Hearing my name called, I stepped up on stage to give my first public speech. Steadying my trembling hands, I1the sea of people and wanted to 2. Then a question flashed into my mind, "Do you still remember3it took to get here?"
It all started with a (n)4I had written in reply to a radio host's slanderous (诋毁的) comments about5rights. I had stayed up for days 6 information to oppose his point. Content with my final essay, I submitted it to my7for publication. Later, I received a text stating that he8 not to publish it because the subject matter was" too controversial". Hurt, I left my job with my two weeks'9.
I tried to submit my essay to others, believing someone would be 10to get it out while the subject was still topical (时下关注的) . However, after days of" thanks, but no thanks" replies, I felt 11No one was interested in a no-name writer with a 12 opinion that was against that of a celebrity (名人). Had my boss been right?
13, I received a "YES" from a small, yet powerful online blog (博客) that14 women.
My essay had thousands of 15 and I rose to fame overnight. In less than a day, my world changed and people were 16. Then one day, I received a call asking me to give a (n) 17in Washing D. C. . My eyes teared up in 18. Me? A middle-aged single mother with only high school education?
Taking a deep breath, I dived into the speech I had 19 many times, nervous but 20 to make my voice heard.
