对于我们青年一代，挑战常以竟争的形式出现。到下个世纪，竞争者将不仅只是其他大学毕业生，更有各行各业不同年龄层的人们。
随着国际交流的不断增多，我们得面对来自整个外部世界日益激烈的竞争，这就对我们个/、的发展提出了更高的要求。
15年前，懂门外语或会用计算机是个优越条件。但今天，随着受教育面的拓宽，以上的知识也成了每个人必备的条件。
在这种形势下，即便最细小的选择也要求我们具有极大的智慧和自主精神。
当我们面对选择不断增强自己的主动性时，每一次选择的结果也同样变得愈加重要。
比方说，核能可以提高人民的生活水平，可它同样也能毁灭千百万人的生命财产。
经济的发展使我们富裕起来，却也给我们的空气、水、健康带来了严重危害。有些人对选择的后果毫不在乎，我要对他们说：选择还意味着承担责任。我们替自己做选择时，不能随口一句“这不关别人的事”。作为下个世纪的决策者，我们必须承担对和我们共同拥有这个地球的人们所负的责任。
传统的中华文化教育我们，要勃奋学习，努力工作，以荣耀家门。然而我认为，这个家门并不只指诸如我的那个争看电视的五口小家。更确切地说，它指的是整个人类这个大家庭。当我为自己的未来做出选择时，我不会忘记自己第一次正确读出“China〃这个单词时老师脸上的笑容。我也不会忘记在我们的帮助下重返校园的江西山区的孩子们兴奋的脸庞。我更不会忘记饱受战火、饥荒、贫困蹂蹦的波斯尼亚、车臣、索马里，不会忘记那里成千上万的妇女儿童泪水模糊的双眼。
所有这些我认识或不认识的人们组成了人类这个大家庭。他们从不同的时空中走进了我的生活，开拓了我的视野。现在，我将为自己做出抉择，该是为使他们的生活变得美好而奋斗的时候了。因为只有当每个人都过上和平、富足的生活，世界才能成为大家的乐园。
Regain Confidence
By Li Jun （李军青岛海洋大学）
（2001年11月下旬，在上海举行的第七届“21世纪·爱立信杯”英语演讲比赛华东地区比赛中获得第一名）
专家点评：本演讲语言较流畅，从具体事件人手，将主题升华，催人奋进。
I received a devastating blow to my self…confidence in the first interview of my college years。 I applied to be a host in our Student Acting Troupe and felt confident that I would be accepted。 But one of the panel members told me： 〃You seem inadequate and you are a little vertically…challenged。〃 My life has never been the same since。 I used bigger heels to plement my height and psychological maneuvers and tricks to hide my lack of confidence。 But no matter how hard I tried to look the part； there was still something missing。
As president of English Club； I organized the rehearsal of Snow White for an English party。 Unfortunately； we could not find an actor to be the last dwarf。 It had to be someone who was humorous by nature and fluent in English。 Suddenly； all eyes turned to me； and I knew I would have to be the dwarf。 To my great surprise and delight； once on stage； I was totally absorbed in the performance and my humorous nature was put to full use。 As the dwarf； I was a big hit。
Yes； each of us is only one among millions of others； but each of us is an individual and each of us is unique。 Cultivating our individuality will transform our lives； making of them a kaleidoscope of new colors and textures。
A world deprived of diversity would be a bland and boring place。 The real tragedy is not being short or shy or ugly； but having your identity lost in a world in which everyone is a clone of a model cool boy or a flawless charming girl。
Given a choice； I would rather be ugly than live in such a world。 I'd rather be a genuine dwarf acpanying a Snow White than be a Snow White among nothing but Snow Whites。 I would rather be myself。 I would contribute my individual and unique colors to create a more diverse universe。 Please； be yourself。
译文：我重树信心
大学生活的几年里，当我参加第一次面试时，我的自信心受到了沉重的打击。我向“学生剧团”申请出演一个主角，而且我十分自信地认为我会被录用。但是；其中有个剧团成员告诉我：“你似乎不太合适出演这个角色，因为你的身高有点问题。”我从未遇到过这种情况。我穿着高跟鞋来弥补我的身高，采用心理策略和技巧来掩盖自己信心的缺乏。但是，不论我怎样努力进入角色，感觉还是缺少些什么。
作为英语俱乐部的主席，我为英语晚会组织排演了《白雪公主》短剧。不幸的是，我们找不到合适的人选出演最后一个小矮人。这个角色必须生性幽默，英语流利。突然，所有人的目光都转向了我，我知道那个小矮人就是我了。让我极度奇怪而又高兴的是，一上台，我完全投入到演出中，而且我那幽默的天性被发挥得淋漓尽致。作为一个‘’小矮人”，我取得了巨大的成功。
的确，我们中的任何一个人都是千百万中的一员，但我们中的每个人都是一个与众不同的个体。发挥我们自己的个性会改变我们的生活，使它们成为美丽的万花筒。
失去了多样性的世界是个冷漠、乏味的地方。真正的悲剧不是个矮、害羞或丑陋，而是将自己的个性迷失在一个克隆的世界里，那里到处都是典型的酷男孩或无瑕、迷人的好姑娘。
如果让我选择，我宁可面貌五陋，也不愿生活在这样一个世界里。我宁可做一个伴随“白雪公主”的真实的小矮人，也不愿做“白雪公主”世界里的一个白雪公主，而随波逐流。我宁可作为一个真实的自我而出现。我愿将自己独特的、与众不同的色彩奉献给多姿多彩的世界。“走自己的路，让别人去说吧！”
Responsibility is a Badge of Honour for Youth
