另外一些钥匙上的密码也可能会消失掉。

在这个钥匙扣被用了一年后，密码很可能会完全被磨灭。

如果有人决定不使用它，把它放在抽屉里，那些印迹在 30 年后可能仍然会存在——谁说得准呢？

事实是，总有一天标记会消失。

请记住这一点。

永恒不是真实的。人生充满来去，这只是大自然美丽的一部分。一切，都会过去。你在瑞得福的时光不会长驻，你在大学的日子也不会长驻。当你拥有它时，珍惜你所拥有的。

这些钥匙，有一天会丢失。体验结束，朋友，恋人，家庭，我，某一天——你，都会离开。没有什么是永恒的——带着感激，用心行走。

我说这些不是为了让你难过，而是为了鼓励你。爱你所拥有的并欣赏它们。总有一天，它们都会消失。

Now, the second message.

Carry Your Gold

现在， 第二条讯息

带上你的金子

let’s move to the gold key.

The gold, and red, for good luck and good fortune. I, we, all want this for you – and certainly you will have that.

This key, also uncut.

I could have cut them, easily. I went to the keysmith to have them cut, and they told me I need to have a master key to do this.

I immediately thought, ok, I will make the master key.  Then, I will come back and cut them all – one at a time for you. I wanted to cut the keys – as a symbol of the marks that RDF had made in your life.

Then I realized - I was being arrogant. Sorry for that.

RDF, and your time here, has provided you with a base. You are the ones that have to go out and cut and shape your own keys. And that is the way it should be.

Now, in just minutes, you will head off to shape the keys, in your own ways.

Earlier I asked you to secure this gold key on the ring.

Some of you did it alone. Others used the help of a friend. Some of you will have ripped the thread. Others will have saved it.

Find strategies, as you did briefly to put more keys in your personal key ring. There is not “A” way, but ways.

My message with the gold key is to go out and seek the keys you want in life, and secure them.

The red thread is a metaphor for fragility. Many things in life are fragile, so please understand what you have today can easily break. Appreciate.

Friends, jobs, the love of your life, money. Many things that we think we own, like the permanent marker, are often gone tomorrow. Be aware of what you have – respect, forgive, appreciate and secure. Secure the best you can.

Secure what is important to you.

BUT – also – release. This is not a contradiction; this is an advanced skill.

Know when you need to release. Know when you need to break the thread and hand over the key to another, or simply take it off your ring.

Not giving up. Not surrendering. In wisdom after great thought – sometimes we must move on.

让我们转到金钥匙。

金色和红色，代表好运和幸运。我个人以及我们学校，都希望你们能获得好运和幸运——你肯定会得到的。

这把钥匙，同样也未切割。

我可以很容易地切割它们。我去找钥匙匠切割时，他们告诉我，我需要一把主钥匙才能做到这一点。

我立刻想，好吧，我可以做一把主钥匙。然后，我会回来把这些钥匙都切割——为你们一一切一把钥匙。我想要切割钥匙——作为瑞得福在你生命中留下印记的象征。

然后我意识到——我傲慢了。我对此感到羞愧。

瑞得福和你们花在这里的时间为你们打下了基础。你们是那些必须去切割和塑造自己的钥匙的人，这才是本应该的方式。

现在，再过个把分钟，你们就可以走出去，以自己的方式去塑造钥匙。

刚刚，我让你们把这把金色钥匙穿在钥匙圈上。

你们中的一些人是独自完成的，其他人则借助了朋友的帮助。你们中的一些人会把线扯下来，其他人则会把线保存下来。

找到策略，把更多钥匙在轻松放到你的个人钥匙圈上。这没有最佳方式，只有方式。

我用金色钥匙传达的信息是走出去寻找你在生活中想要的钥匙，并保护它们。

红线是脆弱的隐喻。生活中的很多东西都是脆弱的，所以请理解，你今天所拥有的也很容易破碎。感激！

朋友，工作，你生命中的挚爱，金钱。许多我们认为自己拥有的东西，比如永久性标记，往往明天就会消失。留心你所拥有的——学会尊重、宽恕、欣赏和守护。尽你所能确保他们。

守护好对你们重要的东西。

但是——也——学会释然。这并不矛盾；这是一项高级技能。

知道何时需要释然。知道何时把线解开并将钥匙交给另一个人，或者干脆把钥匙从钥匙圈上拿下来。

不放弃。不屈服。在深思熟虑后的智慧中——有时我们必须继续前进。

A Third Message

Don’t Fall in Love

第三条讯息

不入爱河

A third message I recalled when approaching this key ring for you was from the world of design. We have an expression in design, that is – don’t fall in love.

