潘勐：第15届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛季军Sports brings us together

第一篇：潘勐：第15届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛季军Sports brings us together

Sports brings us together

日期: 2010-08-27

潘勐：第15届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛季军

Sports brings us together

Sports are more than competitions.To me, they mean growth under the care of others.I learned this the hard way.I used to be very shy and often felt lonely.Although I did well in all the academic subjects, I was afraid of physical education.My classmates often laughed at me.“Look at that girl,” they said.“Her feet don’t leave the ground when she runs!”

Their words embarrassed me.Moreover, whenever the teacher organized some competitive games, no one in the class liked to have me as their partner or team member.As a result, I often ended up looking at others enjoy their games.Things would go on like that if not for a sports meet in my high school.By mistake, my name was put on the list of those who would compete in the women’s 1500 meters race.By the time people found the mistake, it was too late to change.My desk-mate was a natural athlete.She said to me, “I couldn’t run that race in your place, because I’ve signed up for three items already.” Other athletic girls of the class said the same.I was utterly dumbfounded.1500 meters!Running against the best runners from other classes!And in front of students of the entire school!It would be the worst nightmare I’d ever have!

“You still have time to catch up because there is still one month before the sports meet,” they all said this to me, including my teacher.My desk-mate patted me on the shoulder, “Cool!You will run for our class!And we will do training together.” Yes, this is not just for myself, but for my class too, I said to myself.But still, 1500 meters to me was like Mount Everest to a beginning climber.I had no idea even how to start my preparation.Fortunately, my desk-mate gave me a hand.Every afternoon after class, several of us ran together.When the fear of being laughed at struck me, I saw others running right beside me.They gave me strengths.While we were running, some others would stand by the tracks cheering for us.One month certainly couldn’t make me a good runner.But when I was standing behind the start line, I no longer felt lonely or afraid.I saw my classmates standing by the tracks waving at me as if about to run beside me.With the shot of the starting gun, I dashed out and ran as fast as I could, as if it were a 200-meter race.Soon I was out of breath and slowed down.Other runners passed me one by one, and gradually I had no idea how many of them were still behind me.My legs were getting heavier and heavier, and I might fall down at any moment.However, I suddenly heard my

classmates chanting my name.My desk-mate even ran along the tracks beside me and cheered for me at the same time, just like the month-long training we did together.As expected, I was almost the last to cross the finish line.Immediately, my classmates held my arms and urged me to walk on my feet and not to sit down.I was surrounded, with all kinds of drinks handed to me.I felt a kind of warmth I had never felt before.Even though I was almost the last to finish the race, I was full of confidence that I would improve in the future.That sports meet was an unforgettable experience.The memory of my classmates cheering for me, holding my arms and handing me drinks stays fresh on my mind.Sports are no longer about winning or losing.They give me a lot of confidence, both confidence in my fellow students and

confidence in my own potential.I am no longer lonely, no longer afraid.Sports have brought me close to my classmates and helped us grow together.Now, I participate in the sports meet every year.Even if I am not competing, I would help my classmates with their practice, just like the way my desk-mate and others ran with me.

