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Elementary School Graduation Speech - A Free Graduation Speech

An elementary school graduation speech should give thanks where thanks are due,  acknowledge accolades achieved, pay tribute to both knowledge and attitudes attained and leave the students with a message for the future.

You can use the speech with a bit of tweaking here and there, or you can use it as a guideline to structure your own speech.

Graduation day is indeed a memorable day in the minds of the students and their parents. You can add to their magical moment and present a  short, yet meaningful speech.

Don't be reluctant to edit and add as needed - the more personalized and unique... the better!

Good Evening Honored Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen and of course the Graduating Class of [insert year] .

It seems hard to believe. The year started off at a sprint and it seems to have left many of us still trying to catch our breath. As we looked forward to all the challenges that lay ahead of us, it did appear a little daunting at times - a huge mountain that lay ahead of us to climb. But my, what a wonderful year it has been. A year of challenges met, mountains climbed and summits conquered!

To our young Ladies and Gentlemen seated in front of us tonight listening to our elementary school graduation speech - we are immeasurably proud of each  and everyone of you. There were those of you who seemed to have wings and you just soared over the obstacles and challenges that crossed your path. It is a wonderful gift and one that never fails to amaze me. And although, not everyone may have had wings that saw them soaring over obstacles confronted - each and every one of you had feet - feet that you used to climb, bit  by bit every day, one day at a time and yes...you all got there. You all achieved your goals!

Step-by-step and day-by-day - your course was steadfast and you never lost sight of your goals. I can only applaud that kind of determination, that purposeful resolve to get where you need to be - even when it may not always have been very easy. Well done - you seized wonderful opportunities, academic, cultural and sporting  and made them your own. We are indeed proud!

But, allow me set another scene? No elementary school graduation speech is complete without a story? The end of recess bell has just rung. The Grade [insert highest year of students] 's are outside a class,  waiting for a lesson. Along comes a little Grade [insert lowest year of students] chap....shirt un-tucked and socks down  after a good game of something that involves running. He sees a Senior Teacher standing next to the class, waiting to lead the class in.

Quite undeterred, this young man walks up to the teacher. The conversation that follows goes something like this:

Boy: "Who are those boys?"

Teacher: "They are Senior Boys."

The boy looking disappointed, but still hopeful: "Oh...I'm looking for a tall Senior Boy ( little arms extended to the left and the right accompany this statement to show just how tall the boy is). Do you know him? He said he would play soccer with me after school!"

Teacher: "Well, do you know his name?"

Boy: "No...but will you find him for me please? Tell him I'll wait for him after school to play soccer."

With that, the little chap turns happily on his heel, confident that the teacher will in fact find the "tall Senior boy" and he trots off to his next lesson. The Senior kids smile and chuckle good-naturedly at the little guy's enthusiasm and conviction.

Ok, so the teacher never did find the elusive "tall one" - but something more important was "found".

It is gratifying to find that at [insert name of School] a Senior Boy will still offer to play soccer with  a younger boy because he remembers looking up to the bigger boys when he was just a little guy. And what  a find it is when a Junior Boy wants to play soccer with the Senior Boys - no fear...just a little awe and admiration perhaps?

It is also heart-warming to see the complete trust and belief, as our young friend approached a teacher for help in this rather urgent matter,  and more importantly, to see the faith that the little guy had in the simplicity of his request, and the faith that the teacher would do their best to help him.

It is moments like these, not only the more tangible academic, sporting and cultural moments that are normally evident - when we are again reminded of what makes [insert name of School] so special. The moments are seemingly unimportant, magical and many - but they happen every day at [insert name of school] .

As you face a new academic year, my advise to you in our elementary school graduation speech is to continue soaring, continue boldly stepping forward, continue marching towards the beat of your drum and may the year that lies ahead be as phenomenal as your graduating year at [ insert name of School].

Your elementary school graduation speech will be even more effective with good quotes for graduation speeches.

Go on - visit  free graduation speeches for more ideas on free written speeches. Read them, copy and paste them, tweak them and present them!

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Graduation Speech [20 Examples + Template]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Being selected as a commencement speaker is a great recognition, but the responsibility can be intimidating. How do you know what kind of message will hit home for the graduates at this point in their lives? How do you make your message stand out from other words of wisdom that the graduating class has heard before?

Fortunately, there are many incredible graduation speeches from which you can pull information. We’ve gathered 15 of the best graduation speech examples here to make your research and brainstorming process easier. A little studying can give you ideas for the perfect graduation speech topic and help you write your speech efficiently.

In this article:

Graduation Speech Examples

Graduation speech template.

Take note of the flow and structure of the examples, and let them guide you in creating your own graduation speech outline. Remember to practice your speech and memorize the bulk of it so you’re able to deliver with confidence. With a strong theme and plenty of practice, you’re sure to gain the audience’s attention and leave them inspired.

Here are 15 free graduation speech examples to gain inspiration from. If you like a style or message of a sample speech, use it as a model to create your own original version.

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1. Funny Valedictorian Speech

This valedictorian entertains the audience of his high school graduation speech with subtle, kind-hearted jokes that reflect the graduating class and the school faculty. The graduation speaker has a sentimental theme to his speech, but his light humor ensures that the presentation is both meaningful and memorable.

“You see, this is not goodbye. This is see you in two to 10 years when I’m significantly smarter, wealthier, funnier, and more handsome than I am right now.”

2. College Graduation Speech Example: Conan O’Brien at Dartmouth College

You don’t have to be a famous comedian to deliver a funny graduation speech, but let Conan O’Brien’s speech at Dartmouth College serve as a good model to create your own. Intertwining life advice and great jokes, O’Brien inspires graduates to get past failure and pave their own paths.

“Today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment, you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”

3. Preschool Graduation Speech

This preschool graduation speech is a great example for teachers who need to give a commencement address. A speech for a preschool or kindergarten graduation is different, in that the speaker is mostly communicating to the parents of the graduates. This preschool teacher delivers a meaningful speech that explains the joy in her job, while touching on the humorous things the students have said over the months.

“Tomorrow I give you back your child, the same child you entrusted in my care last fall, except now I give them back to you pounds heavier, inches taller… I give them back to you a little smarter, a little more mature, and a little more responsible than they were 10 months ago.”

4. David Foster Wallace Kenyon College Commencement Speech

In what is recognized as one of the best graduation speeches of all time, David Foster Wallace affirms to a class of liberal arts students that their education taught them how to think and how to be self-aware.

“The only thing that’s capital-T True is that you get to decide how you’re gonna try to see it. This, I submit, is the freedom of a real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted. You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn’t. You get to decide what to worship.”

5. Middle School Graduation Speech

A class president delivers a heartwarming message in a storytelling format at his middle school graduation ceremony.

“Once upon a time, three long years ago, a journey began. We were obedient little munchkins, climbing up stairs meant for giants, carrying heavy backpacks filled with every sort of colored pencil existing on this earth.”

6. University of Wisconsin-Madison Commencement Speech 2017

Steven Levitan, creator of the award-winning show “Modern Family,” was the commencement speaker at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the graduating class of 2017. This is a good example to follow if you’re an alum of the college you’re presenting to.

“It’s hard to believe I graduated here 33 years ago. I still have the official university photo of me receiving my diploma wearing only shorts under my cap and gown and holding a big bottle of champagne, as if to say, ‘Hey world, lower your expectations.'”

7. Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard University Commencement Speech

Successful people are often chosen as commencement speakers for university graduation ceremonies. See how the CEO and founder of Facebook is able to portray humility in relating to the 2017 graduating class at Harvard University.

“I’m honored to be with you today because, let’s face it, you accomplished something I never could. If I get through this speech, it’ll be the first time I actually finish something at Harvard. Class of 2017, congratulations!”

8. Al Roker’s Commencement Speech at Champlain College

Upon receiving his doctorate degree of humane letters, the “Today Show” weather anchor delivered an inspirational speech to the graduating class. Roker speaks to the class’s generation and relates his graduation speech topic back to his own upbringing.

“Be in the moment. Stop living through your screen. Experience it now.”

9. Steve Jobs’ Commencement Speech at Stanford University

The Apple CEO’s commencement speech at 2005 to the graduating class at Stanford University is one of the classics. Jobs tells stories about his own experiences with dropping out of college, being fired from Apple, and being diagnosed with cancer.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of the other opinion drown out your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

10. Elementary School Graduation Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVOQVsbkmbM

This fifth-grade class speaker relates her teacher’s message to a lesson from her grandfather as her opening hook .

“To survive the fifth grade is not barely making it through. Instead, to survive means to perform with distinction.

11. Ellen Degeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University

The famous talk show host and comedian Ellen Degeneres’s commencement speech at Tulane University is a great example of how a guest speaker can identify with her audience.

“It was so important for me to lose everything because I found what the most important thing is. The most important thing is to be true to yourself.”

12. University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address

Rear Admiral William H. McRaven aims to inspire his audience right from the beginning. The rear admiral encourages the graduating class to change the world, relating everyday life struggles to those of the people in the military.

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

13. Matthew McConaughey Commencement Speech

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey drew from his own personal story to deliver an inspirational commencement speech at the University of Houston. McConaughey gives the graduating class 13 life lessons, including to define success for yourself and find joy in your work.

“Prioritize who you are and who you want to be. Don’t spend time with anything that antagonizes your character.”

14. Commencement Address by Jim Carrey

In his commencement address at Maharishi University of Management, actor Jim Carrey tells an emotional personal story. Carrey uses emotion to encourage the graduating class to walk their own path and never settle in life.

“Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.”

15. Stephen Colbert’s Commencement Speech at Wake Forest University

The famous comedian delivers a witty and funny graduation speech, offering students practical advice for the real world.

“And if there’s one thing you need even more, it’s your own set of standards. It may seem counterintuitive now, but once you leave here, you may miss being graded on all your work. Because when you’re out of school, there are no objective criteria for achievement anymore.”

16. Inspiring Graduation Speech

In this remarkable graduation speech, the class valedictorian makes a political statement by publicly revealing her status as an undocumented immigrant. The speech starts out with jokes, but turns into a moving performance that’s as powerful as it is fun to watch.

“To each and every single one of you, I say thank you. You taught me that it’s okay to be different and that there will always be people willing to overlook those differences and accept you for being yourself.”

17. Funny Graduation Speech

This class-elected graduation speaker has the perfect delivery of well-crafted jokes and one-liners throughout her speech. She keeps the whole class laughing and never misses a beat.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to pursuing an additional 4-year education – which I can’t afford.”

18. Moving Graduation Speech

This college graduation speech educates listeners about women’s education through the eyes of the speaker, who encountered resistance to seeking an education just because she was a woman. It’s nearly impossible to listen to this speech without feeling moved to take action.

“I couldn’t have imagined attending college, simply because we weren’t allowed to. My sisters weren’t allowed to; the girls before me weren’t allowed to.”

19. Funny Graduation Speech

This graduation speech by the senior class president is humorous and engaging. The class president reminisces with plenty of jokes in a speech full of fun memories and just the right amount of inspiration.

“I know we can all agree that this class is resilient. We survived an earthquake, two blackouts, and Ebola.”

20. Short Graduation Speech

Graduation ceremonies can be long, but the speeches don’t have to be. This short graduation speech uses an “ABCs of life” format to pack a lot of power into a short amount of time. The class president gets wild applause from the audience for his quick but clever speech.

“We must Q – quit quitting, and R – run the race with patience.”

• Thank teachers and your parents or other family members for their support, encouragement, help, aid or personal assistance during your years of studying.
• Praise accomplishments and achievements of the class.
• Reflect upon the past years, what has changed and is interesting enough to share with all?
• Mention funny and exciting events, you can opt for funny oneliners or even small innocent jokes, poems or quotations from famous people if you like.
• Motivate your fellow students and teachers and professors to look to the bright future:
• I continue with the 10 most wanted and popular graduation speech topics:
• Give advice, but avoid boring cliches that are totally not surprising.
• Entertain by telling humorous anecdotes and vivid stories. Offer an account of an interesting or humorous incident.
• Express the feelings of the class. But do not go over the top.
• Say farewell to all attendees. This acknowledgment at parting is the warming-up for the next and final step
• Wish the graduates of your class all the best and thank them for listening.

Don’t forget to:

Thank the parents and family.  Have your class honor them with applause. Not only have they made sure you showed up to school, there’s a host of other responsibilities that parents have sacrificed to accomplish for you. Now is your moment to focus on them for a minute or so.

