林越越：浙江传媒学院选手，第16届21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛二等奖
个人简介：喜欢把整个世界都构筑在自己的想法之上。人应该选择自己喜欢的东西、应该去过自己想要的生活，应该竭尽全力地追求自己的梦想，而不是随波逐流或是轻易地向现实妥协。
演讲稿：
Good morning/afternoon ladies and gentlemen, first of all, let me ask you a question, do you think it is a blessing in disguise when you're told what you believe is wrong?
Well I do.
Three years ago, when I decided to choose English as my major in college, my father said to me "That's one of the most foolish decisions you've ever made. Everyone speaks English now. How will you find a good job as an English major?"
"But dad, I love English! Why should I spend four years studying something I don't like at all?"I argued.
I said no to my father because I believe passion and interest should always be my top concern. That is the very reason why I devoted as much time as I can to learning and thinking during the past three years. Now, here I am, making my voice heard in the 21st Century Cup national English speaking competition. It's a dream that I have cherished since high school. In retrospect, my father, who denied my belief in the first place, is the very person I should thank because he made me understand how far i will go to defend what I hold dear.
For young people like me, there will always be moments when our beliefs are harshly challenged. We once firmly believed whoever shows us kindness can be trusted until one day we are sadly disillusioned to find that those acts of kindness are nothing but a Judas kiss. We once firmly believed that we are going to live happily ever after with someone we love until one day we realize love will vanish into thin air if we don't have a fancy job or a dream house. We once firmly believed that we will go out there and conquer the world until one day the world conquers us, leaving us jaded and pessimistic.
How sad it is when those innocent yet true beliefs are shattered. However, should we put those beliefs aside just because someone or something makes us doubt?
No! Remember what I said earlier? When others say we are wrong, it is a blessing in disguise. It is not a belief-killer but a challenge to overcome. When we rise against those challenges to defend what we believe, the truth we hold dear in our heart will not be destroyed but shine ever brighter.
When I made that decision three years ago, I knew I would regret nothing for holding onto my belief. This inspires me to embrace any future challenges with open arms because I know only by defending what we hold to be true, can we have a deeper understanding of who we are and what we want. The more important those beliefs are, the more important it is they be open to examination, questioning, and challenges
Ladies and gentlemen, are there any beliefs that you would stand up for even if they are challenged to their very core. If so, stand firm. After all, life is not about what you should believe but rather what you choose to believe.
Thank you very much.