第二篇：第九届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛季军——钟雨柔

Prepared Speech Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.At present, my fellow students and I have before us great personal and educational opportunities.At the same time, we are running into a variety of challenges.Today's college education provides us with opportunities for bringing out the creativity and talent that we have within us.This is nurtured both by our learned professors, and by the growing dimension of knowledge sources, such as the World Wide Web and multimedia sources.Our educational experience is being transformed both within and beyond the traditional classroom.However, challenges still exist.At the end of every semester, students in my university are required to fill out a questionnaire as a review of the previous semester.The questions usually cover a broad range of college life, from curriculum adjustment to canteen service.And almost every time, the questionnaire includes one essential question, that is: As a college student, what are your major challenges? And almost every answer includes two aspects: studying and professional.These two challenges will remain our preoccupations as long as we live in such a competitive world.A series of challenges in our studies start from almost the beginning of our freshman year.We may wonder whether we've chosen the right major.We may wonder if the extracurricular activities add credits to our studies.We may work our heads off to get a glorious A, because B is already mediocre and C is almost unacceptable.Later on we may be competing with our hardworking, intelligent peers, including our best friends to get into an ideal graduate school.All of these sound so familiar and they have somehow made our college education so goal-obsessed that we sometimes fail to fully enjoy our educational experience.Apart from challenges in learning, there are also professional challenges.The competitive world today has also brought about the “Knowledge Economy,” which requires the effective use of knowledge for economic and social development, and also requires skilled and multi-oriented students with a marketable vocational sense.Therefore, sophisticated calculations upon the value of a university degree are being made.Graduate employability statistics are being scrutinized.Programs like resume writing and interview skills are seen as a must.Again as I've said above, when professional concern dominates our college education, we may lose the essence of our educational experience.Indeed, facing these two challenges, how can students manage to be what the employers seek and at the same time to enjoy a valuable, insightful and rewarding educational experience? For me, the solution to the problem lies in what can be called an “Educational Synthesis”.I remember attending a lecture by Professor Tu Weiming, director of Harvard Yenching Institute.In his lecture, Professor Tu argued that the ideal state of college education is to arrive at a synthesis, a combination of specific knowledge, humanistic insight and sense of social responsibility.Admittedly, there is much to do to bridge the gap between our educational experience in college and the social employment in society.“Educational synthesis” can help us narrow the gap.Fortunately, today's college education provides us with such a diverse world.From this diverse world we may choose what we want to form our own educational synthesis.Ladies and gentlemen, as Charles Dickens once commented upon the time of the French Revolution, “It was the best of times;it was the worst of times.” And I'm afraid so it is with our time.I believe, once we achieve our own educational synthesis, we will be able to transform our challenges into opportunities.We will be able to see the best time of our life.And more importantly, we will be able to see the best time of our nation.Thank you.2

第三篇：第九届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛季军——钟雨柔

Prepared Speech

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.At present, my fellow students and I have before us great personal and educational opportunities.At the same time, we are running into a variety of challenges.Today's college education provides us with opportunities for bringing out the creativity and talent that we have within us.This is nurtured both by our learned professors, and by the growing dimension of knowledge sources, such as the World Wide Web and multimedia sources.Our educational experience is being transformed both within and beyond the traditional classroom.However, challenges still exist.At the end of every semester, students in my university are required to fill out a questionnaire as a review of the previous semester.The questions usually cover a broad range of college life, from curriculum adjustment to canteen service.And almost every time, the questionnaire includes one essential question, that is: As a college student, what are your major challenges? And almost every answer includes two aspects: studying and professional.These two challenges will remain our preoccupations as long as we live in such a competitive world.A series of challenges in our studies start from almost the beginning of our freshman year.We may wonder whether we've chosen the right major.We may wonder if the extracurricular activities add credits to our studies.We may work our heads off to get a glorious A, because B is already mediocre and C is almost unacceptable.Later on we may be competing with our hardworking, intelligent peers, including our best friends to get into an ideal graduate school.All of these sound so familiar and they have somehow made our college education so goal-obsessed that we sometimes fail to fully enjoy our educational experience.Apart from challenges in learning, there are also professional challenges.The competitive world today has also brought about the1

“Knowledge Economy,” which requires the effective use of knowledge for economic and social development, and also requires skilled and multi-oriented students with a marketable vocational sense.Therefore, sophisticated calculations upon the value of a university degree are being made.Graduate employability statistics are being scrutinized.Programs like resume writing and interview skills are seen as a must.Again as I've said above, when professional concern dominates our college education, we may lose the essence of our educational experience.Indeed, facing these two challenges, how can students manage to be what the employers seek and at the same time to enjoy a valuable, insightful and rewarding educational experience?