Yes.

DON’T FALL IN LOVE.

The point, in design, is don’t get too attached to the very first idea, be ready, like taking the keys off that we no longer need, to be flexible and let go.

I could not cut the keys as I originally wanted, and I can see how it is more useful not to cut them now.

Now you have two keys. I just saved all of you a few dollars in the future for your next apartment. Feel free to use these keys and actually get them cut for use, if you like. That would be a meaningful alteration.

It is not that I gave up. What I realized is that there was a better, more meaningful message in not being able to cut them. This story. Don’t confuse stubbornness for determination, they are different – be flexible. Don’t get lost in and fall in love with things in ways that they cannot develop and blossom. Let things grow.

当我去为你们拿这个钥匙圈时，我回想到的第三条讯息是来自设计界。我们在设计上有一种表达方式，那就是——不入爱河。

是的。

不入爱河。

在设计中，关键是不要太执着于第一个想法，要做好准备，就像取下我们不再需要的钥匙一样，灵活地放手。

我无法按照我最初设想的方式切割钥匙，现在我可以看到不切割它们更有价值。

现在你有两把钥匙。我刚刚为你们所有人将来入住公寓节省了几美元。如果您愿意，请随意使用这些钥匙，并将它们切割以供使用。那将是一个有意义的改变。

我并不是放弃了。我意识到，不能切割这些钥匙的背后有一个更好、更有意义的讯息。不要将固执与决心混为一谈，它们是不同的——要灵活。不要迷失，并迷恋上某些事物，以至于不能让事物开花结果。要懂得成全万物的发展。

The Fourth Message

Backshadow

第四条讯息

在未来处回望

Some of you might be looking at the Keyring itself, and wondering why, why there is 2052 on this.

Well, it’s not a mistake.

I myself had graduated in 1990, some 30 years ago. 2052 is in 30 years from now. In 30 years from now, you, like I am now, will be 50 – approaching 50.

Those quick at math will be very puzzled. But 1990 is 32 years, not 30. But I am 18 and in 30 years I will be 48, not 50.

Understand that precision is very important in some instances in life, but in the bigger picture, in the grand scheme of life sometimes “good enough” is perfect. Don’t get too hung up on details to the point that they cause stress.

Now, back to 2052.

I want you to imagine that you are 50.

Where will you be?

Who will you be with?

What will you be doing?

Some of you, all of you, can retire if you are wiser than I am.

Will you be retired? Shenzhen? Married abroad?

You will all fall in love. For sure.

I made a term, I think it is unique, backshadow. In literary studies we often say foreshadow, to predict what will come. It’s useful and often works. In my idea of backshadowing is going ahead to envision what you can be. Let your future YOU advise you now, the wiser you is in there. Call them out from time to time.

If you think of you at 50, the most important question is, who have you become? Who do you want to become?

In a room of 75, 100, there should be 75, 100, different responses to this.

Now, please don’t stay 50. Come back and enjoy youth. You are 18, be 18. Be 18 aware of tomorrow.

Be wisely economical, but not selfishly-frugal. Understand the difference. Be efficient but not lazy. Understand the difference. Don’t make your procrastination other peoples’ emergencies. Understand the irresponsibility.

The 2052 is to remind you, it will be here soon. Let that you talk to you in times of challenge. Look back. Backshadow. Let the wise vice inside you guide you at times. It’s there.

