Thanks! Team OBAMA -my first speech-

I am belong to E.E.S.(English Speaking Society) in Sophia University.
And I had a recitation contest on May 7. This contest was held for freshmen for the purpose of experiencing  the speech section. This circle activity is divided into four sections: speech, discussion, debate and drama. All freshmen experience all sections by summer.
I delivered the speech, under the title of "The Audacity of Hope" made by Barack Obama.

The speech that I delivered was a short version(about 600 words), But it was hard for me to memorize all phrases. This was my first time to speak English in front of a lot of people, not to mention of making a speech, I felt uncertainty at first. But, seniors gently taught me how to speak and gesture, I came to feel easy.

I have practiced this speech with seniors for two weeks. Delivering a speech was new experience to me and I learned a lot of things from this. I enjoyed practicing every time, and I would like to thank seniors for teaching me.

There were five materials that I could choose. I chose this material 'The Audacity of Hope' without careful thought. My friend asked me to practice this material together. In fact, I wanted to choose 'I have a dream'. That was because I learned about Martin Luther King in high school and became interested in him.
But, this choice was right. This material contained a lot of things that I should learn. Delivery, rhetoric, repetition and ideograph, they helped me improve my English skills. Also, the seniors of this material were very kind and earnest and the environment to study about speech was very good.

The speech "The Audacity of Hope" was made in 2004, when the Democratic National Convention was held. He delivered this speech as the Keynote Address. Although he was an unknown new face at that time, he was selected as the speaker. That was because he was a energetic young man and a fluent speaker. This speech made him well known and he began to follow the road to win the presidential election.
I was impressed to listen to his speech. His 'Delivery' and 'Rhetoric' was skillful. In this speech, there are these sentences,
      "Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America - there is the United States of America."
      "Tonight, if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion that I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do, if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Main, the people will rise up, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come."
When Obama talked this sentences, the audience was excited and impressed. I hope that you listen to this speech.

I return to the subject of this contest.
After all, I could move into the final, but I couldn't get prizes. I felt disappointed not to get any prizes, but I was glad to be able to deliver my favorite speech to times.
I think that it was right to participate in this contest. I tend to feel nervous easily in front of many people, so I didn't want to deliver a speech. I didn't like speaking in front of an audience before, but now, I like delivering my opinion to people. I try to convey my opinion and everyone listen to me and tries to understand what I say. That is wonderful.
When I stood on the stage, I felt nervous a little. But, beyond that, I was excited and impressed. I enjoyed delivering a speech from bottom of my heart.
I felt disappointed not to get any prizes, so I want to challenge again at summer camp of E.S.S!