For me, the solution to the problem lies in what can be called an “Educational Synthesis”.I remember attending a lecture by Professor Tu Weiming, director of Harvard Yenching Institute.In his lecture, Professor Tu argued that the ideal state of college education is to arrive at a synthesis, a combination of specific knowledge, humanistic insight and sense of social responsibility.Admittedly, there is much to do to bridge the gap between our educational experience in college and the social employment in society.“Educational synthesis” can help us narrow the gap.Fortunately, today's college education provides us with such a diverse world.From this diverse world we may choose what we want to form our own educational synthesis.Ladies and gentlemen, as Charles Dickens once commented upon the time of the French Revolution, “It was the best of times;it was the worst of times.” And I'm afraid so it is with our time.I believe, once we achieve our own educational synthesis, we will be able to transform our challenges into opportunities.We will be able to see the best time of our life.And more importantly, we will be able to see the best time of our nation.Thank you.

第四篇：16届21世纪杯英语演讲比赛 冠亚季军演讲稿

Championship article Have you ever bought any food on the train? And do you ask for the receipt after buying it? Nowadays, all trains in China provide its passengers with receipts for commodities, but 7 years ago, things were quite different.On 13th of October, 2004, the train T109 from Beijing to Shanghai was speeding on the railway.A graduate student bought a sausage at 1 yuan on the train, then asked for a receipt.“Are you kidding? It’s just one yuan!” The crew member was surprised.The student, however, answered in a determined voice, “I paid the money, so I deserve the receipt.”

“But we never give receipts on the train.’ As a result, his further request was turned down by a cold shoulder.Several days later, the student sued the National Railway Ministry, for not providing receipts for passengers.To his dismay, the court turned down the case for lack of evidence.But he, who majored in law at that time, believed law as a most powerful weapon, so he did not give up.Instead, he began his journey of collecting first-hand evidence by taking trains and buying commodities aboard.When his classmates were playing soccer, he was taking the train;When his classmates were buying food at Mcdonald’s, he was buying food on the train;When his classmates were asking girls out, he was asking for the receipts.As he joked, ‘I was either taking the train or on the way to take the train.’

One month later, he appeared in the court again, with newly-collected evidence and a stronger confidence.And I guess, ladies and gentlemen, you will all cheer for the result because this time, the student won the case.Very soon, a regulation about receipts on the train came out.And whatever we buy on the train now, there’s a receipt for us.Outside the court, the student was asked, “How do you make it to the end?” He said, “As a law student, I root my faith in law.I believe that law is there, to protect every person with no exception, and to ensure every person has a say.”

His words spread a strong faith in law, which is not only a doctrine of a law student, but also a belief that all citizens ought to hold.It is this faith that initiates the student to resort to law for a tiny issue;it is this faith that supports him to endure all the exhausting trips when collecting evidence;It is this faith that makes a seemingly “ridiculous” receipt request legal and rightful.It is this faith that helps to change our life, enhance our judicial system and bring social justice.To many, a receipt of 1 yuan is too small to mention, however rights are to be respected and law is to be believed in.It all starts with a tiny receipt of 1 yuan, but we get a monumental case, a new regulation and a bumper harvest in social justice.The bridge that leads a tiny start to a bumper harvest is faith, the faith in law, rightful and strong.Second place A couple of weeks ago, when I learned the theme of today’s competition, I asked some of my roommates: “What does ‘faith’ mean to you?” Just coming back from a philosophy class, the girls were in a poetic mood: “Faith is what John Lennon had when he wrote the legendary song ‘Imagine’ and dreamed of ‘world peace’”, “Faith is what the Hebrews had when they followed Moses through the Red Sea in search of their freedom.” “And faith is what the pilgrims had when they journeyed to that strange land on Mayflower, and started their pursuit of a new life.”

