从医生到喜剧演员，韩裔男星郑肯杜兰大学2022年超幽默毕业演讲：永远不要关闭生命

　　高质量英语演讲&专访视频哪里看？请您点击上方“精彩英语演讲”，选择“设为星标”全网最新鲜，热门的英语演讲第一时间为您奉上！

　　大家在生活中，有没有一种困惑：当你生病了去医院，为什么医生所说的，都让我们似懂非懂？

　　有没有一个医生能够用非常通俗而又幽默的语言把病症描述得很清楚？郑肯就是一位医生界最搞笑的人，笑星里真正的医生。

　　美籍韩裔的他，毕业于杜克大学医学院，行医多年后转换方向，在《宿醉》、《变形金刚》以及《复联4》中都有亮眼表现。

　　

　　5月21日，郑肯受邀参加母校杜兰大学的2022年度毕业典礼并发表超幽默且非常激励人心的毕业演讲。

　　郑肯与杜兰大学也有着不浅的缘分。1995年，郑肯在杜兰大学的奥克斯纳医疗中心完成内科住院医师的实习期间，参加了一个脱口秀比赛，获得了冠军，并从此开始作为喜剧演员的职业生涯。

　　

　　郑肯杜兰大学毕业演讲↓↓↓ 上下滑动，查看演讲稿 ↓↓↓

　　Thank you President Fitts, Provost Forman, Distinguished Faculty, the entire Tulane Family, and most importantly to the graduating class of 2022, thank you.

　　And a special congrats to Dr. Picard, Gen. Berger, and of course the legendary Hank Aaron on being honored for their outstanding legacies and contributions to society.

　　It is so great to be back home in New Orleans! It’s beyond surreal coming back here! I love New Orleans, and have lived and passed out here for many years.

　　Ahh, the memories I have completely forgotten.

　　And to the Green Wave scholars who just staggered in from The Boot, we’re taping this just in case you don’t remember. Take a nap, won’t hurt my feelings.

　　My life may have begun in North Carolina, but my livelihood began in New Orleans. I truly owe my success to New Orleans. If it wasn’t for my experiences here, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

　　I did research here at Tulane Med School, did my medical residency at Ochsner, I cut my teeth doing stand up and improv here, shout out to Brown my old improv group, and even got my SAG card here, appearing on “The Big Easy” in 1997 on the USA Network, playing, you got it, a wacky doctor.

　　And a special shout to my good friend Mike Strecker, Tulane’s director of Public Relations, who I actually started out doing stand up with. That’s how deep these roots go. Congrats Mike, Mr. Chow just gave you a national shout out.

　　Thank you New Orleans, thank you for letting me be me.

　　And to the class of 2022, a sincere heartfelt congrats. Because if you think about it, your class is the toughest class to have ever graduated college in recent memory.

　　You started out your sophomore year when the COVID pandemic began. You survived a lockdown, online classes, you’ve gone through vaccines, Omicron, you have been through so much and have come out stronger for the experience. And now you’re here, graduating and more than ready to face the real world, because you already have.

　　You have persisted.

　　People ask me all the time, what is your key to success? Is it talent? No. Is it luck? No. Is it even being smart? No. To the class of 2022, the key to success is persistence.

　　Michelle Obama once said, “There is no magic to achievement. It’s really about hard work, choices and persistence.”

　　Senator Bill Bradley said “Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”

　　And most importantly Chumbawumba once said, “I get knocked down, but I get up again.” And then they danced like idiots.

　　But my point is, the key to success is persistence. And I’ve learned the art of persistence while living here in New Orleans.

　　You gotta persist, right President Fitts? That kinda rhymes. You’re a persister, mister. And so’s your sister. Want to get together and play some twister? I better stop, the sun’s giving me a blister.

　　And scene. The reason I did that god-awful joke was to prove a point. I bombed, got back up, persisted, and I’m moving on from that failure. Real world example.

　　It’s all good, we’ll throw in some canned laughter for the live stream, and everyone will be none the wiser.

　　Back to the speech. I’ve actually never said what I’m about to say right now.

　　I came to New Orleans in personal turmoil. I was in med school at UNC, and the reason I came to Tulane was because I was burned out. I wasn’t doing well in med school, and I was close to failing out. In fact I did fail. I had failed not only my first step of my medical board exam, I also failed my second step. It was the first time I really failed when it counted. Twice. And I was taught all my life NOT to fail. And if you failed, you were a failure.

　　And I tell you, those standardized tests are culturally biased, against people who don’t study very hard.