Thank the teachers and administrators.  Each teacher or professor works many long hours that you don’t see in the classroom, and many have poured their hearts and lives into teaching. Take this moment to make it worth it for them.

Use some of my vote of thanks example expressions to feed you imagination for topics for graduation speech a little bit.

Make the address personal. When you decide to make your graduation speech personal, you will experience much bigger success. It will also be more fun to write and deliver a talk that brings high school or college to a close with recognition of the small things in education life. The memories you will run across looking through yearbooks and talking about with friends will be priceless for you as well.

Calm the nerves.  It is very intimidating to address hundreds of people in the audience while delivering a graduation speech. Many of us have fear of public speaking. Before you proceed, do this test. And practice the tips.

Consider including:

STORIES Include stories about your school. These high school graduation speech topics can be about teachers and funny things that have happened over the year.

EVENTS Include motivational or moving events that may have happened – perhaps volunteer opportunities that have changed the students’ perspective. Make sure that any major events that have happened are recognized.

Sports and music events that have been important to the school need to be recognized, even if it happened in one of the prior years of your class and not the graduating year.

CLASS EXPERIENCE Bring the class experience alive for those attending the graduation. Grandparents and parents, as well as siblings, have heard the names from school.

Bring the people to the campus life that they have heard about.

DECEASED If a fellow student or teacher has died, mention that person. Make it not a funeral obituary eulogy but recognize them for the family who might be present.

PROJECTS Mention any projects that the school has undertaken; if you have been involved in a community garden or other volunteer organization give credit for the impact it has made.

Pet Peeve Speech Topics

Commemorative Speech

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© 2024 My Speech Class

How to Write and Deliver a Memorable Graduation Speech: Tips, Examples, and Techniques

• The Speaker Lab
• March 7, 2024

Table of Contents

The goal of any graduation speech is to find words that capture the essence of years spent learning and growing. Today, we’ll guide you through that process and help you craft a memorable graduation speech . You’ll learn to weave gratitude with shared experiences, and balance humor with wisdom. We’ll even help you find quotes that strike a chord and deliver them in a way that resonates.

But that’s not all! Dive into proven strategies for public speaking, managing stage fright, and drawing inspiration from iconic commencement speeches. Discover how personal growth stories add depth to your message and explore themes that leave a lasting impact on your peers as they step forward into new beginnings.

Crafting Your Graduation Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to marking the end of your high school or university journey, a graduation speech can capture the essence of this pivotal moment. But how do you start such an important address?

Opening with Impact

The first words of your graduation speech are crucial. They set the stage for what’s to come and grab your audience’s attention. Think about starting strong by sharing a personal anecdote that ties into the broader experience of your class or drawing from Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech , where he began with, “Today I want to tell you three stories from my life.” This technique instantly piques interest because it promises narratives that have shaped who you are.

An impactful opening also acknowledges shared experiences. Perhaps you could reflect on how moments in classrooms turned strangers into lifelong friends. Or for university commencements, consider touching upon those late-night study sessions that tested perseverance but ultimately led to academic achievements worth celebrating today.

Building the Body of Your Graduation Speech

In crafting the body content, intertwine lessons learned throughout high school years or during university courses with aspirations for what lies ahead. For instance, share how overcoming obstacles like balancing extracurricular activities and academics taught valuable time management skills.

To add depth, incorporate quotes from luminaries like Oprah Winfrey or draw parallels between classroom learnings and real-world applications. Dive deeper by discussing milestones achieved together as a graduating class and recognizing the hard work everyone put in to make it to this monumental occasion.

Concluding with Inspiration

Your conclusion should leave fellow graduates feeling inspired while helping them celebrate high school memories one last time—or honor those unforgettable college years if addressing higher education grads.

Closing remarks could include heartfelt gratitude towards teachers’ support and parental guidance. You might even crack a joke or two. It’s these personalized touches paired with universal truths that resonate most deeply as students step forward into new chapters post-graduation.

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Delivery Techniques for Confident Speaking

Standing in front of a crowd can turn even the most composed student into a bundle of nerves. But fear not, with some smart strategies, you’ll be able to channel your inner orator and deliver your graduation speech with confidence.

Practicing Your Graduation Speech

Becoming familiar with every word of your speech is key. Rehearse it out loud until the words feel like second nature. This practice does more than just help you remember what comes next; it lets you find the natural rhythm and pace of your delivery. Consider recording yourself to catch any quirks or stumbling blocks—you might be surprised at how much this helps refine your presentation.

A trick often overlooked is practicing in different environments. If possible, stand on the actual stage where you will deliver your commencement address. Familiarity breeds comfort, making that once daunting podium seem like an old friend when graduation day arrives.

Overcoming Nervousness and Stage Fright

Nervousness is normal but doesn’t let it dictate your performance. Before stepping up to speak, take deep breaths to steady yourself—a calm body encourages a calm mind. An effective method for easing anxiety is visualization. Imagine delivering each line perfectly and receiving an enthusiastic response from listeners—envisioning success can make it so.

Maintaining Eye Contact

The power of eye contact cannot be overstated. It connects speaker and listener on a personal level that amplifies engagement significantly. Scan across different sections of the audience periodically without lingering too long on any one individual.

Incorporate these techniques diligently when preparing for the big day. In doing so, they become part of muscle memory and help build confidence. With confidence and plenty of practice on your side, your graduation speech is sure to conclude to applause leaving you to celebrate yet another milestone achieved.

Analyzing Renowned Graduation Speeches for Inspiration

When crafting a commencement speech , it’s often helpful to look at the giants whose words have echoed through auditoriums and across campuses. Steve Jobs’ Stanford University Commencement Speech is a classic example of weaving life lessons into an address that connects deeply with graduates. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey’s Harvard University Commencement Address showed how stumbling blocks can become stepping stones if we learn from them.

Steve Jobs’ Storytelling Mastery

Jobs had a knack for turning personal anecdotes into universal truths. In his Stanford address, he shared three stories from his own life without sounding self-indulgent. These stories worked because each one carried a broader message relevant to every graduate: finding what you love, dealing with loss, and facing death head-on. Jobs famously urged students to “stay hungry, stay foolish,” encouraging them not just to pursue success but remain curious about life despite challenges. This advice is especially poignant for today’s graduating class.

Like Jobs, you too can craft narratives around moments that speak volumes about perseverance and passion.

Oprah’s Unflinching Honesty

Much like her television persona suggests, Oprah did not shy away from discussing her setbacks in front of Harvard’s graduating class. Instead, she confidently laid bare the challenges faced by anyone who dares greatly because failure is part of achieving greatness. As she reminded students, “It doesn’t matter how far you might rise… At some point you are bound to stumble.”

In doing so she forged an instant connection with listeners grappling with their fears about what the future holds post-graduation. It was a powerful reminder that even icons like Oprah are not immune to trials but emerge stronger through them.

The power behind these speeches lies not just in their content but also in their delivery. These speakers mastered the art of speaking confidently before crowds, maintaining eye contact, and conveying authenticity—techniques any speaker should aspire to replicate on graduation day.

Themes and Messages That Resonate with Graduates

Facing a sea of caps and gowns, the right words can turn a graduation ceremony from mundane to memorable. When crafting your commencement speech, focusing on themes like overcoming obstacles and perseverance connects deeply with graduates who have hurdled high school or college challenges.

Overcoming Obstacles

Talking about stumbling blocks is not just relatable; it’s inspirational. Think Steve Jobs at Stanford University or Oprah Winfrey at Harvard—both shared personal tales of setbacks turned into comebacks. Beyond simply telling their stories, they showed how those hurdles were stepping stones to success.

Weave your narrative around the potholes you’ve navigated during your high school years. This doesn’t mean airing every bit of dirty laundry, just highlighting that one significant moment where everything seemed against you yet failed to defeat you.

The Power of Perseverance

Perseverance is more than sticking to something—it’s pushing forward when every fiber wants to quit. It resonates because everyone, including your fellow graduates, has felt that urge to give up but chose to persevere instead.

Incorporate this theme by using vivid examples that mirror collective experiences—the all-nighters before exams or balancing sports stars ambitions with academics—to illustrate perseverance isn’t just an idea but lived reality for many students.

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Life Lessons Shared During Graduation Speeches

In addition to sharing content that fellow graduates will find relatable and inspirational, you should also consider sharing life lessons with your audience. Whether young or old, everyone has a unique perspective on life and sharing your wisdom can steer graduates toward a fulfilling path.

The Power of Kindness

Making a positive impact doesn’t require grand gestures; sometimes it’s found in small acts of kindness or an innovative idea that simplifies lives. This message sticks because everyone wants their work to mean something—to know they’ve left footprints on society’s vast canvas.

True Grit and Tenacity

Embracing failure and resilience is another powerful theme echoed by commencement speakers across podiums. Let’s face it; not all endeavors lead straight to success. But as Oprah Winfrey once said during her Harvard University commencement address, “It doesn’t matter how far you might rise… At some point, you are bound to stumble.” Her words remind us: How we pick ourselves up matters more than how we fall.

Making a Positive Impact

A graduating class stands poised on tomorrow’s threshold ready to mold history—and speeches should fuel this transformative fire within them. Memorable graduation speeches show individuals that ovation-worthy achievements are possible if you believe your actions count.

As you prepare your graduation speech, consider including one of these life lessons or one of your own. Don’t be afraid to share your hard-won insights to your fellow graduates—you just might inspire them to make history.

Celebrating Achievements and Acknowledging Contributions

Graduation is not just a ceremony. It’s a tribute to the academic achievements and extracurricular activities that have shaped students into who they are. The acknowledgment of teacher support and parental guidance also plays a pivotal role in these speeches, as they’re the scaffolding upon which student successes are built.

Academic Achievements, Extracurricular Activities

Acknowledging academic prowess goes beyond GPA scores or honor societies; it’s about highlighting unique intellectual journeys. Similarly, shining a light on extracurricular triumphs—be it sports stars setting records or artists winning competitions—adds depth to your speech. Remembering these moments isn’t merely recounting victories but celebrating the relentless spirit of your fellow graduates.

Diving deeper into personal anecdotes helps you connect with peers by reminding them of their growth through challenges faced together—from late-night study sessions to championship games. It’s these stories that make graduation memories stick with classmates long after commencement ends.

Teacher Support, Parental Guidance

The unsung heroes behind every graduate deserve their moment in your address too. Teachers’ dedication can turn classrooms into launch pads for dreams, while parents’ unwavering belief often fuels aspirations during tumultuous times like the pandemic.

In weaving tales of mentorship from teachers or wisdom imparted by parents, you remind everyone that success is rarely a solo act—it’s supported by many hands and hearts along the way. Celebrate this collective effort because each person has contributed uniquely to shaping graduating classes across America, including yours.

Common Issues in Writing and Delivering Graduation Speeches

Staring at a blank page as the clock ticks down to graduation day can rattle even the most seasoned speech writers. Overcoming writer’s block is about finding your message stick—the core idea that you want to leave with your peers. Remember, this isn’t just any talk; it’s one that marks a significant transition for both you and your audience.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

Finding yourself stumped on how to write a speech ? Don’t sweat it. Start by jotting down memories from school years or powerful life lessons that resonate. Think of Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech where he shared personal stories, which became an inspirational backbone for many other speeches.

If inspiration doesn’t strike immediately, step away from the computer. Take a walk and reflect on high school experiences or browse through commencement speeches archives—like Lin-Manuel Miranda’s address at the University of Pennsylvania. They might spark ideas you hadn’t considered yet.

Navigating Technical Troubles

A great speech can stumble over technical hiccups. To avoid glitches, check all equipment beforehand—a simple but crucial task often overlooked due to nerves or excitement about graduating class celebrations.

Prior rehearsals will also let you handle these issues like a pro should they pop up during delivery. Make sure any videos or slides complement rather than overshadow what you’re saying. After all, graduates aren’t there for bells and whistles—they’re there for meaningful words.

Handling Stage Fright

Your knees may shake thinking delivering in front of proud parents and peers—it’s no small feat, after all. Before you step on stage, visual your success until it feels more real and attainable.

And don’t forget to watch your body language. During your speech, maintain eye contact—not stare-downs—to connect genuinely with fellow students. And if anxiety creeps up despite practice sessions? Take deep breaths to steady yourself and keep going. You’ve handled high school—you can handle this.

