If you’ve been given the awesome and admittedly enormous task of presenting a graduation speech on the big day, there’s no doubt that your mind is filled with ideas. There are possibilities aplenty. You can draw on dozens of talks from notable figures to glean inspiration or consider your own educational experience in crafting an address that your audience isn’t likely to forget. But coming up with the right graduation speech ideas can be tricky. You want to do well, but you don’t want to become overwhelmed, either. Break it down by focusing on the details.
Find Sources of Inspiration
If you’re stumped about how to write a graduation speech, it’s helpful to consider speakers of the past. You might look to previous graduates you know who gave articulate speeches. But in many cases, it’s more interesting and exciting to delve into well-known speakers who memorably addressed graduates, parents, alumni, and school staff at high schools and universities around the country. You may be surprised at the diversity of people who deliver these speeches: There are beloved actors, news anchors, comedians, fashion designers, musicians, athletes, and politicians in the mix. Take a peek at some of the best of the best in the NPR catalog of noteworthy commencement addresses.
Consider the tone, spirit, and message of these deliveries. In 2008, when J.K. Rowling addressed the graduating class at Harvard University, she stated, “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: We have the power to imagine better.” Steve Jobs delivered an unforgettable message to the 2005 graduates at Stanford University, reminding them, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
Writing Your Speech
You don’t have to be a world-famous anything to make an important point — but your graduation speech ideas don’t have to be so astute that they’re life-changing, either. You must simply speak from the heart and give everyone something to remember before they move their tassels. It’s also helpful to consider a few valuable pointers to minimize the stress of crafting the “perfect” speech.
- Watch your length: You don’t need to write the Great American Novel — in fact, you shouldn’t even come close. The longer your speech, the more likely that people will grow distracted and lose focus. You may even lose sight of what you’re saying if the speech goes on for too long. Keep it concise, both for your own sake and for those in the crowd. It will also ensure that your message is delivered effectively.
- Prepare your speech: There have been moments in graduation speech history that some speakers would rather forget. The joke that no one got. The awkward pause that seemed to go on for eternity. The unplanned ad lib born from sheer anxiety. You can avoid all this by actually writing the speech in advance. Preparation will ease your nerves and give you something to focus on if you do get a little nervous — which, by the way, is completely normal!
- Deliver your message: You’ll feel more comfortable if you zero in on a singular point and make that the focus of your speech. Think about how you want to inspire your classmates to make the most of their future or what you hope they’ll take away from their time at the school and how they can apply that to their endeavors. Don’t forget to thank the faculty, staff, and parents for their help and support throughout the years.
Speeches for Different Grades
What to include in a graduation speech depends largely on the grade to which you’re delivering your words. Junior high students speaking to their eighth-grade class may have a very different idea of what lies ahead than their senior year counterparts. If you’re helping your eighth-grade son or daughter write an effective speech, encourage them to look back on special moments they shared with their classmates. A little bit of levity is always welcome, along with some words about how to draw on what they’ve learned in junior high and apply those skills to the high school experience.
High school graduation speeches should reflect on the passage of time and the years of preparation that lead up to this moment. Consider the humorous moments, the touching stories, the invaluable teachers, and the lessons learned that helped you develop as a person. If you’re giving a commencement speech in college, don’t be overwhelmed by the prospect of sharing your knowledge and words of wisdom with the group. It’s both an honor and a responsibility, but there’s a tendency to fall back on cliched advice. Take the pressure off yourself by remembering your message and delivering it in a positive tone.
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