　　I didn’t know if medicine was right for me. I was at a crossroads, thinking I don’t have what it takes to be a doctor, and I really had to figure out who I was.

　　So, I took a year off. I did a year of independent study at Tulane Med School, working with Dr. Roy Orlando, head of the Gastroenterology Department at Tulane Med School at the time, and was also my mentor at UNC Med School. And when he came to Tulane, he invited me to do research in his department, and he saved my career. I worked in his lab, and by the end of the year, I got published in the medical journal of Gastroenterology, and I even got UNC med school credit for it.

　　Long story short, I was able to hang in there, and by the end of the year, I retook both steps of my board exams here in New Orleans and passed, and ultimately was able to graduate medical school.

　　I had a second chance in life. I got myself back on track. In fact, I loved New Orleans so much I decided to stay here and do my Internal Medicine residency at Ochsner to become a physician here in New Orleans. And it all began with Dr. Orlando and Tulane Med School for giving me a second chance in life, and so from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Tulane.

　　And yet at the same time, New Orleans magically opened a new life for me. I discovered the wonder and joy that is this city. I had a blast. I even emceed at the Cat’s Meow, the Karaoke bar on Bourbon Street on weekends. I wish I worked there now because, as a graduation gift, I would let you all sing “Mr. Brightside” one by one all night long, and I am sick of that song! That’s how much I love you guys.

　　New Orleans was where I really cultivated and deepened my love of stand up comedy and improv. I had first started acting and doing theater in college at Duke and fell in love with it so much that I pursued it more deeply here. I performed at Movie Pitchers in mid-city, where I performed with the improv group Brown every Saturday night for years. And it was one of the most inspiring times of my life, I made lifelong friends. And at the same time I was learning the art of improv and stand up. And although there wasn’t a comedy club per se in New Orleans, I did stand up at multiple one-off spots, Amberjacks on Lakeshore Drive, True Brew Cafe in the Business District, and various venues all over Metairie and the West Bank, constantly heckled by people who just wanted to hear some jazz. And ultimately I won the Big Easy Laff Off at the Orpheum, and the judges were Budd Friedman, founder of the Improv comedy clubs, and the late Brandon Tartikoff, former president of NBC. And that was my big break. I got to perform at the Improv in Hollywood and two years later I moved to LA, fully qualified, thick-skinned and ready to pursue my comedy dreams as well.

　　So if you think about it, it’s because of New Orleans I was able to persist and become both a doctor and a comedian.

　　I always had the tools to do both, but it doesn’t matter if you have the tools, if you don’t know what to do with them, it’s useless. So to the class of 2022, find out who you are first, and in New Orleans I did just that.

　　I cultivated both. All because of New Orleans.

　　Some of you may be thinking, you ultimately became a comedian anyway, so why does it matter that you became a doctor?

　　It matters everything because in life if you quit one thing, what’s to say I wouldn’t quit my next endeavor, what’s to say I wouldn’t quit being a comedian. There is so much rejection and failure in Hollywood, far more than in any other profession. Persistence is my greatest talent.

　　Never give up, never close the door on your life, always persist.

　　I’m not just a doctor. I’m not just a comedian, I’m not just an annoying overactor. I persisted in annoying the world for decades, and the world relented.

　　I’m just me, and in New Orleans I discovered my fully integrated sense of self.

　　My mentor at Ochsner said you never have to choose comedy or medicine. He predicted that I would blend both worlds. And that’s was happened, when I created “Dr. Ken” a show on ABC that was based on my medical life and I co-created it with one of my best friends from my improv group, Mike O’Connell. So in a real way, New Orleans helped me create the most fulfilling project I have ever done in my life. Something that fully integrated my true self. And for me, “Dr. Ken” will always symbolize the persistence and cultivation of what I’ve learned here.

　　Cultivate. Never give up. You never know what can happen. I’m a person who learned how to persist when times were tough, and be stronger for the experience.

　　And that trait exists to this day. In fact, I’m practicing what I’m preaching right now. My life is this speech.

　　I couldn’t attend last night’s Honorary Degree Recipients Dinner because I’m filming a TV series in LA, sorry I can’t disclose what it is. “The AfterParty” only on Apple Plus, season one currently streaming, but I was determined to get here this morning no matter what.

　　I took a red eye flight, operating on no sleep, because nothing is more important to me right now than talking to you.

　　Persist, never give up, then pass out on your return flight.

　　I challenge you, the graduating class of 2022, to find your toughness, cultivate your love for what you do, and never give up.

　　The world is tough, the world has obstacles.

