responsibilityisabadgeofhonourforyouth(96年“21世纪杯全国大学生英语演讲比赛”二等奖获得者，北京外国语大学徐义成)facingthisaudienceonthestage,ihavetheexcitingfeelingofparticipatinginthemarchofhistory,forwhatwearefacingtodayismorethanamerecompetitionorcontest.itisanassemblyofsomeofchina'smosttalentedandmotivatedpeople,representativesofayoungergenerationthatarepreparingthemselvesforthecomingofanewcentury.i'mgratefulthati'vebeengiventhisopportunity,atsuchahistoricmoment,tostandhereasaspokesmanofmygenerationandtotakeaseriouslookbackatthepast15years,acrucialperiodforeveryoneofusandforthisnationaswell.thoughitisonlywithinmypowertotellaboutmypersonalexperience,andonlyatinyfragmentofitatthat,itstillrepresents,ibelieve,therootofaspiritwhichhasbeenessentialtomeandtoallthepeoplebredbythepast15years.inmyelementaryyears,therewasalittlegirlintheclasswhoworkedveryhardbutsomehowcouldneverdosatisfactorilyinherlessons.theteacheraskedmetohelpher,anditwasobviousthatsheexpectedalotfromme.butasayoungboy,restless,thoughtless,ialwaystriedtoevadehersoastogetmoretimetoenjoymyself.onedaybeforethefinalexam,shecameuptomeandsaid,"couldyoupleaseexplainthistome?iwantverymuchtodobetterthistime."istartedexplaining,andfinishedinahurry.pretendingnottonoticeherstillconfusedeyes,iranoffquickly.natsurprisingly,sheagaindidverybadlyintheexam.andtwomonthslater,atthebeginningofthenewsemester,wordcameofherdeathofbloodcancer.nooneeverknewaboutthelittletaskifailedtofulfill,buticouldn'tforgivemyself.isimplycouldn'tforgethereyes,whichseemtobeasking,"whydidn'tyoudoalittlemoretohelpme,whenitwassoeasyforyou?whydidn'tyouunderstandalittlebetterthetrustplacedinyou,sothatiwouldnothavetoleavethisworldinsuchpainandregret?"iwasabouteightornineyearsoldatthattime,butinawayitwastheverystartingpointofmylife,foribegantounderstandtheword"responsibility"andtolearntoalwaysdomydutiesfaithfullyanddevotedly,fortheimplicationsofthatsacredwordhasdawnedonmethemutualneedandtrustofpeople,theco-operationandinter-reliancewhicharetheveryfoundationofhumansociety.laterinmylife,icontinuedtoexperiencemanyfailures.butneveragaindidifeelthatregretwhichstruckmeatthedeathofthegirl,foritmakesmyheartsatisfiedtothinkthatihavealwaysdoneeverythinginmypowertofulfillmyresponsibilitiesasbestican.asigrewup,changedandimprovedbythisincidentandmanyothersimilarones,ibegantoperceivethechangestakingplacearoundmeandtofindthatsociety,inaway,wasinitsformativeyearslikemyself.newbuildings,newcommoditiesandnewfashionsappeareveryday.newideas,newinformation,newtechnologies.peoplecantalkwitheachotherfromanycorneroftheearthinamatterofseconds.societyisbecomingmorecompetitive.wordslikeindividualityandcreativityaregettingmoreemphasisandmorepeoplearerewardedfortheirhardworkandefforts.suchistheerainwhichthisgeneration,growsandmatures.suchistheerainwhichthisgenerationwilltakeoverthenationfromourfathersandlearntorunit.yetinthemeantime,manyproblemsstillexist.welearnthatcrimestakeplaceinbroaddaylightwithcrowdsofpeoplelookingonandnotassisting.wehearthattherearestillabout1millionchildreninthiscountrywhocan'tevenaffordtogotoelementaryschoolswhileenormoussumsofmoneyarebeingsquanderedawayondinnerpartiesandluxurycars.webuyshoddymedicines,ormerelyworthlessjunkinthenameofmedicines,thataggravate,ratherthanalleviateourdiseasessincemoney,manypeoplebelieve,isthemostimportantthingintheworldthatmustbem...
