honorablejudges,distinguishedguests,ladiesandgentlemen:
itisagreathonorandpleasuretobehereonthisbeautifulsaturdaymorningtosharewithyoumysentimentsaboutlifeandpassionfortheenglishlanguage.
aboutayearandahalfago,itookpartinmyveryfirstenglishspeechcontest.whenistoodbeforethemicrophonewithalleyesstarringdirectlyatme,icouldhardlyspeak.istoodthere,embarrassedandhelpless,strugglinginvainfortherightthingtosay.myfearshadparalyzedme.
whilemypassionforenglishhasneverchanged,ilostmycouragetospeakinpublic.whenmyprofessoragainencouragedmetotakepartinthiscompetition,isaid“no.”icouldn’tendureyetanotherpainfulexperience.helookedmestraightintheeyeandsaidsomethingthatpiercedmyheart.iwillneverforgethiswords.“look,”hesaid,“weallhaveourfears,andyouhaveyours.youcouldtwistyourankleinabasketballgame,butthenbeafraidtoeverplayagain.runningawaycanneverdispelyourfears,butactionwill.awinnerisnotonewhoneverfails，butonewhoneverquits.”
ispentawholedaywithhiswordstwistingandturninginmymind.thenimadethebravestandwisestdecisionofmylife:iwouldfacemyfears–andtakepartinthecompetition!
asitturnedout,mydearoldprofessorwasright.now,hereiam,onceagainstandingbeforeamicrophone.myheartisbeatingfast,andmymouthisdry,butmostimportantly,ihavefacedmyfears--andthatmakesallthedifference!
that'sall.
thankyou.