下のスクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは一部異なる場合があります。

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Have you lived a nightmare?

SHIGEYAMA, Jotaro (Tokuyama National College of Technology)

You know how traumatic nightmares can be. My whole ninth-grade year was a genuine nightmare! Day and night, awake or asleep, there was no clear line between the two. You can imagine how that might feel!

When I was in the ninth grade, a new English teacher came to our junior high school. Everyone thought that she was a good-natured and respectable teacher. She often smiled in class, and we were all charmed with her elegance. I liked the way she smiled and the way she talked to us. She seemed to be a wonderful, warm-hearted teacher. So I was very happy when I heard she would become the advisor of my Announcing Club.

A few days later, she came to our club meeting and told us what we would do during the year. At first, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. In the club setting her attitude toward us was completely different from what it was in class. The warm smile on her face and tenderness in her words were all gone. “What has happened to her? Has our angel turned into a merciless tyrant?”

Soon I came to understand that this serious face was her true face and a smile was never to be seen upon it. She insisted we participate in the announcing contest, which we had never done before. She trained us hard like a slave-driver! We were dismayed at our misfortune. After telling us what she wanted, she shouted at me, “Why are you idling away your time? You are the head of this club, aren't you? Just tell everyone their responsibilities, and practice yourself!”
“Oh my goodness!” We were told to do vocal exercise for half an hour and practice reading every day. Then run around the school ground three times two days a week. Soon my days became so hectic and lifeless that people around me were very worried about my health. This cruel practice lasted for nearly eight months.

I could do nothing but practice and practice. Sometimes it lasted until 9:00 p.m. I forced myself to do my absolute best for the first time in my life. I felt so tired from all of the hard work. But I was drained most to think no one could imagine my position as leader.

The contest was held in Yamaguchi City and every contestant in my club won the prefectural championship. This entitled us to take part in the national contest held in Tokyo. As for me, I was ecstatic! I naively comforted myself that the nightmare had ended.

Then the teacher said to me, “OK, job done. Now you have another project.”

“What else must I do?” I said to myself. The nightmare continues... She ordered me to serve as a master of ceremony in the School Festival to be held in November. Once again I had to suffer from endless practices every day under the direction of that merciless tyrant. I would have to speak in the presence of more than 1000 people in the school gym. The nightmare grew darker!

I'll leave my sufferings, fears and anxieties up to the School Festival to your imagination.

On that day I had to read many drafts. I made a lot of mistakes. However nervous I felt, I had to keep on going for my beloved family, who came to the festival to see me. When I read the last part of the drafts and turned off the microphone, to my surprise, that good-natured teacher had reappeared, and comforted me, “Your job is over. You did your best!” I couldn't stop the tears running down my cheeks.

After all is said and done, I was able to turn what had seemed to be nightmares into beautiful memories. My efforts were rightly rewarded. The universe is just!

Yet one more nightmare lingers to this very moment. You've got it! I've been practicing this speech night and day! But now, I am free as a bird!