FAQs on Writing and Delivering a Graduation Speech

What do i say in my graduation speech.

Share heartfelt stories, acknowledge support from others, and inspire your classmates to chase their dreams boldly.

How do you write a 3 minute graduation speech?

Keep it tight: hit the high notes with gratitude, shared memories, a dash of humor, and wrap up with punchy inspiration.

How do I start a graduation speech?

Kick off with thanks. Give props to family and mentors. Set the stage for reflecting on past adventures together.

What is the most important message of a graduation speech?

The core should spark hope—urge peers to leap into tomorrow equipped with lessons learned during these formative years.

Master your moment with a graduation speech that turns heads and warms hearts. Remember the power of gratitude and connect with your audience through stories, those shared adventures that bind you to your classmates. Don’t be afraid to add a few jokes and quotes to your speech either, as well as personal growth stories to inspire.

When you hit the stage, stand tall, make eye contact, and speak from your heart—the podium’s yours. If butterflies invade, breathe deep and know everyone’s rooting for you. Writer’s block didn’t stop you and neither will this.

Your graduation speech is not just words—it’s a battle cry for your graduating class as you prepare to conquer what lies ahead!

• Last Updated: March 5, 2024

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Writing a Winning Graduation Speech: Outline and Tips

• DESCRIPTION Young man giving graduation speech
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Writing a graduation speech is a huge honor and your chance to send off your classmates with wit and wisdom. Whether you’re excited or terrified to give the speech, this is not the kind of opportunity you should wing. Get started with our graduation speech outline and a few writing tips to ensure your speech is the most memorable part of your school years.

Sample Graduation Speech Outline

The graduation speech outline we’ve provided here can help you get started, but feel free to make this your own. Omit any categories that don’t fit your style, and add others as you see fit. You can also reorganize these categories for a flow that fits your personal style.

1. Thank the Previous Speaker

Begin with gratitude and grace: Be sure to thank the person who introduced you, both for the introduction and the work they do with the school.

2. Introduce Yourself

Don't assume that all the people in the room know who you are. Introduce yourself, including your name and why you were chosen to give the speech.

3. Share a Motivational Quote

Plan to share some sort of motivational quote or personal narrative with your classmates. Illustrate how it connects with your class's experiences in the school. This will serve as an opportunity to bring everyone together and get your classmates excited about the future.

4. Share Some Good Advice

This is, perhaps, the most important part of your speech. Share meaningful advice for the years to come. Highlight some of the expectations that are about to come your way. Keep the tone positive, and remind everyone they have what it takes to succeed in their future.

5. Recall the Good Times

Encourage your classmates to remember the good times at your school. Highlight a momentous occasion that everyone partook in. Encourage your peers to take those memories with them wherever they go.

6. Restate Your Motivational Quote

Finish by reiterating the motivational quote you began with, giving it more context. Although you just dipped into the past with one of those "good times," the focus of a graduation speech is on the excitement that's yet to come.

7. Create a Call to Action

Call your fellow students into action. Leave them with an inspiring sentence encouraging them to go out and make a difference in the world.

8. Thank Everyone

Finally, thank everyone for their time. Thank them for the memories over the last few years and their time during your speech.

Graduation speech outline

Tips to help you write a graduation speech.

Make sure that your graduation speech is something that you would want to listen to, if you were in the audience. Think of this experience as a time to share an important moment with your peers as a representative of your class.

Speak truthfully and courteously while piquing the interest of your peers . Common themes include dreaming big, learning to fail or never giving up.

Write a speech that showcases your unique voice.

Elicit shared memories of the past, as well as a hopeful vision for the future.

Keep your speech short. People may be too emotional to remember everything you said, but they’ll likely remember who talked for too long.

Inspire and Entertain

Graduation speeches can inspire, entertain, or both. Remember to be yourself and have fun in this final moment to connect with your class.

Writing Your Valedictorian Speech

Quotes About Life Lessons

Funny Farewell Quotes

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Middle School or Elementary School graduation speech

This page contains a funny sample speech for Middle School or Elementary School graduations for principles, teachers or other key note speakers. The speech template can be customized for graduations from preschool, 8th Grade, Junior High School, clubs, high school or other graduation events as well. This speech is humorous but also talks about dedication and personal commitment. We hope this graduation speech for keynote or guest speakers is helpful.

School graduation speech

Let me begin by welcoming all of you to today’s event and thanking (NAME OF PERSON WHO INTRODUCED YOU) for that kind introduction.

I’m very pleased to have been invited to speak here today on what I know is a very special day. It’s special for the graduates, for their proud parents and grandparents, and for their very relieved teachers. Just wait until these students are graduating college. Then their parents will be the

relieved ones.

As I begin, I have to say, I think the best speeches are those that have a great beginning, a memorable end, and not much in between. I will try then to make a great speech. Today is one of those great occasions when we get to celebrate our young people – their achievements, their perseverance and their successes as they grow up. It’s one of the times you can take a break and reflect, feeling good as a parent or a mentor, knowing that the kids you care about are doing just fine and they’re on the right path.

Graduates, you should know that your moms and dads are very proud of you today. They have high hopes for you, and they believe in you, and you are making them proud by showing what you can do. Take a look at them now, and you can see them smiling and snapping photos so they can record this moment forever. Today is an important day for you and for them. Today they are very, very proud of you. (PAUSE) Today would be a good day to ask for money.

Today would also be a good day to hug them and thank them for supporting you, because as much as this is your achievement, this is also the achievement of the people who care about you. That means your mom, your dad, your step mom or step dad, your grandparents, your sisters and brothers, and all the other people who care about you. They want you to be your best and to live up to your potential.

Graduations can be seen as a coming of age, a sort of official way to recognize when a person steps into the next stage of life, and graduates, you are stepping into a new stage.

With every year, you have become a little more independent. I bet you can still remember your first day here - it might have been exciting and a little intimidating too. I bet when you look at the (INSERT LOWEST GRADE IN SCHOOL HERE, 1ST GRADERS, 6TH GRADERS, ETC) going to class you think, Wow! They look so little! I can't believe I was ever that young! Get used to it. You'll be thinking that for the rest of your life.

But when you she younger students, you can tell how much you've grown up, how much you've learned and how much you've matured. Think back on some of the exciting things that happened this year, all the things you learned. This year, you… (ADD SOME INFO ABOUT THE CLASS OR SCHOOL HERE. TALK TO TEACHERS OR WHOEVER INVITED YOU FOR SOME IDEAS. IT CAN BE FIELD TRIPS, TOPICS STUDENTS LEARNED, ETC. YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME FAMILY-FRIENDLY HUMOR ABOUT WHAT KIDS LEARNED).

You had some great time this year, and maybe you had some tough times, but you did it and you succeeded. You're ready for that next step. I ask you as you prepare for this next step to do a few things.

First, stop texting your friend about how you wish the speaker would hurry up and finish talking so you could go to (INSERT NAME OF LOCAL PARTY PLACE, MALL OR RESTAURANT POPULAR WITH STUDENTS).

Secondly, I ask you to take this chance to dedicate yourself to making the next year even better. Remember that you don’t have to follow the crowd. Do the right thing, even if no one is looking. Study hard and remember that you're investing in yourself with every test you take and every book you read. And finally, don't be in too big of a hurry to grow up. These are some great times in your life. Don't rush past them.

There are great things coming, and just as your parents are proud, each one of you should feel proud of yourself.

So congratulations to all of the graduates, congratulations to the parents, and finally, congrats to the teachers and everyone else who helped our graduates reach here today.

I'll leave you with this final quote, from a great author with whom I imagine you are all familar, by the name of Dr. Seuss.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Congratulations again, and thank you for your attention.

Did you like this sample speech for Middle School and Elementary School Graduation? We hope you can use it for your speech, whether you are a principle, a teacher or a guest speaker.

Since you were interested in this sample speech about graduations, chances are you will like the following topics as well: High School Graduation speech and Easy Letter of Recommendation template

More information : We hope this page was helpful and provided you with some information about Middle School or Elementary School graduation speech . Check out our main page for more articles here Can U Write .

All materials on this page are under the copyright of canuwrite.com These speech and letter sample materials may be re-used for free but may not be reprinted or redistributed without attribution to canuwrite.com

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Speech Writing

Graduation Speech

Crafting the Perfect Graduation Speech: A Guide with Examples

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How to Write an Extemporaneous Speech? A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever stood at the threshold of a new journey, feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty? 

Well, if you're a soon-to-be graduate, that's probably exactly how you're feeling right now.

The big day is coming, and you're wondering, 'How will I write my speech? Can I ask for speech writing help?

Don’t worry!

In this blog, we're going to tell you how to write a graduation speech for students. Get ready to discover the secrets of crafting a graduation speech that not only captures your audience's attention but also leaves a profound impact on your fellow graduates.

Let's transform that uncertainty into inspiration and confidence as we delve into the art of delivering a speech that will make your graduation day truly unforgettable.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

• 1. What is a Graduation Speech?
• 2. How to Write a Graduation Speech?
• 3. Graduation Speeches From Notable Figures 
• 4. Graduation Speech Examples for Students 
• 5. Graduation Speech Ideas - 2024
• 6. Graduation Speech Writing Tips 

What is a Graduation Speech?

A graduation speech is the heart of your big day, bringing together all your experiences and achievements. 

It's more than just talking – it's a way to inspire and celebrate. It's not just a tradition. This type of speech is a chance to share what you've learned and dream about the future.

Your graduation speech should include everyone – your friends, the tough times you all faced, and the good times you shared. 

Elements of Graduation Speech

Creating a memorable graduation speech involves several key elements that can help you connect with your audience and make a lasting impression. 

Here are the crucial elements you should consider:

All these elements make a strong and memorable speech and help make your graduation successful.

How to Write a Graduation Speech?

Writing an inspirational graduation speech that stands out isn't as daunting as it may seem. 

With a structured approach and a dash of creativity, you can deliver the best special occasion speech that leaves a lasting impact on your audience. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to start a graduation speech and create an inspiring address:

Begin with a Memorable Opening 

Start with an attention-grabbing quote, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question. 

This sets the tone for your speech and captures your audience's interest right from the beginning.

Express Gratitude 

Show appreciation to your teachers, parents, and fellow students. 

Express how their support and contributions have been instrumental in your academic journey. This sets a positive and grateful tone for your speech.

Reflect on Meaningful Moments 

Share personal stories and school experiences that have had a significant impact on your life and the lives of your classmates. 

Use these anecdotes to connect with your audience emotionally.

Offer Words of Inspiration 

Provide words of inspiration and motivation. Encourage your fellow graduates to embrace the future with confidence and courage.

Use stories or quotes to illustrate your points.

Share Practical Advice 

Share life lessons and any advice you've learned during your academic journey. 

Offer insights related to pursuing goals, overcoming challenges, and maintaining a positive outlook on life.

Emphasize Unity and Shared Experiences 

Highlight the importance of unity and the bonds formed with your classmates. 

Emphasize the strength of collective experiences and friendships that have been a significant part of your school life.

Discuss Hopes and Dreams 

Talk about your hopes and dreams for the future, both for yourself and your fellow graduates. Paint a vivid picture of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

End with an Inspiring Conclusion 

Conclude your speech with a memorable message that resonates with your audience. 

Leave them with a lasting impression or a call to action that inspires them to take on the future with enthusiasm.

Graduation Speeches From Notable Figures 

Notable figures, from celebrities to accomplished professionals, often deliver inspiring graduation speeches, sharing their wisdom, experiences, and advice with the graduates. 

In this section, we explore some remarkable graduation speeches that have left a lasting impact on audiences worldwide.

Taylor Swift Graduation Speech 

Taylor Swift, the renowned singer-songwriter, delivered an inspiring graduation speech that emphasized embracing change and authenticity. 

Her words have motivated graduates worldwide, making her speech a source of valuable life lessons.

“The times I was told no or wasn’t included, wasn’t chosen, didn’t win, didn’t make the cut…looking back, it really feels like those moments were as important, if not more crucial, than the moments I was told ‘yes.’ …” 

Watch complete graduation speech here: 

Rory Gilmore Graduation Speech 

Rory Gilmore, a beloved fictional character from the TV series "Gilmore Girls," delivered a heartwarming graduation speech that celebrated the value of hard work, ambition, and the pursuit of dreams. 

Her speech remains an iconic moment in the series and a testament to the power of perseverance and ambition.

