My eyes darted around the audiences, while my mouth refused to unfold. I could barely keep my hands from quivering, while the cold sweat started to combatively soak every inch of my body. But the room was tranquil. I abruptly stood still in front of 35 audiences, who went to the same high school with me, who knew me nothing further than a new immigrant from China. A student who just arrived from the other side of the world, and who just about to give his first speech in English to his unfamiliar schoolmates in his 4th period speech class, and he was me. That was 5th of April 2003, as well as a half-year landmark for me since I have been to United States.

Although I had a profuse research on my speech paper and even had rigorous pronunciation practices, behind my brain was just nothing but blankness at...