Thanks for the history lesson girls, but I was not asking for a great, historic event where faith might have altered the entire course of humanity.All I asked was “what does faith mean to you, to us, the individuals toiling with life’s hard choices each day?” Personally speaking, faith is like oxygen: I didn’t know how precious it was until I ran the risk of losing it.My heart stirs still every time memory brings me back to three years ago, when the devastating earthquake engulfed our country.As one of the few cities that took the hit the hardest that day, my hometown was suddenly devoured by a black hole of depression.Having forsaken our worldly possessions, my family joined the army of tents every night, holding our breath and waiting for daybreak;having abandoned the comfort of home, we managed to lift ourselves up, along with neighbors and friends, when each after-shock threatened to tear us down.As a politician once put it, in the face of disaster, we’re reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel, but it’s also in these moments, that we rediscover our common faith in life.Indeed, during those dark hours, faith blazed in the courage of my math teacher Ms.Liu, when she stayed behind in a shaking building until she made sure that the last student had safely evacuated;faith radiated from the persistence of my dad when he kept his eyes wide open every single night, so that my mom and I could have a good night’s sleep;faith was ignited from the empathy of my next-door neighbor, when she took a stranger that was in shock into her arms and consoled him with her warm embrace.In the end, faith was rekindled in the passion of me and my fellow classmates, who immediately got back to preparing for our College Entrance Examination the very next day, with gritted teeth, and a conviction as steady as a rock.Ladies and gentlemen, this is what faith means to me.It’s the small voice in our ears that says: be strong, be good, and don’t give up whenever we’re frustrated by life.That's why after three years, my friends and family have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and with tougher spirits, begun again their journey towards a better future.At last, to twist the lyrics of last year’s charity song, I call upon my fellow young friends to chant together with me, in the name of faith, for all those who are still suffering in Haiti, Japan and Myanmar: when I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me faith, just like a waving flag.Let us carry above our heads the waving flag called Faith, and let its many inspirations lift us up from where we belong.Third-place Honorable judges, ladies and gentleman, good morning.I want you to tell me something.What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word faith, a sacred and heart-warming word that’s supposed to remind you of all the beauties and goodness of life, the key that used to keep us going when confronted with all sorts of hardships and obstacles.However, when I hear the word faith, the thing it reminds me of is so remote and intangible.In this rich and peaceful era, there aren’t as many disasters or wars, especially for us young people whose lives are much easier and wealthier than our fathers’.So is faith gradually losing its significance in the human world nowadays? Like many of others, I used to think of faith as of no importance at all, and I deemed myself as a faithless person.I thought I can live my life perfectly fine without intentionally grasping something as my faith.Until one day I met an American Christian named John, who later became a very good friend of mine.John is an extremely faithful Christian, and he thinks of Jesus Christ as his lord.He, as a pastor, tried to convert me into a Christian when we first met.So he lectured me with his extensive knowledge of history and philosophy every time we hung out.In spite of his amazingly detailed description of the history of Jesus, what really got me intrigued is not the story he told, instead, is John himself as probably the first and most faithful person I’ve met in my entire life.I can feel the sparks in his eyes when he talks about biblical things, and I am so touched by the integrity of him when he says:” Jesus Christ is the ultimate pursuit of my life” without any hesitation or doubt.The more we got along, the more I became jealous of him, because he always seems to be joyful and optimistic.When I ask him how he manages it, he said:” I’ve had bad days too, but I also know that God is with me.So I know that it’ll all be okay.” Suddenly it occurred to me how lucky it is to have something you can completely put your trust into, something that will bring you strength when your mind is weak, something that reminds you “ it’s not so bad” when you’re filled with sorrow, something that gives your existence significance and bring it up to a higher level.So I was literally converted, not into a Christian, not into someone faithful either, but into someone who wants to be as faithful at least.That was the first time I am exposed to the power of faith.To put it simple, your life is complete only if you have faith.You must find something important and significant in your life, your purpose, your pursuit, whatever you call it.I’m not saying faith must relate to religion or God.It could be anything.It could be your career goal, your children, your lover, fellowship, or a certain kind of life style, anything, as long as you dare to trust your life in it with your heart of hearts.Now I’m still faithless.I haven’t become a Christian or find what matters to me most yet.But what John gave me is whole new perspective to see life.So I’ll strive to really feel and touch the beauty in life and won’t take it for granted.And that’s also what I encourage all of us to do.Keep looking for the faith of your own, and when you do, you’ll know it’s all worth it.

