The 6th Anjo Junior High School English Presentation Contest was held recently.
Three students from our school were selected to participate.

I was deeply impressed by their speeches.
Today, I would like to share some of my reflections as the principal.

"A Little Courage"

"I want to go back to Vietnam!"
She began with these words, expressing her heartfelt, earnest desire.
Filled with emotions unique to her own journey, she shared the painful experiences she had endured.

She spoke quietly, as if reaching out directly to those listening.

She also recounted how that profound sense of loneliness eventually faded, thanks to the kind words of her classmates.
She shared a vital lesson:A moment of hesitation can cause you to miss an opportunity.
She explained this thoughtfully, drawing from her own personal experience.
It was truly moving to hear her express, from the bottom of her heart, that she is who she is today because of the many friends who support her.

She shared a powerful, memorable phrase.
"Courage is not the absence of fear,but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."
The experience of being supported by friends will surely make you stronger.
It was a wonderful, moving speech.

"Discover the New Me"

Taking on a leadership role often means shouldering additional responsibilities—responsibilities that come without any compensation.
It is understandable to feel that, since one might not be able to do everything perfectly, it is better to avoid taking on such a demanding burden.
But he chose a different path.
Upon entering junior high school, he decided he wanted to see a new world, and so he took on a challenge.
Hearing about his journey—his efforts to gain self-confidence—was truly inspiring.
You don’t have to do everything perfectly.
It’s okay to make misutakes.
Sometimes, teachers are there, ready to work alongside you.
He came to realize that before focusing solely on fulfilling his responsibilities, he could first act freely, guided by his own ideas.
He moves forward with his own vision, occasionally checking in with friends and teachers to gain new perspectives as he continues his journey.
Through his experience as a leader, he came to understand the importance of broadening one’s perspective.
His words reflected the strength gained from experiences that can only be understood by actually taking part—his sentiments truly resonated.

There was a powerful, memorable phrase he shared during his talk.
"If you are having a hard time or feeling nervous,let's step up and take on the challenge.That is what happened to me.
maybe then you'll discover a new side of yourself."
Serving as a leader will surely help you grow.
It was a heartfelt speech that inspired a positive outlook.

"Preserving the Tanabata Festival for the Future"

She has a deep love for the Anjo Tanabata Festival; her passion was evident from the very beginning of her speech.
Because she lives in the local school district, she understands the true significance of the festival.
The Anjo Tanabata Festival is always a grand, exciting event.
Yet, for many, it is so familiar—so close to home—that its true value might be overlooked.
People may not fully grasp the importance of preserving such traditions or the significance of keeping them alive.
That is precisely why her desire to cherish this festival resonates more deeply than anyone else’s.
Despite her passion, she acknowledges that the reality is far from easy.
She points out that, due to factors like the aging population in the local shopping district, there are fewer people available to craft the traditional bamboo decorations.
She posed a challenging question to the audience.
Can we really just let things continue this way?
Creating a single bamboo decoration requires the cooperation of many people, as well as a great deal of time and effort.
This is why she hopes others will join in as volunteers.
Her sincere, heartfelt appeal was truly striking.

There was a powerful, memorable phrase she shared during her talk.
"I will continue making bamboo decorations with my family and the local peaple.

 I want to keep this tradition alive for the future with all my heart."
The courage to express your thoughts can eventually transform into the action needed to bring those thoughts to life.
It was a powerful speech that looked toward the future.

Presentations are a way to convey one's message through a variety of expressive techniques.
At this competition, top performers were selected and honored with awards.
Yet, the stories shared by these three individuals—who spoke from their own experiences and expressed a commitment to moving forward toward the future—were the most impactful of all. Perhaps the recognition they received stems from how they conveyed their message—through visuals, words, and facial expressions.
As this was an English contest, factors like pronunciation may also have played a role.
Ultimately, however, I believe the most important thing is the act of sharing one’s thoughts and feelings.
I also value the mindset of embracing new experiences without fear.
The three students from our school delivered speeches that truly conveyed their personal experiences and the emotions they felt.
They gave us a tremendous sense of courage.
It is vital for a school to provide opportunities for learning and hands-on experience during one’s youth—a time when so much can be gained.
Our extracurricular activities now extend into the local community, fostering active engagement within the area.
I believe it is crucial for young people to choose such experiences for themselves and to cherish them.
Furthermore, I am firmly convinced of the need for platforms—whether in Japanese or English—where individuals can effectively express their thoughts and feelings.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the three students from our school once again.
Extracurricular activities are now being integrated into the local community, and community-based initiatives have become increasingly vibrant.
I believe it is truly important for young people—those in the prime of their youth—to make their own choices and cherish these kinds of experiences.
Furthermore, I am firmly convinced of the need for a space where such thoughts and feelings can be clearly expressed—whether in Japanese or in English.

この投稿は、過日開催された第６回安城市中学校英語プレゼンテーションコンテストに参加をしてくれた３名と、本校でこのコンテストに参加を希望していた多くの皆さんに敬意を表するために、英語で書いてみました。
また、本校公式ウェブサイトの右上にある"Google Translate"で様々な言語に翻訳される機能を知ってもらうためでもあります。
ぜひ一度試してみてください。
とはいっても、日本語での言葉を書き、それを何とか英語にし、その後Google翻訳をはじめとして様々な機会や人に厳しくご指導を受けながら、校長が何とか英文としたものです。
ところどころミススペルやわかりにくい表現があったらごめんなさい。
書き終わった後の実感として、強く言えること。
「これからの時代は英語を大切にするのが当たり前」
わかっているけど、こうやって翻訳機のもうそろってきた時代やAIの時代ということを考えると、改めて強く思っています。
そんな一端を、たどたどしい英文から感じていただき、翻訳機能を知っていただくとともに、自身の思いを表現された皆さんに対しての返礼をもって、学校からのメッセージとしております。