MeandmyFears

　　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.

　　战胜恐惧

　　尊敬的评委,各位来宾,女士们先生们,我很荣幸在这个美妙的星期六早上来到这里,与你们分享我生命中一段特别的经历.

　　大概一年半以前,我参加了生平第一次演讲比赛.站在麦克风前,面对观众们期待的眼神,我竟紧张的说不出话来.那一刻,我是多么无助啊!

　　我对于英语的挚爱从未改变,但却从此失去了面对公众演讲的勇气.当老教授鼓励我参加希望英语风采大赛时,我拒绝了.他直视我的眼睛,说了一番令我终身难忘的话.“你瞧,”他说,“我们都有自己的恐惧.你可能会在一场篮球比赛中扭脚,并从此害怕再打球.你只能用行动去克服自己的恐惧,逃避是没有用的.生活中的成功者往往是永不放弃的人.”

　　我花了一整天时间思考他的话.然后,我做出了一个勇敢而明智的决定：我要参加中央电视台第五届“希望之星”英语风采大赛!

　　老教授是对的.我发挥出了自己的水平,一路杀进了全国总决赛.此时此刻,当我再一次站在了麦克风前,仍然心跳不止,但更重要的是,我终于能够勇敢地面对我的恐惧了,而这已足够了.