第五篇：16届21世纪杯英语演讲比赛 冠亚季军演讲稿

Championship article

Have you ever bought any food on the train? And do you ask for the receipt after buying it? Nowadays, all trains in China provide its passengers with receipts for commodities, but 7 years ago, things were quite different.On 13th of October, 2004, the train T109 from Beijing to Shanghai was speeding on the railway.A graduate student bought a sausage at 1 yuan on the train, then asked for a receipt.“Are you kidding? It’s just one yuan!” The crew member was surprised.The student, however, answered in a determined voice, “I paid the money, so I deserve the receipt.”

“But we never give receipts on the train.’ As a result, his further request was turned down by a cold shoulder.Several days later, the student sued the National Railway Ministry, for not providing receipts forpassengers.To his dismay, the court turned down the case for lack of evidence.But he, who majored in law at that time, believed law as a most powerful weapon, so he did not give up.Instead, he began his journey of collecting first-hand evidence by taking trains and buying commodities aboard.When his classmates were playing soccer, he was taking the train;When his classmates were buying food at Mcdonald’s, he was buying food on the train;When his classmates were asking girls out, he was asking for the receipts.As he joked, ‘I was either taking the train or on the way to take the train.’

One month later, he appeared in the court again, with newly-collected evidence and a stronger confidence.And I guess, ladies and gentlemen, you will all cheer for the result because this time, the student won the case.Very soon, a regulation about receipts on the train came out.And whatever we buy on the train now, there’s a receipt for us.Outside the court, the student was asked, “How do you make it to the end?” He said, “As a law student, I root my faith in law.I believe that law is there, to protect every person with no exception, and to ensure every person has a say.”

His words spread a strong faith in law, which is not only a doctrine of a law student, but also a belief that all citizens ought to hold.It is this faith that initiates the student to resort to law for a tiny issue;it is this faith that supports him to endure all the exhausting trips when collecting evidence;It is this faith that makes a seemingly “ridiculous” receipt request legal and rightful.It is this faith that helps to change our life, enhance our judicial system and bring social justice.To many, a receipt of 1 yuan is too small to mention, however rights are to be respected and law is to be believed in.It all starts with a tiny

receipt of 1 yuan, but we get a monumental case, a new regulation and a bumper harvest in social justice.The bridge that leads a tiny start to a bumper harvest is faith, the faith in law, rightful and strong.Second place

A couple of weeks ago, when I learned the theme of today’s competition, I asked some of my roommates: “What does ‘faith’ mean to you?” Just coming back from a philosophy class, the girls were in a poetic mood: “Faith is what John Lennon had when he wrote the legendary song ‘Imagine’ and dreamed of ‘world peace’”, “Faith is what the Hebrews had when they followed Moses through the Red Sea in search of their freedom.” “And faith is what the pilgrims had when they journeyed to that strange land on Mayflower, and started their pursuit of a new life.”

