Five years ago， as I step off the plane from China， and left the terminal at Dallas Airport。 I was ready to put on one of my five face masks， but when I took my first breath of American air。 I put my mask away。

五年前，从中国来的时候，我准备了5个口罩。从飞机上下来，离开达拉斯机场候机楼时，我正准备戴上口罩时，吸入了第一口美国的空气，然后我将口罩收了起来。

The air was so sweet and fresh， and oddly luxurious。

这里的空气是那么的清新甜美，显得格外的奢侈。

I was surprised by this。 I grew up in a city in China， where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside， otherwise， I might get sick。

我深感意外。我在中国的一个城市长大，从小出门都得戴口罩，否则就会生病。

However， the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport。

然而，在机场呼吸到这里空气的那一刻。

I felt free。

我感受到了自由。

No more fog on my glasses， no more difficult breathing， no more suppression。

我的眼镜上不再有雾，呼吸不再困难，也没有了压抑。

Every breath was a delight。 As I stand here today， I cannot help， but recall that feeling of freedom。

每一口呼吸都是愉悦的。今天我站在这里，仍然忍不住回想起那种自由的感觉。

At the University of Maryland， I assume feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful — the fresh air of free speech。

在马里兰大学，另一种清新的空气也令我感怀不已——言论自由的空气。

Before I came to United States， I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence， but these words had no meaning to me— Life， Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness。

来美国之前，我在历史课上学到了独立宣言，但“生命、自由和追寻幸福”这些词句对我而言毫无意义。

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades。

我仅仅是背下这些词句以期在考试中取得好成绩。

These words sounded so strange， so abstract and so foreign to me， until I came to University of Maryland。

这些词句显得那么古怪，那么抽象，那么陌生，直到我来到马里兰大学。

I have leaned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in American。