Chapter 232: The First

Chapter 232

In that moment when she stepped onto the stage, Xiao Qi's presence transformed.

These past few days, she had been scrambling to prepare, listening to various speeches and carefully analyzing the demeanor of historical figures during their speeches. She made a point to memorize their language patterns and tried to capture the speaking style of Xiao Shengzhou, the president of Enhua Student Union, as well as the expressive facial expressions of Teacher Lu, who taught calculus.

Xiao Shengzhou was the best president Enhua University had seen since its establishment. Even in his senior year, no one had been able to find a suitable replacement for him. He was like a labor union chairman, expertly coordinating the relationships between students, teachers, and the school. His speeches were so convincing and charismatic that all parties involved were completely won over. The events he organized were recorded in the school's history.

Teacher Lu, who taught calculus, was a distinguished professor brought back to Enhua University from Qingbei University. With a wealth of life experiences, including studying abroad in Russia during his early years, he possessed extensive knowledge and a witty personality. She was an incredibly charismatic individual, and her charm remained undiminished even as she grew older. Her words were like a gentle breeze, leaving a slightly intoxicated feeling.

One was unquestionably trustworthy, the other exuded warmth and approachability. Both individuals were directly accessible to Xiao Qi, providing her with face-to-face opportunities to learn and emulate them. At this moment, Xiao Qi embodied a blend of their qualities.

She appeared confident, composed, and amiable.

Among the audience was School Manager Mrs. Su, who always placed great importance on the power of language. She believed that for Chinese people to make their mark globally, language proficiency was of utmost significance. Enhua University boasted a considerable number of foreign faculty members, a result of her unwavering commitment.

Mrs. Su herself was proficient in eight foreign languages and deeply understood the convenience and importance of language. Therefore, even for a freshman speech competition, she was willing to make time to attend personally.

Although Enhua University was not yet ranked highly within China, Mrs. Su hoped that it could establish its own distinctiveness and carve out a place among numerous universities.

As she saw the young girl stepping onto the stage, Mrs. Su remembered her as the girl who had sung at the Mid-Autumn Festival party. This revelation brought her a sense of surprise.

During the party, the girl had appeared delicate and slightly nervous, captivating everyone with her enchanting singing. However, there was minimal interaction with the audience.

She was a student with artistic talents.

Never did Mrs. Su expect to see her standing on the podium today.

In college, she had more opportunities to learn English. There were English corners and many lovely foreign teachers. The learning resources were abundant, and she was very grateful to be in Enhua.

She felt anxious before coming here, but she felt fortunate after arriving.

When she arrived at the school, the first banner she saw read: "Today, I take pride in Enhua, and tomorrow, Enhua will take pride in me." She hoped she could achieve this, and she thanked everyone.

Xiao Qi's speech wasn't particularly impassioned because her personality isn't the type that inspires and leads with charisma. However, she fully learned the sense of affinity from Teacher Lu, and she recounted her story in a relatable manner. She also learned the solid and convincing demeanor from Chairman Xiao Shengzhou, which gradually made people feel engaged.

Many students couldn't quite understand everything that Xiao Qi said throughout, only recognizing a few familiar words. But they truly admired her ability to convey her message. It wasn't mere recitation; it was a genuine speech.

She finished her speech.

School Manager Ms. Su stood up and applauded.

Mrs. Su liked what the girl said very much. It was inspiring and positive, especially the praise she gave to Enhua at the end, which deeply touched Mrs. Su's heart.

Even the foreign teacher stood up and applauded. He thought that as a young girl from China, her English was excellent, especially her accent, which had a touch of a London accent. They themselves admired this accent very much, and it was quite rare.

The other English teachers serving as judges also stood up. To be honest, if they were to go on stage, they might not speak as well as this girl. English teaching in China is still heavily focused on exam-oriented education, with a majority of emphasis on written language education. To be able to speak so well, it was as if she had returned from abroad. However, looking at the girl's simple attire and appearance, and the fact that she had to work as a tutor during summer vacation, it's likely that her family background is average. To achieve such success as a student like her is truly moving, even though she didn't say anything particularly tear-jerking throughout her entire speech. But she herself is an inspiring tear-jerker.

One teacher even wiped away tears. She had also read that article "If I were a boy again," and it had touched her when she read it. However, she hadn't done anything herself.

The students below also stood up, all of them.

Li Weijin, supporting one foot, stood up and applauded with great force.