VOA慢速英语2019 前美国海军海豹突击队员52岁入读耶鲁大学（在线收听）

Former US Navy SEAL Enters Yale at Age 52

James Hatch says taking classes at Yale University is just as difficult as preparing for the unpredictability of war.

詹姆斯·哈奇表示，在耶鲁大学上学就跟准备一场不可预知的战争一样困难。

Hatch is not your normal first year college student. He is 52 years old and formerly served in the United States Navy Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALS.

哈奇并非普通的大一学生。他今年52岁，曾在美国海军海陆空三栖特种部队服役，也就是所谓的海军海豹突击队。

“My experience in academia is somewhat limited, at best,” he says. “But I want to learn, and I feel this can make me a better person. I also feel my life experience… can help some of the young people out.”

哈奇表示：“我的学识有限。但是我想要学习，我觉得这可以让我变得更好。我也觉得我的人生经历可以帮助到一些年轻人。”

Hatch’s road to one of the country’s most respected universities has been unusual.

哈奇进入这所美国最受尊敬大学之一的道路并不平坦。

He joined the U.S. military out of high school, became a SEAL and spent nearly 26 years in the Navy. He fought in Afghanistan and other areas.

他高中毕业后入伍，成为了海豹突击队员，并在海军度过了近26年。他在阿富汗等地打过仗。

His military career ended after he was badly wounded in 2009 while searching for Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who had deserted his station.

他的军事生涯在他2009年重伤之后结束了，当时他是在搜寻离开基地的陆军中士鲍威·贝戈达尔。

Doctors performed 18 operations on Hatch to fix his wounds. His story became known to Americans when Bergdahl was put on trial.

医生为哈奇做了18次手术以治疗他的伤口。当贝格达尔受审时，哈奇的故事也为美国人所知。

Hatch suffered from serious post-traumatic stress disorder. In an effort to ease his pain, he turned to drugs and alcohol. He once tried to kill himself.

哈奇患上了严重的创伤后应激障碍。为了减轻痛苦，他开始吸毒和酗酒。他还曾试图自杀。

But he got help from doctors and his family, he said, and is now able to live a normal life.

哈奇说，但他得到了医生和家人的帮助，现在得以过上正常的生活。

Hatch has written a book about his experiences in war and become a public speaker. He operates a non-profit group called Spikes K-9 Fund. It helps pay the health care costs and provides ballistic vests for police and military dogs.

哈奇写了一本关于他的战争经历的书，并成为了一名公众演说家。他运作了一家名为Spikes K-9 Fund的非营利性组织。该组织帮助警察和军犬支付医保费用并提供防弹背心。

He was once a dog handler in the military. He says a dog saved his life many times, including once when a dog warned him of the position of the enemy.

他曾经是军队中的训犬师。他说，有条狗多次挽救了他的性命，包括有一次，有条狗提醒了他敌人的位置。

Hatch was admitted to Yale as an Eli Whitney scholar. That is a program for nontraditional students who were not able to attend college while they were younger.

哈奇被耶鲁大学录取为伊莱·惠特尼学者。这是一项为年轻时无法上大学的非传统学生提供的一项课程。

“I was shocked to get accepted,” he said. “But my wife told me I would be silly not to take this opportunity, and she’s right. So, I’m going to do my best.”

哈奇表示：“我很震惊自己被录取啦。但是我的妻子告诉我，如果不抓住这个机会，那我就太傻了，她是对的。所以我会尽我所能。”

Hatch is in Yale’s Directed Studies program. It teaches students how to read and understand great books as well as how to write well. He is taking classes in philosophy, literature and historical and political thought. Money for Yale education comes partly from a government program for armed forces members. The rest is coming from military veterans groups and the university.

哈奇进入了耶鲁的定向研究课程。该课程教给学生们如何阅读和理解好书，以及如何写作。他开始上哲学、文学、历史和政治思想课。哈奇接受耶鲁大学教育的部分资金来自于一项政府提供的军人项目。剩下的资金来自于退伍军人团体和耶鲁大学。

Hatch is attending attend classes with his PTSD service dog, Mina. She has already become popular with other students, he says. His biggest worries are that he is too old and might not make friends. He is also worried that he might not be able to do the work.

哈奇开始与他的创伤后应激障碍服务犬米娜一起上课。他说，米娜受到了其他学生的青睐。他最担心的是自己年龄太大了，交不到朋友。他还担心自己可能无法完成学业。

“I think everyone there has a little bit of....am I good enough to be here,’” he said.

他说：“我想大家都会有点（怀疑），我是不是配得上耶鲁大学。”

But Hatch is just the sort of student the university wants, says Patricia Wei. She is the director of admissions for the Eli Whitney Students Program.

帕特丽夏·魏表示，但是哈奇正是大学想要的那种学生。她是伊莱·惠特尼学生项目的招生主任。

“We don’t have anyone here that is like Jimmy and just his life and professional experiences will add…to the Yale classroom, to the Yale community.”

她说：“我们从来没有过吉米（昵称）这样的学生，他的人生和职业经历将会提升耶鲁大学的课堂和社区。”

Hatch says he believes having a Yale education will open more doors for him in finding money for his organization. He also believes it might give him a chance to be heard when U.S. government officials start deciding where and when to use the military.

哈奇表示，他相信耶鲁大学的教育背景将会给他提供更多渠道，来为他的组织寻找赞助。他还认为，当美国政府官员开始决定何时何地动用武力时，他的意见也有机会被他们听到。

“Education…combined with my military experiences can be the most beneficial thing I can have. I think I have a voice that should be heard,” he said.

他说：“耶鲁大学的教育背景加上我的从军经历可能是我最大的优势。 我认为我的话值得一听。”

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

academia – n. the life, community, or world of teachers, schools, and education

desert – v. to leave the military without permission and without any plans of returning

post-traumatic stress – n. a mental condition that can affect a person who has had a very shocking or difficult experience, such as fighting in a war

alcohol – n. a drink containing the chemical ethanol

ballistic vest – n. clothing that protects against missile attacks

scholar – n. a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it

silly – adj. foolish

opportunity – n. a chance; a series of events that makes something possible

professional – adj. relating or connected to work or a job

beneficial – adj. producing good or helpful results or effects