Each day in Maryland,， I was encouraged to express my opinions on controversial issues,。

在馬里蘭的每一天,，我都被鼓勵(lì)著在爭(zhēng)議問(wèn)題上表達(dá)自己的觀點(diǎn)。

I could challenge a statement made by my instructor,。 I could even rate my professors online,。

我可以質(zhì)疑自己導(dǎo)師的觀點(diǎn)。我甚至可以在網(wǎng)上給我的教授們打分,。

But nothing prepared me for the culture shock I experienced when I watched a university production of the play— Twilight： Los Angeles,。

但最讓我震驚的是，當(dāng)我看到話(huà)劇《暮光：洛杉磯》帶來(lái)的文化沖擊,。

Twilight is a play by Anna Deavere Smith about the 1992 Los Angeles Riots,。

《暮光》是Anna Deavere Smith導(dǎo)演的一個(gè)關(guān)于1992年洛杉磯騷亂的話(huà)劇。

The riots followed acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King,。

四名洛杉磯警察被拍下毆打并逮捕Rodney King,，卻被宣判無(wú)罪。騷亂隨后開(kāi)始了,。

For six days,， the city was in chaos as citizens took to the streets。

整整六天,，人們走上街頭,，城市一片混亂。

In Twilight,， the student actors were openly talking about racism,， sexism and politics,。

在《暮光》中，學(xué)生演員們公開(kāi)談?wù)摲N族主義,，性別歧視以及政治問(wèn)題,。

I was shocked， I never saw such topic could be discussed openly,。

我震驚了,，我從來(lái)沒(méi)見(jiàn)過(guò)這樣的話(huà)題可以公開(kāi)討論。

The play was my first taste of political storytelling,， one that makes the audience think critically,。

那個(gè)話(huà)劇是我第一次接觸到政治敘述故事，一個(gè)可以讓觀眾批判性思考的政治敘述故事,。

I have always had a burning desire to tell these kinds of stories,， but I was convinced that only authorities on the narrative， only authorities could define the truth,。

我一直有強(qiáng)烈的愿望想講這類(lèi)故事,，但我曾深信只有權(quán)威部門(mén)才能講述這些故事，只有權(quán)威部門(mén)才能定義真相,。

However,， the opportunity to immerse myself in the diverse community at the University of Maryland exposed me to various， many different perspectives on truth,。

然而,，在馬里蘭大學(xué)融入到不同社區(qū)的機(jī)會(huì)讓我接觸到了許多不同角度的真相。

I soon realized that here I have the opportunity to speak freely,。

很快,，我意識(shí)到在這里我有機(jī)會(huì)可以自由地說(shuō)。

My voice matters,。

我的話(huà)是價(jià)值的,。