I was informed afterwards that I was chosen to be the winner for my "appropriately worded speech, excellent presence and quick-witted response". In so remarking, the judges clearly showed their preference: they come to listen for meaningful ideas, not for loose judgments, nor easy laughters.　　

Some contestants failed to address their questions head on. Some were able to, but did not knowswheresto stop—the dragging on betrayed their lack of confidence. The root cause was that they did not listen attentively to the questions. Or they were thinking of what they had prepared.　　

As I said in my speech, "It is vitally important that we young people do more serious thinking ... to take them [issues like globalization] on and give them honest thinking is the first step to be prepared for both opportunities and challenges coming our way". We need to respond honestly.　　

A competition like this draws talented students from all over the country. And of course, I learnt more things than just about public speaking. Since in the final analysis, public speaking is all about effective communication. And this goes true for all communications, whatever their setting.　　

And the following is the final version of my speech:　　

GLOBALIZATION: 　　

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES　　

FOR CHINA'S YOUNGER GENERATION　　

Thirty years ago, American President Richard Nixon made an epoch-making visit to China, a country still isolated at that time. Premier Zhou Enlai said to him, "Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world—twenty-five years of no communication". Thirty years since, China and America have exchanged many handshakes. The fundamental implication of this example is that the need to communicate across differences in culture and ideology is not only felt by the two countries but by many other nations as well.　　

As we can see today, environmentalists from different countries are making joint efforts to address the issue of global warming, economists are seeking solutions to financial crises that rage in a particular region but nonetheless cripple the world economy, and politicians and diplomats are getting together to discuss the issue of combating terrorism. Peace and prosperity has become a common goal that we are striving for all over the world. Underlying this mighty trend of global communication is the echo of E. M. Forster's words "Only connect!"　　

With the IT revolution, traditional boundaries of human society fall away. Our culture, politics, society and commerce are being sloshedsintosone large melting pot of humanity. In this interlinked world, there are no outsiders, for a disturbance in one place is likely to impact other parts of the globe. We have begun to realize that a world divided cannot endure.　　joozone.com