Last year, I joined the school English speech contest. Many of my classmates were already great speakers, so I felt very nervous when I signed up. However, I did not want to give up before I even tried. I told myself that the experience was more important than the result.
Practicing was much harder than I expected. I forgot my lines again and again, and my pronunciation was not clear enough. I almost gave up. Therefore, I decided to ask my English teacher for extra help after school every day. She was always patient and gave me useful advice.
My teacher showed me how to breathe correctly and slow down my speaking. Besides, she helped me understand the meaning of every sentence, so I could express myself more naturally. I also practiced in front of a mirror every night at home. Otherwise, I would easily forget what I had learned and lose my confidence before the big day.
The day of the contest finally arrived. I stood on the stage and saw many students and teachers in front of me. My hands were shaking. However, I took a deep breath and remembered my teacher's words: "Just do your best." I spoke slowly and clearly, and I finished the speech without stopping.
I did not win first place. However, I was still very proud of myself for not giving up. I had worked hard for weeks, and I kept going even when things were difficult. Besides, the experience helped me become a more confident and brave speaker. I learned that hard work always pays off, no matter what the result is.