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Here is the essay...I DO need help..plz..for the 'imagination' topic..bleh..

I walked down the stage, confidently strode back to my seat amid the overwhelming sense of achievement that was acknowledged out there: the principal smiled and gave his nod of approval; the students grinned and enthusiastically clapped their hands, applauding my speech to these Yunnan students. I was proud of myself for successfully delivering a speech as a Hong Kong representative, and was thankful for the High Achievers Program I participated in the last summer.

The High Achievers Program was more than an inspiring mathematics course; it was my three-week metamorphosis from a shy lad to a confident boy. On the first day of class, everyone was stunned by my self-introduction: I blushed to cherry red, the colour on my face could rival that of roses, and my voice was barely audible. The girls cast me a surprised look and started giggling. I was so nervous that I rushed through my speech and sat down immediately with my face burning, my heart crushed. It was my first time sharing a class with girls and delivering a speech publicly. I felt not only ashamed of my shyness, but deprived of dignity.

I shut myself in the bathroom that afternoon and stared into the boy in the wide, flat mirror. I spoke determinedly to him, ¡¥You must overcome your shyness and your fear of public speaking.¡¦ Forcing him to speak with different gestures and to vary his tone, I urged the image to smile and look into my eyes. A spur of creativity took over me and I imagined myself as a famous public figure talking to thousands of people. I practiced speaking all night long. Miracles occurred on the next day as people approached me and teased me about my timidity. I jumped at this chance to socialize with others and to open myself up. My amiable character soon helped me gain friendships. Every evening, I conceived myself as a different public figure and practiced various speaking styles, building up my confidence inside bit by bit.

On the last day I was chosen to present the assigned mathematics model while my classmates demonstrated the solutions on PowerPoint. In the enormous yet dim auditorium, over two hundred pairs of eyes were pinned on me. Involuntarily, my hands shook and my legs trembled. I felt that if I couldn¡¦t make this speech, I would live in the shadow of a coward. Somehow, courage rose from within, and I took a deep breath and stepped forward, picturing all the gleaming eyes as a huge mirror and imagining I was practicing at home. When the whole auditorium burst into a standing ovation, I knew my practise paid off. I returned all the supportive faces with a smile, a smile of a young man who finally had, at long last, overcome his worst fears. I had conquered my stage fright. I was no longer a shy person.

The fuse to my success as an articulate public speaker was lit by the imagination during the consistent practise. I have won the opportunity to participate in the cultural exchange program to Yunnan; have gained the courage to deliver a speech to hundreds of people in my non-native dialect, and have walked out of the past, stepping forward as a confident and positive person. . Above all, I have learnt to face and overcome my weakness. From now on, I am prepared for every upcoming challenge, and I know that with courage, persistence and imagination, it will be within my reach to conquer them all.

By Mnm (Mnm) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 04:08 am: Edit

what's the topic

By Dreamerflyhigh (Dreamerflyhigh) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 04:24 am: Edit

Topic:

Emily Dickinson wrote, "The Possible's slow fuse is lit/By the Imagination.'' When has imagination sparked a change in what you considered possible? How did this experience affect you?

By Dreamerflyhigh (Dreamerflyhigh) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 04:45 am: Edit

plz..i need ur valuable comments....deadline's approaching...aint got no time...