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!

　　Thankyou.