Watch her graduation speech here:

Ree Drummond - Oklahoma State University 

Ree Drummond, known as "The Pioneer Woman," shared her insights and wisdom in a graduation speech delivered in 2022. 

Her address offers a unique perspective on life, success, and the pursuit of dreams, making it a valuable resource for graduates seeking inspiration and guidance as they set out on their own paths.

Listen to the complete speech in this video:

Steve Jobs - 2005 

Steve Jobs' iconic 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University delivered invaluable life lessons and inspiration. 

His words continue to resonate with graduates and individuals worldwide, offering timeless guidance on pursuing one's passions and creating a meaningful life.

Check out his complete speech in this video: 

Graduation Speech Examples for Students 

Looking for inspiration for your own graduation speech? Here is a short graduation speech:

Read some more diverse graduation speech samples to spark your creativity:

Graduation Speech for Kindergarten - Example

Short Graduation Speech

Graduation Speech for Kids

Graduation Speech For Primary 6

8th Grade Graduation Speech

High School Graduation Speech

Explore a collection of inspiring graduation speeches, each offering a unique perspective on this momentous occasion.

Graduation Speech by Students - Example

Graduation Speech for Parents - Example

Graduation Speech by Teacher - Example

Graduation Speech by Principal- Example

Graduation Speech Thanking Teachers

Graduation Speech Ideas - 2024

Here are some interesting and fun graduation speech ideas.

• Talk about a current school event.
• Try something new like poetry or metaphors to make your speech interesting.
• Tell a story about your class, for example, ‘what was the driving force of the class of 2021?’
• Use quotes from famous and classic books.
• Use lyrics from the class anthem.
• Be inspirational and share an inspirational story.
• Share a humorous experience.
• Convey a memorable message.
• If appropriate, add a song with meaning.
• Appreciate a fellow classmate or a teacher.
• Connect your speech with your 1st day at school.
• Significant events that took place in the school.
• A professor that made you fall in love with a major subject.
• The long time you spent in the school library and how it impacted your interactions with other students.
• Tell me about who inspired you the most in your life.

Graduation Speech Writing Tips 

Crafting a memorable graduation speech can be a rewarding yet challenging task. Here are some essential tips to help you write an impactful and engaging speech for your big day:

• Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience is crucial to tailor your speech effectively.
• Start Strong: An attention-grabbing beginning sets the tone for your speech.
• Tell Personal Stories: Personal anecdotes and experiences create a meaningful connection.
• Inspire and Motivate: Your speech should encourage confidence about the future.
• Share Practical Advice: Offering practical life advice adds value to your speech.
• Embrace Humor: Appropriately used humor can engage your audience.
• Be Concise: Keeping your speech at an appropriate length is essential to maintain interest.
• Practice and Rehearse: Preparation ensures confidence in your delivery.
• End on a High Note: A memorable conclusion leaves a lasting impression.

As you take that first step forward, congratulations on your graduation, and we wish you the best of luck in whatever comes next. We hope this graduation speech guide has given you some pointers for what to say in your speech.

If you need further help, you can avail of our assistance and get your speech before the big day.

At MyPerfectWords.com , one of the best essay writing service for college , we help new graduates make their day memorable by delivering quality speeches.

Buy speech from us and get ready to shine.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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How to Write a Graduation Speech (Graduation Speech Examples)

Have you been asked to deliver a commencement speech? Or have you worked your butt off to become valedictorian or salutatorian, and now you have to deliver a graduation speech? In this post, we will cover one of the more challenging types of presentation creation: How to Write a Graduation Speech . (By the way, I have also included a few popular graduation speech examples as a guide for you.)

This post is a continuation of our How to Create a Presentation series. We are going to break this post down into three parts, though. We will show you how to create a commencement speech in this post. Next week, I’ll show you how to write a valedictorian speech and how to deliver a salutatorian speech. Each of these graduation speeches has a slightly different purpose, but all of them need to be inspirational and funny.

How to Write a Commencement Speech

The commencement speech is often the keynote speech of the graduation ceremony. This presentation should be uplifting and entertaining, but this graduation speech should also teach a life lesson to the graduating students. If you do a search on YouTube of the best graduation speeches, many of these speakers will be famous comedians. When a comedian delivers a commencement speech, and the speech is posted on YouTube, it will always get a ton of views. The humor alone will make people want to watch the video. Three of the most popular of these speeches are by Conan O’Brien, Will Ferrell, and Ellen DeGeneres. The interesting thing about the speeches from these famous comedians is that, yes, they are funny, but the inspiration comes from what they learned from their failures.

“There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life life trying to push you in another direction.” Oprah Winfrey, Harvard University Commencement Speech

A Good Structure When You Write a Commencement Address

Thank the crowd.

Start with Something Funny

Be Inspirational

The inspirational part of your commencement speech will come from the theme of the graduation speech . (For Sample Graduation Speech Themes , see the section below.) The easiest way to develop a theme is to look for an inspirational famous quote about success. You can do this by just going to Google and type in “success quotes”. Once you come up with a great quote, you can either paraphrase the quote and make it your own or quote the original speaker.

Tell Stories from Your Own Experience Related to Your Quote (Theme).

This the most important part of how to write a graduation speech. The stories and examples are what the audience will remember. These stories add emotion and inspiration to your graduation speech. They also help you build rapport with the audience. Finally, these stories make your delivery much easier. You don’t have to memorize a lot of material. Instead, just play the video in your head of what happened and describe the incident to the graduates.

For a great example of this, watch the YouTube video on Stanford University’s channel where Steve Jobs gives the commencement speech. I love this speech, because Jobs skips the introduction and the funny stuff and starts his speech with the following. “I’m going to tell you three stories.” It’s simple, and the crowd loves him.

End with an Inspirational Call to Action.

So as you go on to the next stage in your life and you experience failure… because you will experience failure, use that as a stepping stone to your next success. Persevere. Don’t rest on that success. Use it as a stepping stone to your next success. Persevere, and you will experience a series of successes and failures that will allow you to accomplish something great!”

Use this outline to create a simple 20 to 30 minute speech. (The shorter the better… No one gets a diploma until you finish.)

Sample Graduation Speech Themes

If you are having trouble coming up with a theme for your graduation speech, here are a few Sample Commencement Speech Themes. As you read through them, think about which them or quote has been most applicable in your career? Once you choose a graduation speech them, use the outline above to create your speech.

• Hard Work Leads to Success

“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” — Coleman Cox

• Create Your Own Path.

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” — Herman Melville

• Make Things Happen.

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” — Henry David Thoreau

• Don’t Settle for Average. Strive for Greatness.

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” –John D. Rockefeller

• Don’t Wait for the Perfect Opportunity. Look for a Way to Create Your Own Opportunity.

“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” — Chris Grosser/blockquote> The Road Ahead is Hard, But It Leads to Success. “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” — Jim Rohn

• Focus on Your Dream.

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” — Bruce Lee

• Learn from Every Mistake to Move Toward Success.

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” — Conrad Hilton

• When Your Why is Big Enough, Your How Will Appear.

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” — Jim Rohn

• Happiness is the Key to Success.

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer

Use the Speech Creator as a Guide to How to Create a Graduation Speech

Once you have chosen a them, and you have a few stories to inspire your audience, use our Online Speech Writer to help you organize your thoughts. (It’s free.)

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10 Steps For Writing An Unforgettable Graduation Speech

• Pick A Theme
• Begin With Gratitude
• Motivational Quotes
• Get Personal
• Add Your Personality
• Avoid Cliches
• Create A Call To Action

School is almost out, but for many students, there’s one more major task to complete before summer: graduation. Whether you’re graduating from high school or earning a college degree, a graduation ceremony is a huge milestone. And, if you’ve been asked to speak at graduation, you might be feeling the pressure right now.

Graduation speeches of all kinds date back to at least the 1600s, and though a lot has changed since then, these kinds of speeches still contain similar key elements that help make them effective, inspiring, and something every graduating student and their loved ones look forward to.

Public speaking can be nerve-racking in any setting, particularly when you know the audience is filled with people’s cousins and grandparents who are likely to remember this day forever, but fear not! We’re here to help with these 10 key steps to follow to write and deliver a truly unforgettable graduation speech.

1. Pick a theme.

If you want the audience to feel moved and inspired by your speech (Who doesn’t, right?), then it helps to build your speech around a central theme or message. Think about what’s important to you as the speaker and what you’d like others to take away from your words. Once you have a theme, it will be easier to select the quotes and anecdotes that tie back to that central idea and create a speech that leaves your audience in awe.

🎓 Here are some popular themes to consider:

• Embracing failure.
• Overcoming adversity.
• The importance of having big dreams.
• Facing change with grace.
• Taking responsibility for your future.
• Learning from past mistakes.
• The importance of friendship.
• Becoming a lifelong learner.

2. Begin with gratitude.

When you step up to the mic on graduation day, you’ll need to begin with a few formalities. First, thank the previous speakers, as well as everyone in attendance. Then, express your feelings about the privilege of being asked to address the audience on this momentous occasion. Go ahead and write this part down so you don’t forget to do it on the big day. Here are some examples:

Thank you, [name of previous speaker], and thank you, friends, family, faculty, and fellow graduates for being here today. It’s an honor to celebrate this milestone with you as your valedictorian.

Thank you, [name of previous speaker]. Graduates, loved ones, and distinguished faculty members, it is an honor to be here with you today. I’m so grateful to [name of school or university] for the privilege of being your [type of speaker].

3. Use a motivational quote.

The greatest commencement speeches typically include a motivational quote, whether it’s from a famous person, a beloved teacher, or something your grandfather taught you. The right motivational quote will tie into your theme and serve as a thesis statement for the message you hope the audience will take from your words. Consider these celebrity quotes from other powerful commencement speeches:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” — Steve Jobs , Stanford University, 2005

“You must lead. You’re never too young to lead. You’re never too old to lead. We need your leadership now more than ever before.” — John Lewis , Harvard, 2018

“The day you graduate, you do not arrive. This is not the end. This is the beginning for you. To graduate is to change gradually.” — Rita Moreno , Northeastern Illinois University, 2015

“Ultimately, your life is made up of moments. So don’t miss them by being lost in the past or anticipating the future.” — Jessica Lange , Sarah Lawrence College, 2008

“You are full of complexities and wonders that haven’t even begun to surface. Life’s unpredictability will draw these out and what defines you now will be mere shades and hues of a more vibrant you over the next five, 10, 50 years. Honestly, I can’t think of anything more liberating than that, knowing that life will look differently than you think it will.” — Octavia Spencer , Kent State University, 2017

4. Get personal.

When Conan O’Brien delivered the commencement speech at Dartmouth University in 2011, he talked about being fired from his dream job and what that failure taught him. Some lauded it as one of the best graduation speeches of all time.

Sharing personal anecdotes, even ones that mention failures or humiliations, is a powerful way to connect with your audience and drive your message home in a personal way. When writing your speech, draw on your experiences as a student and be clear about how those experiences shaped and prepared you for what lies ahead.

Learn how to a sensational graduation card here.

5. Infuse your personality.

Graduation speeches may follow a formula, but that doesn’t mean they need to be boring! Use your personal sense of humor, unique story, and life experiences to give the speech character and charm. What does this look like in action?

In 2016, author John Green brought levity to his commencement speech when shared with the graduating class at Kenyon College that the best life advice he ever got was, “You’re a good kid, but you need to learn when to stop talking.”

At the University of Virginia in 2016, late night host Stephen Colbert joked that people should leave their cell phones on because “I wouldn’t want you to miss a text or a tweet while I’m giving my speech.”

You may not be a famous comedian or author, but being uniquely yourself can help your speech shine.

6. Reflect, then look ahead.

You and the rest of your graduating class are sharing a major life milestone, and you’ve all worked hard to get to this point. What has life been like during your years in school? What experiences have you shared, and how have those shaped you as people moving forward into the next phase of your life?

In your speech, include real-life examples of the things you’ve faced in your time as students. Put those events in context in your life, and remind your audience that you have all learned so much more than just what was on the course syllabi.

7. Avoid clichés

The tricky part of writing a graduation speech is being inspiring without resorting to clichés. If you use personal anecdotes and weave personality into your speech, it’s unlikely that you’ll fall back on tired, overused statements. But, sometimes they still sneak in. If that’s the case, try to swap them out with a fresher take.

