Sample Introductory Speeches:
1.Pot, Soil, Water
Those of you with a green thumb know that a healthy houseplant like this one needs a number of things to grow, including a good pot, rich soil, and adequate water.The pot is the plant’s home, the comforting place where it grows up.The soil gives the plant nutrients and helps its roots expand.Water is the basis of all life and allows the plant to thrive.Like this plant and the pot, soil, and water it requires to grow, you can get a sense of my growth by looking at my family, my friends, and my interests.
The pot represents my family.A pot holds the plant together just like my family holds me together.My mom and dad not only gave me life but a loving home to grow up in.if I ever had a bad day, they kept me from falling apart.As the plant protects the roots and the soil, my family protected me as I grew through my childhood.
The soil represents my friends, who have supported me as I branched out into new experiences.Here on campus, my three best friends have helped me adjust to college by showing me around, by introducing me to new people, and by helping me with my aignments.They encourage me to follow my dreams and are always willing to offer advice.As the nutrients from the soil feed the plant, my friends have helped me grow and develop.
The water represents my interests.Without water, this plant would turn brown and dull, but with water, the plant is bright and full of life.Like water for this plant, my interests help me flourish rather than wilt.I have a broad range of interests, including music, art, swimming, and watching movies.My interests make my personal colors more vibrant and allow me to bloom.
I wouldn’t be who I am today without my family, my friends, and my interests.But like this plant, I still have some growing to do---more things to learn and more things to experience.Luckily, because of my own pot, soil, and water, I’m confident I will bloom into the person I want to be.
2.Rhymes with Orange
Paul Madsen’s first memory in life was sitting on his grand-mother’s lap and being fed his favorite food---an orange.Surprisingly, there are actually many similarities between Paul and his favorite food.
Much like an orange has tough skin, so does Paul, which is evident by his choice of a major hobby---playing rugby.Paul started playing rugby while he was growing up near London, England.Rugby is described by many as the roughest sport in the would, a fact Paul can attest to since he has broken two ribs, two bones in his foot, and fractured his jaw while playing the sport.But rugby’s brutal nature hasn’t stopped Paul from pursuing the sport to its highest level, including leading his local team to the European championship game for its age group.
But like an orange, Paul’s tough skin can be misleading.Just as an orange has a softer inside, so does Paul.He is both a caring person and a humanitarian.He has done lots of charity work throughout his life, and this past summer he
went to Namibia in Southern Africa and helped build schools so the local children could have a chance to be educated.Paul also helped teach some of the children English and distributed basic health products that the children had been lacking.Paul views it as an obligation to give back to those le fortunate than him because he has been so bleed in life---especially by his loving family, which includes his mother, father, and three younger brothers.
Like an orange about to be picked from the tree, Paul has absolutely no idea where he will end up.After growing up in England, he’s spending his first full year away from his homeland and is just starting to adjust to American culture.So far he’s enjoying his new home immensely and is very much looking forward to furthering his education here at the university.As for a profeion, Paul is not sure yet what he wants to do.He thinks he would like to have a job doing some sort of charity-related work, or he might want to coach rugby back in England.
But no matter where life takes him, one thing is for sure---Paul will eat lots of oranges along the way.
3.Confronting Myself: Color of the Wind
When I was in kindergarten, I once showed off my painting to the cla.To my surprise, they all burst into laughter.“Why did you paint the sky green?” one asked.Unable to seek a valid answer, I replied dryly.“Well, that’s the color of wind.”
Though at that time I didn’t realize that I was colorblind, my sensitivity told me something was miing.My confidence wavered, and from then on I tried to avoid every occasion that called for the use of colors.
However, there is something in life that I can never avoid.In my senior high, I had to choose photography to meet curricular requirements.Still suffering from color phobia, I only used black-and white film to take pictures.Yet my works turned out to be good ones.They say I have a special sense of light and shade, and by the use of simple picture composition, I can fully convey the theme of the photo.
“Why not try some color films?” my photography teacher asked.
“I am colorblind.’
“So what?” he patted on me shoulder, “It is your colorblindne that gives you the stronger sense of light and shade and helps you to grasp the theme of the photo without distractions of colors.”
My teacher’s words struck me.Later, I found out that the incidence of colorblindne is one in a thousand.To me, it is a bleing in disguise.With that in mind, I put a roll of color film in my camera and set out to take pictures.With the snapping sound of the shutter, I could not help but paint the color of wind in my own pictures.The colors lie in my heart.
