中学篇演讲稿背诵20130428.docVIP

The best is already here in our hands DISTINGUISHED guests, ladies and gentlemen and my fellow students, I am greatly honored that you have given me this opportunity to address you all today. More than 100 years ago, a young man went to work at his father’s pencil factory after graduating from Harvard. While he was there, he developed a type of pencil considered far superior to any that had come before. He could have remained in the family business and amassed (积聚) a fortune from this pencil. However, he refused to stay in the business. Instead, he devoted his lifetime to the exploration (探索), study and consideration of nature. He even went to the extent of building a frame house by the shores of a pond which is now incredibly famous. He was seeking the kind of life his heart so desired. This man’s name was Henry David Thoreau, the author of the masterpiece, Walden (《瓦尔登湖》).In contrast, the principle tenet (原则) of this era on whose stage we are standing now is “competition”. It is not uncommon for parents to murmur to their children, still in their cradles (摇篮), cajoling (哄骗) them to strain every nerve and sinew (精力) to try to run ahead of others in every aspect of life. However, people are simply too busy to spare a second thought as to whether this is really an appropriate creed for living. Jesus Christ said: “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.” I consider it far more rational (理性的) and meaningful to set “being yourself” as your goal, rather than “being the best”. In my opinion, being successful can be fully achieved without needing to make comparisons with other people. The key to being successful is to find out who you really are, choose a goal that fits you perfectly and give everything you’ve got to get there. Afterwards, you can enjoy a sweet sip of success. Let’s look back on the example of Thoreau. Shouldn’t he be considered successful with his great influence on not just the