Here are some ideas:

• Instead of talking about the “real world” as a future destination, talk about how you already live there and you’re ready for whatever life throws at you.
• Instead of defining a typical graduation word (like courage or future ), talk about the words that come to mind when you think about school and what they mean to you.
• Instead of talking about what you’re “leaving behind,” talk about what lessons and people you’re taking with you.

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8. Create a call to action.

Graduation speeches serve two important purposes: celebrating everything that came before graduation day and building excitement for everything that will come after it. The easiest way to leave people inspired is to include a call to action. This doesn’t mean providing strict instructions for some task they must complete. Think of it more as broad instructions for how to meet the challenges ahead.

Your call to action should restate the theme of your speech and give the audience a clear takeaway message to carry with them. Need some examples? We have a few:

“Whatever you want to do, do it now. For life is time, and time is all there is.” — Gloria Steinem , Tufts University, 1987

“Let excellence be your brand.” — Oprah Winfrey , Spelman College, 2012

“Fight for the job you want, fight for the people who mean the most to you and fight for the kind of world you want to live in.” — Elizabeth Warren , Suffolk University, 2016

9. Keep it brief.

While you surely have a lot of great things to say, no one wants to sit through a 12-page speech. Graduation ceremonies are already long, and the audience is usually asked to listen to multiple speeches. Keep this in mind, and say what you’d like to say in the briefest way possible. Aim for a speech that falls between 500 and 750 words, and time yourself to make sure you don’t exceed 10 minutes during delivery.

10. Practice, practice, practice.

The only way to ensure your speech flows, makes sense, and holds people’s attention is to practice reading it out loud. Practice by yourself in front of a mirror, being careful to notice and edit any places where you trip over words or have awkward pauses. Once you’ve perfected the solo read-aloud, ask a parent or friend to serve as an audience. This will help you test out your jokes and polish your anecdotes based on their reactions. By graduation day, you’ll be ready to take to the stage like a pro.

Need more inspiration? These graduation quotes should do the trick.

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

Sample Speech by School Principal on Graduation Ceremony

Your excellence ____________, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, governing board members, school staff, parents, and honored guests, welcome to our 15th graduation ceremony.

Today marks both an end and a new beginning for our graduates. A time for parents to both honor their child’s accomplishments and a time to worry as they embark on their next journey.

But parents let me put your mind at ease, your child is very well prepared for whatever they choose to peruse after [School Name].

Through the education and the knowledge that they have, and most importantly the guidance, values and the love that you, the parents, have provided to your children, now they are ready to face any challenge.

Today we celebrate dedication and love. Parents, you must be proud of your child and yourselves. On behalf of the school and the students, I want to say: thank you.

Teachers, you have been a key element in the children’s education. Your unconditional support has inspired and encouraged them to achieve their best at [School Name]. Your planning, teaching, and encouraging have come to fruition. How proud you must be today to see your students with bags of good character, lifelong learning skills, and integrity. Your support and dedication cannot be stressed enough. None of this is possible without you. On behalf of the students and the parents, I want to say: thank you.

[School Name] is committed to creating an innovative and a creative education system and to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. We are keen to achieve excellence in education and to ensure relevance, quality, and balance among intellectual, and physical elements in the learning process.

Our mission is to empower and educate students though engaging them in positive student-centered education that balances academic excellence with physical, social and emotional well-being. Massive investments have been planned to create systems based on the requirements of the National Agenda. We are prepared today as we have always been.

Graduates, our warmth congratulations. Just 14 short years ago, you wondered into the kindergarten classroom to start your learning journey. Today, you are about to walk through the school gates as students for one last time.

You took all the knowledge and attention your parents provided and molded it into your own character, making you the fine young ladies and gentlemen that you are today.

Don’t you forget where you came from. Remember the foundation of your family and your society, build upon it and use it to guide you in everything that you do. Stick to the values, morals, and ethics that you were raised into and honor them in every day of your life.

Don’t focus on the negatives and the obstacles that prevent you from reaching your goals. Have a positive outlook at the world. It will make it easier for you to be successful.

I hope that each one of you finds themselves on a stage big enough to have great influence, proclaiming truth and fairness and making a significant difference to the world. From my part, I strongly believe that the future of our society is in very capable hands.

Don’t you ever give up and don’t be afraid of failure. It is ok to fail as long as you learn something from it. The only better thing better than winning, is losing then winning again. Try again, and again, and you shall find success.

Don’t worry if you still don’t know what you want from life. As a matter of fact, some of the most interesting and successful people that I know, still don’t. Life is a journey, and as long as you enjoy it and do what is good for you, your family, and your society, then you are on the right track.

Focus on your goals but don’t live by them. Don’t be afraid of change. Change is a fundamental aspect of our lives. What you want today may be different from what you want ten years from now. That is perfectly normal.

Everything is up for grabs and you can become anything that you desire. You can accomplish anything that you want. Nothing is impossible. We are so proud of what you have evolved to become. You have so much to offer to the world and we are eagerly waiting.

Congratulations to you and to your families. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck, success, and happiness.

Welcome Speech for Graduation Ceremony

Ai generator.

Introduction:

“Good [morning/afternoon/evening], everyone. Honored guests, esteemed faculty, proud parents, and, most importantly, our distinguished graduates. I am [Your Name], [your position, e.g., the Principal, Dean, Class President], and it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the [Year] Graduation Ceremony of [School/Institution’s Name].”

Acknowledgment of Guests: “First, let us acknowledge and thank our esteemed guests, faculty, and staff who have guided and supported our graduates throughout their educational journey. Your dedication and commitment have been instrumental in shaping the minds and futures of these remarkable individuals.”

Recognition of Parents and Families: “To the parents, families, and friends of our graduates, today is as much a celebration of your efforts as it is of the graduates’. Your unwavering support, sacrifices, and encouragement have played a crucial role in their success. Thank you for being their pillars of strength.”

Congratulating Graduates: “To our graduates, today marks a significant milestone in your lives. You have worked tirelessly, overcome challenges, and persevered to reach this moment. Your hard work, determination, and resilience have brought you here, and you should be incredibly proud of your achievements.”

Reflecting on the Journey: “Throughout your time at [School/Institution’s Name], you have not only gained knowledge but also formed lifelong friendships, developed critical thinking skills, and discovered your passions. These experiences have prepared you to face the future with confidence and courage.”

Encouraging Future Endeavors: “As you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember that education does not end here. Continue to seek knowledge, embrace new challenges, and strive for excellence in everything you do. The world is full of opportunities waiting for you to explore and conquer.”

Expressing Confidence: “We have full confidence that you will carry the values and lessons learned here into the world, making meaningful contributions to society. Whether you are pursuing further education, entering the workforce, or embarking on other adventures, know that you have the tools and the spirit to succeed.”

Conclusion:

Final Words of Inspiration: “Graduates, as you leave this institution, remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Be bold, be brave, and never stop believing in yourselves. The future is yours to shape.”

Welcome Once Again: “Once again, welcome to the [Year] Graduation Ceremony of [School/Institution’s Name]. Let us celebrate the achievements of our graduates and the bright futures that lie ahead.”

Closing: “Thank you all for being here today. Let’s make this a memorable and joyous celebration. Congratulations to the Class of [Year]!”

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

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16 Best Graduation Speeches That Leave a Lasting Impression

By Kristi Kellogg and Noor Brara

Some of the most impactful and inspiring sentiments are shared during graduation speeches delivered by the leaders we look up to. Graduation speeches from celebrities , entrepreneurs, authors and other influential thinkers are motivational, inspiring, thought-provoking and just might make you reach for the nearest tissue. After four years of hard work, stress, and exhausting self-discovery, lucky graduates are privy to a life-changing speech to top it all off.

Here, we rounded up up 16 of the best graduation speeches of all time, including words of wisdom from Natalie Portman, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and more.

1. Steve Jobs: Stanford, 2005

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

2. Michelle Obama: Tuskegee University, 2015

"I've found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the piece of mind knowing that all of the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting...all of it was just noise. It did not define me, it didn't change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn't hold me back."

3. Natalie Portman: Harvard, 2015

"I just directed my first film. I was completely unprepared, but my own ignorance to my own limitations looked like confidence and got me into the director's chair. Once there, I had to figure it all out, and my belief that I could handle these things, contrary to all evidence of my ability to do so was half the battle. The other half was very hard work. The experience was the deepest and most meaningful one of my career."

4. Amy Poehler: Harvard University, 2011

By Kara Nesvig

By Lisa Stardust

"What I have discovered is this: You can't do it alone … Listen. Say 'yes.' Live in the moment. Make sure you play with people who have your back. Make big choices early and often."

5. Meryl Streep: Barnard College, 2010

"This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change."

6. David Foster Wallace: Kenyon College, 2005

"Twenty years after my own graduation, I have come gradually to understand that the liberal arts cliché about teaching you how to think is actually shorthand for a much deeper, more serious idea: learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed. Think of the old cliché about quote the mind being an excellent servant but a terrible master."

7. Barack Obama: Howard University, 2016

"You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness, but action. Not just hashtags, but votes."

8. Kerry Washington: George Washington University, 2013

"You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that can write the story that you were meant to tell."

9. Conan O'Brien: Dartmouth College, 2011

"There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized. Today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality … Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen."

10. J.K. Rowling: Harvard, 2008

"I stopped pretending to be anything than what I was. My greatest fear had been realized. I had an old typewriter and a big idea. Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

11. Oprah Winfrey: Harvard University, 2013

"Learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you into being more who you are. And then figure out what is the next right move. And the key to life is to develop an internal moral, emotional G.P.S. that can tell you which way to go."

12. Joss Whedon: Wesleyan University, 2013

"You have, which is a rare thing, that ability and the responsibility to listen to the dissent in yourself, to at least give it the floor, because it is the key—not only to consciousness–but to real growth. To accept duality is to earn identity. And identity is something that you are constantly earning. It is not just who you are. It is a process that you must be active in. It's not just parroting your parents or the thoughts of your learned teachers. It is now more than ever about understanding yourself so you can become yourself."

13. George Saunders: Syracuse University, 2013

"Do all the other things, the ambitious things … Travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop)—but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness."

14. Nora Ephron: Wellesley College, 1996

"Be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

15. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Wellesley College, 2015

"As you graduate, as you deal with your excitement and your doubts today, I urge you to try and create the world you want to live in. Minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, get your hands dirty way."

16. Admiral William H. McRaven: University of Texas at Austin, 2014

"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right."

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Inspirational Graduation Speeches

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Do you have a graduating son or daughter? A high school or college graduation is a major milestone in life that should not be ignored. The graduation ceremony celebrates hard work and encourages students to move into the world to achieve great things. This hopeful message is further cemented through an inspirational graduation speech.

As you celebrate graduation day and wish your student good luck, consider the following commencement advice you can share as well as inspirational quotes for a happy graduation.

Here are the best graduation speeches and inspirational message graduation quotes to inspire you and change your life.

Page Contents

1. Barack Obama – Howard University, 2016

You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness but action. Not just hashtags, but votes. Barack Obama

During his graduation message, Barack Obama spoke with hope. He urged the graduating students to be hardworking yet pragmatic as they sought justice, equality, and freedom. Howard University is one of the nation’s most distinguished and historically Black universities.

In 2020, Barack Obama also shared a graduation message to the Class of 2020 as part of Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 . These students had to learn to overcome obstacles and challenges that classes before them had not had to deal with due to the pandemic.

The disappointments of missing a live graduation, those will pass pretty quick…What remains true is that your graduation marks your passage into adulthood—the time when you begin to take charge of your own life. It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you: the kind of career you want to pursue. Who you want to build a family with. The values you want to live by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary. Barack Obama

Obama goes on to offer hope and support as graduating students set out to navigate a very new landscape and shape a new world.

2. David Foster Wallace – Kenyon Graduation Speech, 2005

There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually, one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water? David Foster Wallace

In this commencement address, Wallace reminds us that we often forget, or take for granted, the most obvious things around us. He acknowledges it’s difficult to stay aware of what’s happening in the world, especially when you’re too busy dealing with the monologue inside your head.

That’s what a college education is about, according to him. It’s learning how to think and exercising some degree of control over your thoughts so you can choose what to pay attention to.

Our thoughts affect our realities, and the ability to choose how you “construct meaning from experience” will determine the lenses from which you see the world and how you react in return.