（96年“21世纪杯全国大学生英语演讲比赛”二等奖获得者，北京外国语大学 徐义成）
Facing this audience on the stage； I have the exciting feeling of participating in the march of history； for what we are facing today is more than a mere petition or contest。 It is an assembly of some of China's most talented and motivated people； representatives of a younger generation that are preparing themselves for the ing of a new century。
I'm grateful that I've been given this opportunity； at such a historic moment； to stand here as a spokesman of my generation and to take a serious look back at the past 15 years； a crucial period for every one of us and for this nation as well。
Though it is only within my power to tell about my personal experience； and only a tiny fragment of it at that； it still represents； I believe； the root of a spirit which has been essential to me and to all the people bred by the past 15 years。
In my elementary years； there was a little girl in the class who worked very hard but somehow could never do satisfactorily in her lessons。
The teacher asked me to help her； and it was obvious that she expected a lot from me。 but as a young boy； restless； thoughtless； I always tried to evade her so as to get more time to enjoy myself。
One day before the final exam； she came up to me and said； 〃Could you please explain this to me？ I want very much to do better this time。 〃 I started explaining； and finished in a hurry。 Pretending not to notice her still confused eyes； I ran off quickly。 Nat surprisingly； she again did very badly in the exam。 And two months later； at the beginning of the new semester； word came of her death of blood cancer。 No one ever knew about the little task I failed to fulfill； but I couldn't forgive myself。 I simply couldn't forget her eyes； which seem to be asking； 〃Why didn't you do a little more to help me； when it was so easy for you？ Why didn't you understand a little better the trust placed in you； so that I would not have to leave this world in such pain and regret？〃
I was about eight or nine years old at that time； but in a way it was the very starting point of my life； for I began to understand the word 〃responsibility〃 and to learn to always do my duties faithfully and devotedly； for the implications of that sacred word has dawned on me： the mutual need and trust of people； the co…operation and inter…reliance which are the very foundation of human society。
Later in my life； I continued to experience many failures。 But never again did I feel that regret which struck me at the death of the girl； for it makes my heart satisfied to think that I have always done everything in my power to fulfill my responsibilities as best I can。
As I grew up； changed and improved by this incident and many other similar ones； I began to perceive the changes taking place around me and to find that society； in a way； was in its formative years like myself。 New buildings； new modities and new fashions appear every day。
New ideas； new information； new technologies。 People can talk with each other from any corner of the earth in a matter of seconds。 Society is being more petitive。
Words like individuality and creativity are getting more emphasis and more people are rewarded for their hard work and efforts。 Such is the era in which this generation ；grows and matures。
Such is the era in which this generatio