Thanks for the history lesson girls, but I was not asking for a great, historic event where faith might have altered the entire course of humanity.All I asked was “what does faith mean to you, to us, the individuals toiling with life’s hard choices each day?” Personally speaking, faith is like oxygen: I didn’t know how precious it was until I ran the risk of losing it.My heart stirs still every time memory brings me back to three years ago, when the devastating earthquake engulfed our country.As one of the few cities that took the hit the hardest that day, my hometown was suddenly devoured by a black hole of depression.Having forsaken our worldly possessions, my family joined the army of tents every night, holding our breath and waiting for daybreak;having abandoned the comfort of home, we managed to lift ourselves up, along with neighbors and friends, when each after-shock threatened to tear us down.As a politician once put it, in the face of disaster, we’re reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel, but it’s also in these moments, that we rediscover our common faith in life.Indeed, during those dark hours, faith blazed in the courage of my math teacher Ms.Liu, when she stayed behind in a shaking building until she made sure that the last student had safely evacuated;faith radiated from the persistence of my dad when he kept his eyes wide open every single night, so that my mom and I could have a good night’s sleep;faith was ignited from the empathy of my next-door neighbor, when she took a stranger that was in shock into her arms and consoled him with her warm embrace.In the end, faith was rekindled in the passion of me and my fellow classmates, who immediately got back to preparing for our College Entrance Examination the very next day, with gritted teeth, and a conviction as steady as a rock.Ladies and gentlemen, this is what faith means to me.It’s the small voice

in our ears that says: be strong, be good, and don’t give up whenever we’re frustrated by life.That's why after three years, my friends and family have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and with tougher spirits, begun again their journey towards a better future.At last, to twist the lyrics of last year’s charity song, I call upon my fellow young friends to chant together with me, in the name of faith, for all those who are still suffering in Haiti, Japan and Myanmar: when I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me faith, just like a waving flag.Let us carry above our heads the waving flag called Faith, and let its many inspirations lift us up from where we belong.Third-place

Honorable judges, ladies and gentleman, good morning.I want you to tell me something.What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word faith, a sacred and heart-warming word that’s supposed to remind you of all the beauties and goodness of life, the key that used to keep us going when confronted with all sorts of hardships and obstacles.However, when I hear the word faith, the thing it reminds me of is so remote and intangible.In this rich and peaceful era, there aren’t as many disasters or wars, especially for us young people whose lives are much easier and wealthier than our fathers’.So is faith gradually losing its significance in the human world nowadays? Like many of others, I used to think of faith as of no importance at all, and I deemed myself as a faithless person.I thought I can live my life perfectly fine without intentionally grasping something as my faith.Until one day I met an American Christian named John, who later became a very good friend of mine.John is an extremely faithful Christian, and he thinks of Jesus Christ as his lord.He, as a pastor, tried to convert me into a Christian when we first met.So he lectured me with his extensive knowledge of history and philosophy every time we hung out.In spite of his amazingly detailed description of the history of Jesus, what really got me intrigued is not the story he told, instead, is John himself as probably the first and most faithful person I’ve met in my entire life.I can feel the sparks in his eyes when he talks about biblical things, and I am so touched by the integrity of him when he says:” Jesus Christ is the ultimate pursuit of my life” without any hesitation or doubt.The more we got along, the more I became jealous of him, because he always seems to be joyful and optimistic.When I ask him how he manages it, he said:” I’ve had bad days too, but I also know that God is with me.So I know that it’ll all be okay.” Suddenly it occurred to me how lucky it is to have something you can completely put your trust into, something that will bring you strength when your mind is weak, something that reminds

you “ it’s not so bad” when you’re filled with sorrow, something that gives your existence significance and bring it up to a higher level.So I was literally converted, not into a Christian, not into someone faithful either, but into someone who wants to be as faithful at least.That was the first time I am exposed to the power of faith.To put it simple, your life is complete only if you have faith.You must find something important and significant in your life, your purpose, your pursuit, whatever you call it.I’m not saying faith must relate to religion or God.It could be anything.It could be your career goal, your children, your lover, fellowship, or a certain kind of life style, anything, as long as you dare to trust your life in it with your heart of hearts.Now I’m still faithless.I haven’t become a Christian or find what matters to me most yet.But what John gave me is whole new perspective to see life.So I’ll strive to really feel and touch the beauty in life and won’t take it for granted.And that’s also what I encourage all of us to do.Keep looking for the faith of your own, and when you do, you’ll know it’s all worth it.