3. Natalie Portman – Harvard Graduation Speech 2015

Sometimes your insecurities and your inexperience may lead you, too, to embrace other people’s expectations, standards, or values. But you can harness that inexperience to carve out your own path, one that is free of the burden of knowing how things are supposed to be, a path that is defined by its own particular set of reasons . Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman majored in psychology at Harvard University because she believed it would help her acting. She graduated in 2003. In her commencement speech at the 2015 graduation ceremony, she spoke of her own self-doubt and gave an inspiring, funny , and wisdom-filled speech for the graduating class.

Portman said even though she was a successful student and went on to find success as an actress, she still struggled with her own worth but eventually learned to set her own goals.

4. Ellen DeGeneres – Tulane University, 2009

Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path and by all means you should follow that. Don’t give advice, it will come back and bite you in the ass. Don’t take anyone’s advice. So my advice to you is to be true to yourself and everything will be fine. Ellen Degeneres

This is one of the funniest graduation speeches ever! All humor aside, this speech shows why  it’s better to be true to yourself instead of trying desperately to be a second-rate version of someone else.

For years, Ellen thought being bisexual might prevent her from being a successful stand-up comedian, but it’s just not the case. Ellen proved that you could be successful, whoever you are, if you worked hard and learned from your past experiences— even one as sad as the death of a loved one.

5. Charlie Munger – University of California Law School, 2007

*Skip to 4:08 for the actual speech

You’re not going to get very far in life based on what you already know. You’re going to advance in life by what you’re going to learn after you leave here. Charlie Munger

Education doesn’t stop after you graduate from college. It doesn’t stop after you finish your MBA or PhD either. Munger says, “Wisdom acquisition is a moral duty. It’s not just something you do to advance in life.”

It’s a moral duty because it’s only through continuous learning that we can add to the vast knowledge of man kind. If we stopped learning, progress in all industries—computers, finance, engineering, biology, stops as well.

6. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University, 2013

If you’re a Democrat, spend some time talking to a Republican. And if you’re a Republican, have a chat with a Democrat. Maybe you’ll find some common ground, maybe you won’t. But if you honestly engage with an open mind and an open heart, I guarantee you’ll learn something. And goodness knows we need more of that, because we know what happens when we only talk to people who think like we do — we just get more stuck in our ways, more divided, and it gets harder to come together for a common purpose. Michelle Obama

As far as inspirational speeches go, Michelle Obama’s speech is very actionable. Her advice is simple (not easy), talk to each other with an open mind.

Different religion, race, political stand, it doesn’t matter. We can all learn from one another.

7. Jim Carrey – Maharashi University of Management, 2014

This is one of my favorite motivational speeches because Jim Carrey is such a good example of his message.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an account. Jim Carrey

Carrey’s father lost his accounting job when he was 12, and it was then he realized that failure is inevitable , whether you’re doing what you want or not. If that’s the case, you might as well take a stab at doing something you love.

8. J.K Rowling – Harvard Commencement Address, 2008

I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. J.K. Rowling

This is probably one of the most inspirational videos for writers and creatives everywhere.

Rowling was suffering from depression when he wrote the Harry Potter books. But through grit and patience with herself, she was able to complete the first Harry Potter Manuscript and, stay motivated to continue even when feeling down. Thanks to her drive and imagination, the world has Harry Potter !

9. Bono – University of Pennsylvania, 2004

In case you don’t know him, Bono is the lead singer of the famous band U2. Of course, being the rock star he is, he leads his speech by saying, “My name is Bono, and I am a rock star.”

In his speech, he urges graduates to carefully consider their big idea, in saying:

What are you willing to spend your moral capital, your intellectual capital, your cash, (and) your sweat equity in pursuing outside of the walls of the University of Pennsylvania? The world is more malleable than you think, and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape. Bono

Being a rock star, I thought Bono would talk about the perils of fame, the road to stardom or something to that effect. But instead, he talked about big ideas and changing the world.

10. Amy Poehler – Harvard University, 2011

Life is like a heist that requires good drivers, an explosives expert, a hot girl who doubles as a master of disguise, and this is a hard and fast rule. If the Rock shows up, they’re on to you . Amy Poehler

During her commencement speech at Harvard University in 2011, Amy Poehler expressed her surprise at the invitation to do so. She delivered a speech with jokes, advice, and insight as she looked out at the graduates.

She told them to head out into the world with love, light, joy, and laughter. Finishing off her speech in true Amy Poehler fashion, she also says, “please don’t forget to tip your waitresses.”

11. Meryl Streep – Barnard College, 2010

This is your time, and it feels normal to you, but really there is no normal. There’s only change, and resistance to it and then more change . Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is an actress most famous for Sophie’s Choice , The Devil Wears Prada , and Mamma Mia . She was asked to deliver the commencement speech to Barnard College in 2010. Her speech was dripping with extreme personality, honesty, and bluntness.

Streep shared her own personal stories and emphasized the importance of empathy. The audience was all women, so the speech was directed at them, but she shared many graduation messages that applied to everyone.

12. Kerry Washington – George Washington University, 2013

You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that writes the story you were meant to tell . Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is an actress, producer, and director. In 2018, she was named the eighth highest-paid television actress and has won several awards, including the President’s Award.

In her commencement speech at George Washington University in 2013, she urged graduates to go beyond their comfort zones and live their own stories.

How to Create Your Own Inspirational Graduation Speech

Do you need to write your own inspirational speech or curate the perfect graduation message? Here are a few tips on how to do just that, so you can inspire others like the commencement speeches above.

Start With a Quote

Start with a relevant quote. This sets the overall tone of your speech and grabs your audience’s attention. A good example of this is a quote by David Brinkley, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

Provide Scenarios

Now that you have drawn in the audience, present a what-if scenario to encourage the audience to continue following your thought process.

You can also provide a scenario encouraging the audience to put themselves directly into it. Suggest that they imagine doing something and ask what they would do if it doesn’t go as planned.

If you are giving a graduation message, ask where they see themselves years down the road or what they picture success as. You can then offer advice and insight based on your own experience.

Ask Questions

You should also ask questions, whether they are literal or rhetorical. When you present a question to someone, the person intuitively answers it, keeping them engaged with what you have to say.

Pause for Silence

When giving an inspirational speech, it also helps to pause for a few seconds after important points. This pause allows the audience to react to what you have to say and settle down before you continue with your next statement. The pause is also a good way to draw attention to what you want to say.

What Makes an Inspirational Graduation Speech?

The best graduation speech should have a very uplifting message that leads with education and wisdom. The graduation speech should focus on the graduates’ achievements and accomplishments. It should highlight the sacrifices that may have been made.

When writing a graduation or inspirational speech, ensure a strong theme or message is conveyed to keep your audience’s focus and attention.

Do you remember the speaker on your graduation day? What pearls of wisdom did he or she share?

Related Reading : Don’t forget what you worked so hard on in school! Check out our 150 Education Quotes for Teachers and Students , too. These gems are good for any graduation card when offering congratulations.

Natalie Seale

3 thoughts on “Inspirational Graduation Speeches”

Am really inspired by these brief messages,indeed education has no boundary; therefore, I say to you,” education is immeasurable, regardless of what disciplines or background we find ourselves.

These are very inspiring. My favorite is from J.K. Rowling. Thanks for sharing

Actually Very Inspiring ……thanks for sharing

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Best Opening Speech for Graduation Ceremony [With Samples]

Henry Divine Leave a comment

Graduation ceremonies are much more than a mere event on the calendar. They hold profound significance for both graduates and their communities. As the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, graduation ceremonies serve as a testament to academic achievements and provide an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of students. Furthermore, these ceremonies inspire graduates to embark on their future journeys with hope, determination and a sense of purpose.

Table of Contents

Importance of Graduation Ceremonies

Graduation ceremonies are not just symbolic gestures; they hold immense importance in recognizing and honoring academic accomplishments. These ceremonies bring closure to the educational journey, offering a tangible representation of achievement after years of diligent effort. The sight of cap and gown, the procession and the joyous atmosphere all contribute to a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment for graduates.

Celebrating Achievements

Within the framework of graduation ceremonies, there lies a deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by students. The presentation of diplomas, awards, and special recognition serves as a tangible validation of their efforts. As graduates cross the stage and receive their diplomas, the applause and cheers from family, friends, and faculty create an atmosphere of celebration that resonates with a profound sense of achievement.

Inspirational Messages and Speeches

One of the most impactful aspects of graduation ceremonies is the sharing of inspirational messages. Opening speeches, often delivered by accomplished individuals, motivate and inspire graduates to seize opportunities, overcome challenges and make a positive impact on the world. These speeches instill a sense of purpose and ignite a spark of determination in the hearts of the graduates. They also empower them to believe in their abilities and embrace the future with optimism.

Looking Towards the Future

Graduation ceremonies not only celebrate past accomplishments but also mark the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of graduates. The event becomes a poignant moment of reflection as students bid farewell to their educational institution, teachers, and friends. Mixed emotions fill the air—excitement, nostalgia and a tinge of uncertainty. Yet, as graduates leave the familiar behind, they are filled with anticipation for the limitless possibilities and opportunities ahead.

Embracing the Future

As graduates step into the world beyond the graduation stage, they carry with them the lessons learned, experiences gained and aspirations forged during their educational journey. Graduation ceremonies inspire them to embrace the future with open hearts and open minds. They encourage graduates to set goals, pursue their dreams, and continue to learn and grow. The sense of community and unity experienced during graduation ceremonies reinforces the idea that together, graduates can overcome challenges and create a better future for themselves and others.

Read Also: Graduation Speeches for Nursery Pupils [With Examples]

Opening Speech for Graduation Ceremony

The opening speech for graduation ceremony is the commencement speech of the ceremony. It is a formal speech that is normally given by a prominent figure or guest speaker at a graduation ceremony. And marks the official opening of the graduation ceremony.

Who Can Give Opening Speech for Graduation Ceremony?

The opening speech for a graduation ceremony can be given by various individuals. It all depends on the context and the nature of the event.

Here are some examples of people who could give the an opening remark for a graduation ceremony:

Principal or Head of School

The principal or head of the nursery school is often given the honor of delivering the opening speech. They can provide a warm welcome, set the tone for the ceremony, and express their pride in the graduating students.

Director of Education or Superintendent

In some cases, a higher-ranking educational authority, such as the director of education or superintendent, may be invited to deliver the opening speech. They can offer their congratulations to the graduates and emphasize the importance of early education.

Special Guest Speaker

A special guest speaker, such as a local community leader, an accomplished professional, or a renowned educator, can be invited to give the opening speech. They can provide an inspiring message to the graduates, drawing upon their own experiences and offering valuable insights.

Teacher or Class Representative

A teacher or a selected student from the graduating class can be chosen to deliver the opening speech. The teacher can share heartfelt memories and reflections on the students’ journey, while a student representative can express gratitude and excitement on behalf of their classmates.

Ultimately, the choice of who gives the opening speech depends on the school’s traditions, the significance of the event and the desired message to be conveyed.

In this article, I will give you samples of opening speech for graduation ceremony for nursery, primary and secondary schools.

Sample Opening Speech for Nursery School Graduation Ceremony

Ladies and gentlemen, parents, distinguished guests, and most importantly, our beloved little graduates, a very warm welcome to the nursery school graduation ceremony!

Today is a special day, a day of celebration and achievement. We gather here to honor and recognize the incredible journey our little ones have embarked upon during their time in nursery school. It is a joyous occasion filled with pride, love and anticipation for the bright futures that lie ahead.

To the parents and families here today, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. Your unwavering support, love, and guidance have been the pillars upon which these young minds have grown and flourished. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed, and we thank you for entrusting us with your precious little ones.

To our talented and dedicated teachers, thank you for your tireless efforts in nurturing and shaping the minds of our children. Your passion, patience, and commitment have created an environment where our little ones have thrived. You have not only taught them letters, numbers, and shapes but also instilled in them a love for learning, a sense of curiosity, and the importance of kindness and empathy.

And now, to our exceptional graduates, the stars of today’s ceremony! Each one of you is a testament to the incredible potential within every child. Over these past years, you have taken your first steps into the world of education, and today, you take another step forward, ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities.

You have grown in countless ways, not just physically but also intellectually, socially and emotionally. You have learned to share, to take turns and to make friends. Beyond those, you have discovered the wonders of storytelling, painting and dancing. You have also explored the world around you, marveling at its beauty and diversity. And most importantly, you have learned to believe in yourselves, to dream big and to never give up.

