honorable judges, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

it is a great honor and pleasure to be here on this beautiful saturday morning to share with you my sentiments about life and passion for the english language.

while my passion for english has never changed, i lost my courage to speak in public. when my professor again encouraged me to take part in this competition, i said “no.” i couldn’t endure yet another painful experience. he looked me straight in the eye and said something that pierced my heart. i will never forget his words. “look,” he said, “we all have our fears, and you have yours. you could twist your ankle in a basketball game, but then be afraid to ever play again. running away can never dispel your fears, but action will. a winner is not one who never fails，but one who never quits.”

i spent a whole day with his words twisting and turning in my mind. then i made the bravest and wisest decision of my life: i would face my fears –and take part in the competition!