你们中的一些人可能正在查看钥匙圈，并疑惑不解，为什么上面有 2052字样。

这不是一个错误。

我本人是 1990 年毕业的，大约 30 年前。

2052 年，也就是从现在算起的 30 年后。30 年后，你和我现在一样，将 是50 岁——接近 50 岁。

擅长算数的同学会很困惑。1990 年到现在是 32 年，而不是 30 年。我是 18 岁，30 年后我将是 48 岁，而不是 50 岁。

了解精确度在生活中的某些情况下是非常重要的，但从更宏观的角度来看，在宏伟的生活计划中，有时“足够好”即是完美的。不要过于关注细节，甚至到会带来压力的 程度。

现在，回到 2052 年。

我想请你想象你已经 50 岁了。

你会在哪里？

你会和谁在一起？

你会做什么？

如果你们比我聪明，你们中的一些人，也可能所有人，都可以退休了。

那时你会退休吗？那时你在深圳？在国外结婚？

你们都会坠入爱河。当然。

我创造了一个名词，我觉得它是独一无二的，在未来处回望（backshadow)。在文学研究中，我们常说预兆，预知会发生什么。它很有用并常常很有效。我的理解，在未来处回望是前进一步设想你可以成为什么样的人。让未来的你给现在的你建议，未来的你更加智慧。时不时把未来的你召唤出来。

如果你想到50岁的你，最重要的问题是，你变成了谁？你想成为谁？

在一个 75、100 人的房间里，应该有 75、100 个不同的回应。

现在，请不要停留在50岁。回来享受青春吧。你是 18 岁，18， 就用18 岁的眼光看待明天。

理智节俭，但不要自私吝啬。请明白二者的区别。

有效率但不懒惰。请明白二者的区别。不要耽搁别人的紧急情况。明白什么叫做不负责任。

2052的字样是提醒你们，它将很快到来。在应对挑战的时候，让2052年的你时时与你交谈。在未来处回望。让你体内更智慧的你时不时指引你。他/她就在那里。

Fifth Message

Tidy Trails

第五条讯息

保持整洁

Can you do me a favor.

Can you please take the packaging for the keyring. I am sure many of you have, and I thank you for that.

In life, don’t leave your rubbish for other people to deal with. I don’t just mean a plastic wrapper. But I mean that also.

When you are involved in a mess, and you will be, or see someone you can help with, help clean up. Make fortune from this misfortune.  

RDF

R

D

F

R - Responsibility  - be responsible and act with 2052 wisdom. Don’t make others responsible for your wrongdoings. Carry the RDF responsibility with you.

D - Discipline – have the discipline to stay on track and keep your goals in sight. Carry the RDF discipline with you.

F - Fortitude -  have the grit to face the challenging bits face on. Don’t look away. Look directly at them. Carry the RDF Fortitude with you.

In the end, like this key ring, you will notice I reshaped the design of our logo into a circle. As you leave the doors today, and as you head out to fill this ring with keys of your liking, as you head out to the keysmith and get your keys cut, cut the keys that make your life colorful and well rounded. The colors of your choice. The keys of your choice.

Please – be wise – be enthusiastic – and open the doors to the pathways that you want to walk on. Live and lead legendary lives.

I wish you – the very best.

可以帮个忙吗？

你能把钥匙圈的包装拿走吗？我相信你们中的许多人已经这样做了，感谢你们。

生活中，不要把你的垃圾留给别人处理。我说的垃圾是指塑料包装，又不仅仅是指塑料包装。

当你们身陷混乱时，你们将负责清理混乱，或者你们能看到那些需要你帮忙清理混乱的人，请伸出援助之手。逢凶化吉。

RDF

R

D

F

R - 责任- 学会承担责任，以你2052的智慧行事。不要让别人为你的错误买单。铭记瑞得福的责任的品格。

D - 自律 - 做一个有纪律的人，保持正轨，并坚守目标。铭记瑞得福纪律的品格。

F - 勇气 - 有勇气面对挑战，不要东张西望，直视挑战。铭记瑞得福勇气的品格。

最后，就像这个钥匙圈，你会注意到我把我们的标志设计重新塑造成一个圆形。当你今天离开大门时，当你出去用你喜欢的钥匙填满这个钥匙圈时，当你去钥匙匠那里切割钥匙时，切割下那些让你的生活变得丰富多彩和饱满的钥匙。你们自己挑选的颜色。你们自己挑选的钥匙。

请——保持明智——充满热情——打开通往你想走的路的大门。过传奇的生活。

为同学们献上最好的祝福。