What is a family? A family is an organization composed of several members. A family is a community where all the members share bitterness and happiness. A family is a warm nest, where people can express their feelings and emotions heart to heart.

Born in a workers' family, I used to lead a simple but happy life. To my disappointment, years ago, my parents quarrelled a lot on very small things. I was in deep sorrow and feared that one day they might divorce. My life, at that time, was filled with tears.

Later, my parents lost their jobs because the factory didn't need so many workers. For a long time, we didn't know what to do. There was still a long way ahead of us. No work, no income. We were full of sadness as if we had fallen into a dark hell all of a sudden. Sometimes, we were even wondering, "where is the breakfast tomorrow?"

But to my surprise, being laid-off workers, my parents didn't quarrel any more. What they were thinking and planning was how to support the family.

Fortunately, they found a part-time job. However, my father couldn't change his traditional view-point at first. He always said, "I'm a man who has his own family. How can I have the face to serve other families?"

My mother and I persuaded and encouraged him, saying, "Losing job is not terrible, but losing heart is. We three should unite together to fight against poverty"

Greatly encouraged, my father found life still full of hope. We sold out all the valuable things in our family. With the sum of money, they opened a small restaurant. My parents worked day and night and hence, the restaurant had a good business. Up to now, we've had a considerable collection of money. We were so cheerful as the success belonged to us three, and what's more, it changed our life.

Ladies and gentlemen, great changes took place in my family in the past few years. However, the most important change is nei-ther in the material life nor in the harmonious relations among family members, but, in the idea that how we can be successful while struggling in the society.

As laid-off workers, my parents overcame difficulties one af-ter another through their own efforts, because they were clearly aware: the re-employment should be solved through, of course, both efforts from the government and laid-off workers them-selves, but the second one seems to be more important.

Ladies and gentlemen, to end my speech, I'd like to quote a very famous saying: "Life is a horse, either you ride it or it rides you.

点评:

The speaker got a full understanding of the topic and, through his own family life experience, he gave us a good example that one should have self-confidence and struggle in the society for happiness on his own efforts by hard working, not just wait and only ask others or the government for help. Since the open-policies have been carried out for years, with the deepening of the economic reforming of our country, if one wants to catch up with the development of the whole society, he must get rid of the old traditional ideas, as the speaker mentioned in his speech, and try his best to complete himself otherwise he will lag behind.

The speaker didn't make enough comments upon his story, though the ending of the speech is full of imagination.

指导教师：胡润清