16 July 2009
speech contest
This is my speech.
My favorite writer Haruki Murakami once said “I have come to Jerusalem today
as a novelist, which is to say as a professional spinner of lies”. He made this
speech at the 24th international book fair in Jerusalem in February. According
to his speech a novelist is a professional spinner of lies. Of course, not every
novelist is a “professional” spinner of lies. What is a professional, then?
There are many people who are professionals. For example, professional
baseball players; we can watch them play on TV or in the stadium and some of
us even aspire for professional baseball players. Professional writers; they give
us numerous kinds of books, magazines and mangas. Professional
photographers; they give us great impressions and show us the different views
of the earth through their photos.
But what is the difference? What is the difference between a professional
baseball player and an amateur baseball player? Some of us may aspire to
become amateur baseball players. What is the difference between a professional
writer and an amateur writer? Amateur writers may give us great stories or
funny stories. What is the difference between a professional photographer and
an amateur photographer? Amateur photographers may show us the different
views of the earth through their photos.
I once believed that only the professional can give us great impressions.
Especially it’s true for photographers. It’s hard to show their photos to many
people, I think. But now it’s not true. The internet changed many things. Now
amateur photographers can show their photos online through services such as
Flickr. This change is not only for photographers. For amateur writers, there are
many types of online services such as “Keitai Shosetsu” and blogs. Using these
online services, the differences between professionals and amateurs may get
closer. Moreover, these services might be the new gateway for amateurs to
become professionals.
I couldn’t find the big difference between a professional and an amateur. Then I
searched Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary for the meaning of
“professional”. According to that dictionary, “professional” means a person who
does a job that needs special training and a high level of education.
On the other hand, “amateur” means a person who takes part in a sport or other
activity for enjoyment or interest not as a job. According to the dictionary, the
biggest difference between a “professional” and an “amateur” is an amateur
does it for the enjoyment and a professional does it as a job.
There is a quote about professionals. An American writer Richard Bach said, “A
professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit”. According to his quote, the
professional person was once an amateur themselves.
Of course, there are no people who are professional people by birth. Every
human being is an amateur person by birth. Everyone needs to do something to
become a professional. There are many ways to become a professional now, I
think. Some may post their novels online. Some may upload their photos online.
Some may try out for a professional baseball team. But all they have to do is not
to quit.
How about us? We are studying in the college of technology to get high level of
education. I think, we passed the first meaning from the dictionary. But how
about Richard Bach’s quote? If you want to be professional, we must not quit
trying to become professional. So, don’t give up. We can do it.
Thanks Chris!
2 comments:
Woo hoo! Third place is good! Were there any prizes?
Thanks Chris!
I got the toshocard and diploma of merit.
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