As you move on to the next chapter of your educational journey, remember that you are capable of achieving great things. Keep your eyes full of wonder, your hearts full of kindness, and your minds open to new knowledge. Embrace the challenges that lie ahead, for they are opportunities for growth and learning.

Graduation is not an end but a beginning, a beginning of new adventures, new friendships, and new discoveries. Cherish the memories you have made here, and carry them with you always as a reminder of how far you have come.

To our little graduates, I say with utmost pride, go forth and shine your light upon the world. You are the future, and we have every confidence that you will make it brighter and better.

Once again, congratulations to each and every one of you. May your journey be filled with love, joy, and success. Thank you, and let the graduation ceremony begin!

Sample Opening Speech for Graduation Ceremony for Primary School

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, parents, teachers, and the extraordinary graduates of [Name of Primary School],

Today is a day of immense joy and pride as we gather here to celebrate the graduation of our remarkable young students. This ceremony marks an important milestone in the lives of these bright and talented individuals, as they transition from the halls of primary school to embrace the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

To the graduating class, I extend my warmest congratulations. You have worked diligently, grown both academically and personally, and now it is time to spread your wings and soar to new heights. Your time at [Name of Primary School] has laid a strong foundation, equipping you with the essential skills and knowledge that will guide you on your journey through education and beyond.

Throughout your years here, you have showcased not only academic prowess but also character, resilience, and the ability to work collaboratively. You have embraced challenges, displayed a thirst for knowledge, and shown compassion towards your peers. Your creativity, curiosity, and zest for life have made this school a better place for everyone. Today, we celebrate not just your achievements but also the incredible individuals you have become.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and guidance of your families and teachers. To the parents and guardians, we thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. Your love, encouragement, and dedication have been instrumental in their success. And to the remarkable teachers and staff, your tireless efforts, patience, and commitment have nurtured the minds and hearts of these young graduates. We owe you a debt of gratitude.

As our young graduates embark on their next adventure, it is essential to remember that education is a lifelong journey. The knowledge and values you have acquired at [Name of Primary School] will serve as a compass as you navigate the vast opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Embrace learning with an open mind and a hunger for knowledge. Be curious, ask questions, and never stop seeking answers.

As you progress in your academic pursuits, remember the importance of empathy, kindness, and respect. Embrace diversity, celebrate differences, and be inclusive in your actions and words. Remember that the world is made up of unique individuals with varying backgrounds and perspectives, and it is through understanding and compassion that we can build a harmonious society.

Furthermore, I encourage you to dream big, set goals and work diligently towards achieving them. Be persistent in the face of challenges, for it is through perseverance that great accomplishments are realized. Believe in yourself, for you possess incredible potential to make a positive impact on the world.

While today signifies the end of one chapter, it also heralds the beginning of an exciting new one. Graduates, as you move forward, embrace opportunities, embrace change, and embrace the unknown. Be bold in your ambitions and take risks, for it is in those moments of stepping outside your comfort zone that you will discover your true capabilities.

In closing, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the exceptional graduates of [Name of Primary School]. You have filled our hearts with joy and pride, and we eagerly anticipate the remarkable contributions you will make to society. Remember the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the memories cherished during your time at this beloved institution.

May your future be filled with boundless joy, success, and fulfillment. Congratulations, Class of [Year]! Thank you.

Read Also: Primary School Graduation Speech Examples

Opening Speech for Graduation Ceremony for Secondary School

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, parents and most importantly, the exceptional graduates of [Name of School],

It is with great pleasure and immense pride that I stand before you today to celebrate this momentous occasion—the graduation ceremony of the [Year] graduating class. This day marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Today, we honor the achievements of our graduates and acknowledge the bright future that lies ahead.

As we gather here, we cannot ignore the extraordinary challenges and uncertainties that have characterized the world in recent times. The global pandemic has tested our resilience and forced us to adapt to a new normal. Yet, here we are, standing strong and defiant in the face of adversity. Our presence here today is a testament to our collective strength, determination, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge.

To the graduates, I want to express my heartfelt congratulations. Each and every one of you has shown exceptional courage, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence throughout your academic journey. You have overcome countless obstacles, tackled complex problems, and embraced a spirit of continuous learning. Today, we celebrate your accomplishments and acknowledge the immense potential that resides within each of you.

Graduation is not just an endpoint; it is a stepping stone to a world of infinite possibilities. As you leave the familiar halls of this institution, armed with knowledge and equipped with the skills you have acquired, you are poised to make a significant impact on the world. Your creativity, intellect, and passion hold the key to shaping a better future for yourselves and for generations to come.

Remember, however, that your achievements are not solely the product of your individual efforts. They are also a testament to the unwavering support and guidance provided by your families, teachers, and mentors. They have nurtured your dreams, encouraged your ambitions, and instilled in you the values that will guide you throughout your lives. Let us take a moment to express our gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment and love.

As you embark on this new chapter of your lives, I urge you to embrace change, to embrace uncertainty, and to embrace the unknown. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and the challenges we face demand innovative thinking, resilience, and adaptability. Embrace the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives, to collaborate across boundaries, and to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Remember, too, that success is not solely defined by the accolades you receive or the positions you attain. It is about making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Whether you choose to pursue a career in science, the arts, business, or any other field, strive to use your knowledge and skills for the betterment of society. Be compassionate, be empathetic, and be agents of positive change.

As we bid farewell to this chapter of our lives, let us not forget the memories we have created together—the friendships forged, the laughter shared, and the lessons learned. Cherish these moments and carry them with you as you embark on new adventures.

In conclusion, my heartfelt congratulations go out to the remarkable graduates of [Name of School]. Your achievements fill us with pride, hope, and optimism for the future. As you leave this institution, remember that you carry with you the dreams and aspirations of those who have come before you. Seize every opportunity, embrace every challenge, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Congratulations, Class of [Year]! May your journey be filled with endless possibilities and unparalleled success. Thank you.

Read Also: Best Graduation Songs for all Grade Levels

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Graduation Speech Examples

In this article, you will find examples of graduation speeches written by WriteSpeech.io that you can use to write your own speech.

Graduation marks a significant milestone in a person’s life, a moment of pride and celebration. It is an occasion that brings with it a mixture of excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation for the future.

To help you craft an unforgettable speech, here are five different examples of graduation speeches, written by writespeech.io . Each example is written for different academic environments and designed to meet varying needs in tone and length.

1. High School Graduation Speech Example

Length: Medium (around 4 minutes)

Tone: Neutral

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, faculty members, parents, and fellow graduates of the class of [Graduation Year], it is an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate this significant milestone in our lives. As we reflect on our high school journey, we are filled with a mix of emotions - pride, nostalgia, excitement, and perhaps a hint of uncertainty about the future. The last four years have been a whirlwind of growth, learning, challenges, and triumphs. We have worked hard, overcome obstacles, and persevered to reach this momentous day. Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As we prepare to embark on new adventures and pursue our dreams, let us remember the lessons we have learned inside and outside the classroom. The friendships we have forged, the teachers who have inspired us, and the experiences that have shaped us have all contributed to our personal and academic growth. As we look towards the future, let us carry with us the values of perseverance, resilience, and empathy that we have cultivated during our time here. Let us embrace change with open minds and open hearts, knowing that we have the skills and abilities to navigate the unknown with confidence and determination. Graduation is not just a ceremony; it is a symbol of our dedication, hard work, and commitment to our own success. It is a testament to the support of our families, friends, and educators who have helped us along the way. Let us express our gratitude to all those who have supported us on this journey, and let us strive to make them proud as we move forward into the next phase of our lives. Class of [Graduation Year], as we stand on the brink of a new beginning, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead with courage and enthusiasm. Congratulations to each and every one of you on your graduation, and may your future be filled with success, fulfillment, and happiness. Thank you.

2. College Graduation Speech Example

Length: Medium (around 5 minutes)

Dear fellow graduates, faculty, family, and friends, As we stand here today in our regal caps and gowns, it is surreal to think that the time has come for us to embark on the next chapter of our lives. The year [Graduation Year] will forever be ingrained in our memories as the year we officially transition from students to graduates, ready to take on the world with vigor and determination. Throughout our time here, we have laughed together, studied together, and supported each other through both triumphs and challenges. The bonds we have formed and the memories we have created will stay with us forever, serving as a reminder of the incredible journey we have shared. Today is a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that have brought us to this moment. Each of us has faced obstacles along the way, but we have proven time and time again that we are resilient, capable, and destined for greatness. As we look towards the future, let us remember the lessons we have learned, the friendships we have made, and the experiences that have shaped us into the individuals we are today. Let us carry the spirit of curiosity, passion, and innovation with us as we venture out into the world, ready to make our mark and leave a lasting impact. To our professors, mentors, and loved ones who have supported us along the way, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your guidance, wisdom, and unwavering belief in us have been the foundation upon which we have built our success. As we say goodbye to this chapter of our lives and embrace the endless possibilities that lie ahead, let us do so with hope, courage, and an unwavering belief in ourselves. Congratulations to the graduating class of [Graduation Year] - may your future be bright, your dreams be fulfilled, and your journey be filled with love and joy. Thank you.

3. College Graduation Speech Short Example

Length: Short (around 3 minutes)

Tone: Enthusiastic

Class of [Graduation Year], it is an honor to stand before you all today as we celebrate our graduation! We made it, we conquered every challenge, and we have emerged stronger and wiser. This is a momentous occasion that marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and determination. As we reflect on our time here, we remember the late nights studying, the group projects that tested our patience, and the friendships that will last a lifetime. We have grown academically, emotionally, and socially, thanks to the experiences and opportunities that our university has provided us. Today, as we look towards the future, let us remember the lessons we have learned within these campus walls. Let us remember the value of resilience, the importance of perseverance, and the power of community. We have shown that we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way and that with determination and passion, anything is possible. Every one of us has the power to shape our destinies, to make a positive impact on the world, and to leave a mark that will last for generations to come. So, let us go forth from this moment with courage in our hearts, inspiration in our souls, and a commitment to making our dreams a reality. Class of [Graduation Year], the future is ours to seize! Let us embrace it with open arms, with hope in our hearts, and with a zest for life that knows no bounds. Congratulations to each one of you, and may our journey ahead be filled with success, happiness, and fulfillment. Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the friendships. Go forth and conquer the world! Go forth and make a difference! Once again, congratulations, Class of [Graduation Year]! We did it!

4. University Graduation Speech Example

Length: Long (around 7 minutes)

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished faculty members, beloved friends and family, and fellow graduates of the class of [Graduation Year], it is with immense joy and gratitude that I stand before you today to celebrate this momentous occasion. As we gather here, on the cusp of a new beginning, we are surrounded by an abundance of memories, both cherished and challenging, that have shaped our journey as university students. Looking back on our time here, I am overwhelmed by a sense of pride in every one of us. We have overcome countless obstacles, pushed ourselves beyond our limits, and emerged stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever before. The late nights spent studying, the group projects that tested our patience, the moments of self-doubt and uncertainty – all of these experiences have contributed to shaping us into the individuals we are today. But beyond the academic achievements and accolades that we have earned, what truly sets us apart is the sense of community that we have fostered here. The friendships we have made, the bonds we have formed, and the support we have shown one another have created a network of love and camaraderie that will endure long after we leave these halls. As we stand on the threshold of the next chapter of our lives, let us take a moment to reflect on the lessons we have learned during our time here. We have learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. We have learned that success is not measured solely by grades or achievements, but by the impact we have on the world around us. We have learned the importance of empathy, kindness, and understanding – qualities that will serve us well as we navigate the complexities of the world beyond these walls. But perhaps the most important lesson we have learned is the power of believing in ourselves. Each of us has faced moments of doubt, of insecurity, of fear. And yet, through it all, we have remained steadfast in our belief that we are capable of achieving greatness. As we move forward into the unknown, let us carry this belief with us – let it be our guiding light, our North Star, guiding us through the darkest of times. And so, as we prepare to embark on this new adventure, I urge you all to embrace the future with open hearts and open minds. Let us be fearless in the pursuit of our dreams, bold in the face of adversity, and unwavering in our commitment to making the world a better place. To my fellow graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. May your future be filled with joy, success, and fulfillment. And may the memories we have created here sustain us in the years to come. Thank you, class of [Graduation Year], for inspiring me, for challenging me, and for being a part of this incredible journey. Here's to us, to our accomplishments, and to the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Congratulations, and may the future shine brightly upon us all.