　　People get in the way of their own success all the time. I’m telling you, don’t get in your own way. How? Persist.

　　Look at me, there’s always second chances. If I can do it, so can you.

　　You’ll find your own New Orleans. Sorry if I’m saying New Orleans a lot. I’m sure there are some are you saying, “Bro, I am in New Orleans, and I’m graduating from a college in New Orleans. So what do you mean Mr. Chow, find your own New Orleans?” To which I reply, “Hey Bro, back off, commencement speeches are hard. You think this is easy?”

　　My point is, as you move forward, there are a lot of obstacles that can get in your way. Don’t let it. Don’t let yourself get in your way. Don’t be afraid to fail.

　　Michael Jordan once said “I have failed over and over again in my life, and that’s why I succeed.”

　　New Orleans helped answer all those questions about myself.

　　Do I have what it takes to do both comedy and medicine? Yes.

　　If it wasn’t for New Orleans, I never would have been a full-time physician, I never would have practiced for seven years in LA, I never would have met my wife in LA who’s also a doctor, I never would have had the worldview I have about COVID, the importance of vaccines, the importance of critical thinking in general. And believe me, our society needs critical thinkers like you more than ever.

　　And if it wasn’t for New Orleans, I never would have been a comedian, I never would have done “The Hangover,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Dr. Ken,” my own Netflix special. None of that happens without New Orleans.

　　Everything I’ve done in my life is a result of persistence. And I challenge all of you to do the same.

　　We’ve all had a New Orleans education. I lived in New Orleans for four years as well.

　　Cultivate what you’ve learned, make something special out of it. And never give up.

　　Thank you, congrats and all my love to the graduating class of 2022.

　　And in the words of Mr. Chow, “Toodaloo, Green Wave!!!!”

　　如果你长得不帅（甚至很猥琐），身材又矮，还一副亚洲人面孔，你觉得能在强者如林的好莱坞立足么？

　　

　　身高不是问题，才华不是问题，关键还是靠脸不是？

　　答案是，可以，郑肯就做到了。

　　他还挑大梁，主演今秋ABC新开播的情景喜剧《肯医生》。

　　

　　等等，郑肯是谁？

　　你不知道他的名字，但你一定在各大论坛贴吧的签名栏里看到过这位仁兄潇洒绝伦的姿势。

　　

　　没错，就是那个在《宿醉》里被赤身关进后备箱的黑帮老大。尽管影片中他的出场时间很短，但从后备箱一丝不挂地跳出来暴打几位主角的那一瞬间，观众眼前都不禁一亮：尼玛，这个演员有个性。

　　当然，中国观众还比较熟悉下面这个画面：

　　

　　如果你长得不像高富帅，恰好又偏偏长着一张亚洲面孔，在政治正确的好莱坞，也许混得了一碗饭吃，但要想出名，还有很长的路要走。即使像郑肯这样的演员，也得能拉下脸来装疯卖傻，正面全裸，各种羞耻play。

　　这么说并非埋汰郑先生，勇于自黑乃至自贱，是一个喜剧演员的基本素质。

　　可是，如果你以为他只是一个普通的丑剧演员，那你可错了。

　　“废柴”不废柴

　　

　　很多人都以为喜剧演员平常一定是乐呵呵的，而犯贱的喜剧演员一定也跟他们的角色一样没个正形。可惜郑肯不是，人家是如假包换的医学博士，从头到脚都散发着美国成功中产阶级的正经气味（常看美国影视剧的人都知道，美帝有两大神职业：律师和医生）。出生于1965年的郑肯（是的，人家已经45岁了）年轻时的人生就跟我们常见的中国家庭一样，父母是典型的知识分子，家教甚严，按部就班上学，在学校表现突出，还有艺术特长，毕业后顺利拿到行医执照，娶妻生子，实现美国梦。

　　当然，如果这样，也就没有下面发生的故事了。

　　跟那个拿着化学博士文凭的黄西一样，郑肯大夫对喜剧表演有着天生的好奇。作为出身在一个传统儒家文化的家庭中，郑肯却走出了不同以往的道路。他开始白天治病救人，晚上则出没各种单口相声场所，乐呵大众。一个地方下来能挣10-25美金。偶尔，他的双重身份也会被人识破。病人们惊讶地发现这个在台上段子不断的喜剧演员，正是白天那个身穿白大褂性格温和，给他们做诊断的医生。

　　

　　如果郑肯只是一个对喜剧有热情，但缺乏天赋或运气的人，恐怕他现在还是白天上班，晚上没事就出去讲几个段子的好好先生，终身也只会把喜剧作为生活的佐料。

　　不过，是金子，总是要发光的。

　　“一夜成名”十年功

　　

　　说了几年的单口相声后，郑肯得到了进军大荧幕的机会，有意思的是，他的早期作品大多都跟医生有关，估计当年剧组贴出的招聘广告统统都是：“急需有医学背景的亚洲演员”。毫无表演经验的郑肯也顾不得挑肥拣瘦，所以，我们就得以看到他在诸如《好汉两个半》（第2季15集）中他匆匆跑过的龙套。是的，还是个男护士。

　　

　　至于很多其他的龙套角色，已经小得很难找到剧照了。有趣的是，他的医学背景最终成就了他的喜剧事业。在2007年的《一夜大肚》中，他扮演了为女主接生的医生，用轻松活泼的表演，收获了不少的好评。而且居然是有20%的台词是他即兴发挥的。不得不让导演和其他演员对这个名不见经传的龙套演员刮目相看。于是，经历了很多年的打酱油岁月，这个矮小的医生，终于迎来了喜剧事业的转机。《一夜大肚》热映后，郑肯正式弃医从艺。

　　在这段被删除的片段中，另外两个演员在郑肯的即兴表演面前明显憋不住笑

　　郑肯迅速表现出来了作为一个喜剧演员的功底。在2009年的《废柴联盟》中，他扮演了一个疯疯癫癫的西班牙语教师（是的，一个韩国人演一个在学校教西班牙语的华裔），此时的他已经不仅仅只是一个可有可无的龙套演员了，而是一个不仅可以演活一个角色，更能撑起一片天的演员。

　　

　　蜕变已经完成，接下来就只剩腾飞。

　　“宿醉”大丈夫

　　

　　想必第一批进电影院观看《宿醉》的观众早就做好了心理准备，迎接一场无节操重口味的喜剧，可估计还是被郑肯的出场惊呆了。

　　对于这段表演经历，郑肯在艾伦秀中这样评价：“丁丁越小，票房越好”

　　剧组也对郑肯赞许有加，导演就曾说:“我所合作过的演员中,几乎没有一个人能表演得像他那么大胆。”郑肯在片中，将即兴表演的能力发挥到了极致，上面这个经典的裸体镜头就是他自己的主意。在拍摄的过程中，导演一旦让郑肯开始自由发挥，他便可以一口气即兴表演十几分钟，要多出格就有多出格。

　　郑肯的付出终于有了回报，《宿醉》在2010年的第19届MTV电影奖上获得了“最目瞪口呆奖”，可见见多识广的美帝照样被这个小个子闪到眼瞎。

　　

　　到了《宿醉2》，郑肯的戏份已经强大到左右影片的地步，少了他，整部电影都索然无味（他也因此获得了“第13届美国青少年选择奖”最抢戏电影男星的提名）。而到了《宿醉3》，看过的人都知道，那部片子就是为“老周”（剧中的角色名）量身打造的。

　　

　　《宿醉》的大卖成了他的人生转折点，让郑肯有了更多的机会。连男性时尚杂志GQ也找上门来，专门请他参与写真拍摄，跟Kate Upton这样的大美女合作，当然，从头到尾，风姿绰约的女神Kate都被这个“屌丝”抢了镜头。

　　

　　“医生”挑大梁

　　

　　如果你认为他只是一个光演丑角的小丑，那就低估了这个小个子的能量。作为一个在好莱坞摸爬滚打的艺人，郑肯比我们都清楚亚裔演员在圈子里的尴尬局面。他曾经如此回顾自己的试镜历史：满天飞的角色机会里，适合亚洲人的最终只剩下了“亚洲男人2”，“亚洲人杀手3”这样连名字都没有的酱油。

　　不过随着东亚经济的发展，亚裔演员也开始在好莱坞有了一片自己的天地，之前的《尼基塔》和《初来乍到》，都启用了越南血统的Maggie Q和韩裔的兰道尔·朴担当主演，而且取得了不错的收视率。

　　

　　借助这股文化多元的东风，郑肯也于今年获得了一个在荧屏上担当大梁的重任。在ABC的情景喜剧《肯医生》当中饰演一个医生，同时，他还兼任编剧，用自己亲历的医生经历来创作剧本。在这部合家欢的喜剧中，他一改耍疯卖贱式的表演，演起一个好医生，好父亲和好丈夫的角色。目前此剧已经开始播出，并取得了不错的首播收视率（670万人次的观看数）。

　　

　　相信这个小个子演员身上，将继续迸发无穷的喜剧魅力。

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