5. Community College Graduation Speech Example

Dear fellow graduates, esteemed faculty members, friends, and family, As I stand before you today, filled with a mix of emotions — excitement, nostalgia, gratitude, and a hint of nervousness — I am reminded of the incredible journey we have all undertaken to reach this momentous occasion. The year 2024 will forever hold a special place in our hearts as the year we officially became graduates of this esteemed university. Looking back on our time here, we have experienced moments of triumph, moments of challenge, and moments of growth that have shaped us into the individuals we are today. We have pulled all-nighters studying for exams, collaborated on group projects, cheered on our sports teams, and formed friendships that will last a lifetime. Each class we attended, each professor we learned from, and each experience we encountered have played a vital role in preparing us for the next chapter of our lives. As we step out into the world beyond these university walls, we are armed with knowledge, skills, and a passion to make a difference. The world may seem daunting at times, but I am confident that every one of us has the potential to create a meaningful impact in our unique way. Whether we pursue further education, enter the workforce, start our own businesses, or embark on a different path altogether, let us remember the lessons we have learned here and carry the spirit of curiosity, perseverance, and resilience with us. I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to our families, friends, and loved ones who have supported us throughout this journey. Their unwavering belief in our abilities, their patience during our moments of stress, and their endless encouragement have been the driving force behind our success. Let us take this opportunity to thank them for all that they have done for us and to celebrate this achievement together. As we look towards the future, let us maintain a sense of optimism and hope for what lies ahead. Let us embrace new opportunities with open hearts and open minds, knowing that we are well-equipped to face whatever challenges come our way. And most importantly, let us never forget the friendships we have forged, the memories we have created, and the lessons we have learned during our time here. Congratulations, Class of 2024! May your futures be bright, your dreams be bold, and your hearts be filled with joy as you embark on this new chapter in your lives. Thank you for being a part of my university journey, and may we all continue to inspire and uplift each other in the years to come. Here's to us, here's to our future, and here's to the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Go forth and conquer, my fellow graduates! Thank you.

As you step up to deliver your speech, remember that this is not just a celebration of academic achievements but also a pivotal life moment for every graduate present. Your words have the power to impact, encourage, and shape how your fellow graduates view and begin their next chapter.

Whether your speech is reflective, humorous, profound, direct, or community-focused, it should resonate with your personal experiences and the collective journey of your peers.

With writespeech.io , you can craft a message that not only honors this special day but also inspires and entertains you just need to fill the template and we will write a unique speech for you.

Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone, and may your speech be as memorable as your time spent learning and growing!

Ready to start writting your speech?

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Graduation Speech Samples and Ideas to Inspire You

Delivering a graduation speech is a great honor. So, congratulations if you have been selected as a valedictorian speaker. Here are a few graduation speeches you can draw inspiration from.

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Graduation can be one of the most memorable moments in a person’s life. It is a moment when you celebrate your accomplishments with your peers. The graduation ceremony is a melange of emotions, along with pride and satisfaction there is this anxiety about future and a sinking feeling about bidding farewell to friends and alma mater. If you are a valedictorian or a salutatorian, then you also have to deal with the nervousness of delivering a graduation speech. Speeches by luminaries and students are often the most important part of a graduation ceremony.

Graduation Speech Ideas

Oftentimes, graduation speeches are tremendously boring as the new graduates are rarely proficient orators. Since, these speakers are often students excelling in academics, they may not be always great writers or rhetoricians. However, if you avoid unsurprising cliches and the common drab topics, you can indeed make your graduation speech interesting. You can draw inspiration from commencement speeches delivered by eminent personalities on graduation. Add personal touches to your speech by narrating funny anecdotes or exemplary achievements of your class during graduation years. You may also express your views regarding the current affairs or political situation.

Delivering inspirational quotes is a good idea, but again avoid cliches. Brevity is the most important factor to be considered while delivering graduation speeches. Since, audience would be most interested in the commencement speech, it would make sense to keep your speech short and sweet. Remember, it is your personal experience and genuine feelings about your school, friends that will keep your audience captivated and not some heavy duty stuff, loaded with social, political jargon. Graduation party speeches can be a bit playful and informal, but make sure you do not offend anyone with snide remarks in your speech.

Sample Valedictorian Speeches

Good evening honored guests, ladies and gentlemen and the Graduating Class of [year]. Robert Gallagher said that change is inevitable – except from a vending machine. As you stand on the brink of moving into life beyond [name of educational institution], change will be inevitable! It is inevitable and indeed gratifying to see that our Graduating Class of [year] matured and became skills proficient ready to tackle and further their life-long education. It is inevitable that structures and processes and relationships will change in their day-to-day lives. It is inevitable that they will face new challenges and it is inevitable that things may seem a little different in the year ahead. Yes, life is definitely going to become a little ‘shaken up and stirred’. Speech Example

Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, teachers and administrators. We stand, gathered together to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2001 Class of Mattawan High School. To my fellow classmates, we’ve made it. We’ve finally made it. We are graduating. Congratulations. Congratulations not only to us graduates, but also congratulations to our teachers, parents, friends, families and administrators. Our success is your success, for you have given us the freedom to dare, the courage to excel and the belief that we can achieve our best. Together for the last time, we stand poised at the very edge of graduation, looking towards a bright future. Soon each of us will go forth, in his or her unique direction, seeking to make a mark upon the world. Our adulthood, so long anticipated, has now arrived. We have grown up. We must seize our future and taking it into our own hands, do with it what we will, striving towards excellence. Excerpts from Valedictorian Speech, Mattawan H.S. 2001

Graduation Commencement Speeches

What kind of peace do I mean and what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children – not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time. – John Kennedy, American University 1963

Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now, the new is you. But someday, not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it’s quite true. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary… Stay hungry, stay foolish. – Steve Jobs, Stanford 2005

Graduation speeches are all about being yourself and expressing your genuine feelings of gratitude towards all those who made your achievement possible for you. So, prepare well and get ready to stir emotions in those with whom you spent the most important years of your life.

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Van hollen says effort to sanction the icc is ‘mafia thug’ behavior, hundreds of student and faculty demonstrators disrupt harvard’s graduation ceremony.

Jewish student leader said the commencement chaos culminated a year filled with antisemitic incidents

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Anti-Israel demonstrators protest outside Harvard Yard during Harvard University's class of 2024 graduation ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 23, 2024.

Hundreds of students and faculty members walked out of Harvard University’s commencement ceremony on Thursday in solidarity with 13 anti-Israel student protesters who were denied degrees as a result of their involvement in the school’s illegal campus encampment.

Shabbos Kestenbaum, who in March spoke to a roundtable organized by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about the antisemitism he experienced on Harvard’s campus, said he was “shocked but not surprised.” 

Kestenbaum, who graduated with a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School, said the unrest at graduation —  which included several students rushing the stage with signs reading “Harvard funds genocide” — “summed up” months of antisemitic protests, culminating in the encampment, that took over campus after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. 

“This has been building for months and is a natural outcome of failed leadership,” Kestenbaum told Jewish Insider , calling the protests that engulfed Harvard Yard “degrading and frustrating,” while noting that it “ruined graduation for everyone else.” 

The commencement speaker, Maria Ressa, the CEO of the Philippines-based news site Rappler and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, supported the student protests in her address. “Harvard, you are being tested,” she said. “The campus protests are testing everyone in America. Protests give voice; they shouldn’t be silenced.” Ressa, whose publication wrote an editorial comparing Israel with Nazi Germany after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks, went on to say that “money and power” called her an antisemite for speaking at Harvard. 

The two student speakers at the ceremony, an undergraduate and a graduate speaker, also criticized the Harvard Corporation, the school’s top governing body, for its decision not to let some of the encampment demonstrators graduate. “This semester, our freedom of speech and expressions of solidarity became punishable, leaving our graduation uncertain,” Shruthi Kumar, the undergraduate student speaker, said to resounding applause. (There was no applause when other crises, including Sudan or Ukraine, were briefly mentioned.)   

“The focus of those speeches was less about what’s happening in Gaza and more about free speech and repercussions,” Barak Sella, a Harvard Kennedy School of Government graduate and former director of the Reut Institute , told JI. “It’s clear that the speeches weren’t about opposing injustice around the world.” 

Sella noted the irony in the speeches. “They’re saying they don’t have free speech while talking on one of the most central stages of academia, in front of 15,000 people.” 

“It’s fully their right to protest but they were loud and disruptive and today was a special day for many people,” he continued, noting that “many people do not agree with the protesters.” 

“One of the student speakers said, ‘the students have spoken, the faculty has spoken,’ but that isn’t true. Many students were sitting down and quiet,” said Sella, who held an Israeli flag throughout the ceremony and posted a photo online showing a plane trailing an Israeli flag and the words “Jewish lives matter” appearing to fly overhead.

Kestenbaum, a first-generation American, said he “cautiously told my parents that I didn’t want them to come to commencement because I didn’t want them exposed to this narrative.”

“I’m the first of their seven kids to graduate with a masters from an American university and it would have been deeply upsetting [for them to see] that this was overshadowed by antisemitic students who have not been disciplined for their previous engagements like the encampments and occupation of university halls,” he said. “Today sent a really disappointing message to Jewish students.” 

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Breaking news, idaho high school grad refuses to shake superintendent’s hand, drops banned book at his feet during ceremony.

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An Idaho high school graduate staged an unusual form of protest at her graduation when she offered a book to the school district’s superintendent, who had banned it months earlier.

Annabelle Jenkins was one of 44 graduates to have her name called during the Idaho Fine Arts Academy graduation ceremony on May 23.

After she shook hands with administrators on the stage, Jenkins paused in front of West Ada School District Superintendent Derek Bub and pulled out “The Handmaid’s Tale” from the sleeve of her graduation gown.

Bub stood firm with his arms crossed and declined the book, leaving Jenkins to drop it at his feet as she moved across the stage.

The graphic novel version, written by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault, was one of 10 the school district banned from its libraries earlier in the academic year over its graphic imagery, deemed unsuitable for the student body.

Jenkins says she and some classmates have been outspoken about the ban because it was done without input from the students or staff and with little transparency.

“My main issue with this particular situation was that the teacher that was contesting it never read the book.”

Jenkins says her move was in response to the school district’s actions toward the student body throughout the school year regarding the books.

“It was a gesture and you’re going to receive a gesture. If you want to make a bigger show out of it, be my guest,” the graduate told KTVB.

Following the ceremony, Jenkins shared a video of her stunt to TikTok, which has been seen over 24.3 million times.

“I have never desired to go viral, but if I was ever going to, I’m glad that it is for something so deeply important to me,” Jenkins told the Idaho Statesman. “More than anything, I just want people to talk about it. I want to generate conversation.”

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Jenkins’ main issue with the ban stems from the fact that the teacher who contested the book in the first place never read it, according to the graduate.

In December, the Idaho Fine Arts Academy principal removed the book from the school’s library as the adaptation of the dystopian society featured illustrations of sexual violence, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Idaho Fine Arts Academy offers grades 6-12, where students must audition to attend, and is located 11 miles west of Boise.

The school determined there was no system to “determine which students at various grade levels could access specific books,” district spokesperson Niki Scheppers told the newspaper.

Following the book’s initial removal from the shelves, the school district set up a review team, consisting of the chief academic officer, an English teacher and a middle school and high school principal.

The team decided to ban 10 books, including the graphic novel, “A Stolen Life” by Jaycee Dugard, “Kingdom of Ash” by Sarah J. Maas and “Water for Elephants” by Sarah Gruen.

“I think the graphic novel is a very tasteful way of adapting it, and that’s not to say there aren’t scenes in there that are difficult for some students or some readers, I just don’t think that’s a reason for it to be banned,” Jenkins told KTVB.

She says she read “The Handmaid’s Tale” when she was in seventh or eighth grade and the graphic novel adaptation when she was a sophomore in high school.

“It is a book with a lot of heavy themes, and it has some very difficult scenes to get through. It does deal with a lot of sexual themes. I believe a word that I’ve heard tossed around about that book was ‘pornographic,” which I very strongly disagree with.”

The school district slammed Jenkins’ protest, saying it “overshadowed the celebratory occasion.”

“While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain the focus on the achievements and hard work of our students during such significant milestones,” Scheppers told the Statesman.

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