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Speech Etiquette Guide

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4 Graduation Speeches

University Graduation Speech to Fellow Graduates

Good afternoon fellow graduates and most distinguished faculty. I would first like to thank the class of (year), and to the faculty and administration for this honor.

I don’t have any extraterrestrial psychic powers but I can read your minds. You are all thinking to yourselves that I am the only thing that stands between you and your hard earned diplomas. I will be brief.

I think for all of us, graduating from (name of school) marks a moment of transformation that will continue to reveal its significance to us as we live out the rest of our lives. This graduation ceremony is a part celebration and part holy dread, with all its sunny prospects streaked by moving shadows of uncertainty. Today is the commencement of our new lives in the broader world, and, at least to me, that brings on its own mini heart attack of excitement and fear.

The hallmark of a great education whether it be an apprenticeship or a formal degree from one of the top universities in the country like (name of school) is whether the graduates have learned to think for themselves. Obviously the answers to the problems we will aim to solve do not reside in our dusty textbooks or even the most inspirational lecture. Put simply, we learned to think. We learned to analyze, criticize and question all “supposed” facts. We carry the privilege and duty to wield the dogma beating spirit in all facets of society.

Now we’re being called upon to apply that newfound ability to the rest of our lives. And to that end, (name of school) has been a wondrous incubator: It has teased our minds, and pushed the limits of what we ever thought was possible. Perhaps more importantly, over the last few years we have been nestled away from the intellectually dishonest culture of our time. I am speaking of a culture that respects power more than ability, it respects answers more than inquiry and it respects naked opinion more than subtle thought. We will forever be grateful that (name of school) has given us this cocoon filled with likeminded people sharing ideas. As we leave and face the world with surroundings that we expect to try and change us, we know that we will always have the strength to push back and change our surroundings the way that only a butterfly can.

We are also leaving behind the structure of college life. For the most part, as students we have only known two seasons — school and summer — and we’ve always had a nice framework of expectations and rewards based on school.

Graduation is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. It feels like we are about to embark on a rollercoaster ride during a tornado. On the one hand, we finally have the freedom to choose for ourselves the rhythms and the priorities that will guide us through life. On the other hand, the burden of commitment is now upon us, and it will always be easier to adopt someone else’s idea of what life should be than to formulate our own. However, if there is one thing that I intend to take forward it is that our passions should determine what structure our lives take on, not vice versa.

Personally, I’m glad I can count (university) among the experiences that have changed the substance of my life undeniably for the better, and I hope you can, too. Since youth is forgiving and we’re not 65 years old just yet, let’s have the courage to bold things and the sense of humor to deal with the results.

Congratulations, (name of University) class of (year), on your achievement, thank you for your friendship, and good luck with your future endeavors.

High School Graduation Speech

Good afternoon, I would first like to welcome all the parents, relatives and friends, on behalf of the senior class. I think I can easily speak for everyone when I say that your presence is appreciated.

I have spent the last few weeks trying to write this speech. You put pen to paper and as Paul Simon observed “all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity.” When I think of (name of school), the theme that resounds in my mind is “uniqueness.”’ This is a unique place filled with unique people, both students and teachers alike.

The teachers here did not teach out of textbooks but rather they taught out of experience. As we go on to colleges and various adventures, I think that we’ll always look for answers beyond what is written in the book and that is the legacy of the fine teachers at this school.

The administration from (name of principal) all the way to (name another administrator) had the tough job of enforcing the rules. It is a fine line between chaos and encouraging individuality and they put in place a framework that straddled the line for the better part of four years.

The students here at (name of school) are equally unique. A spirit of community has prevailed over senseless competition. So many schools are marred by cliques, hiding in groups, hoping to masquerade the same insecurities we all face. (Name of school) is different. (Name of school) is unique. At social functions you will see (name a group – eg athletes) socializing with (name another group – eg musicians). At lunch time you will see the top students teaching the not so top students in algebra or English literature.

Of course, we as students cannot take all the credit for this special learning environment. It all stems from the love and support of our parents. Where would I be without the daily dose of wisdom from my mother? Where would I be without the nightly joke from my father at the dinner table after a long day? They lifted my spirits and most importantly guided my spirit. I know that my fellow seniors feel the same way.

To my fellow graduates please take heed in the following wisdom from Pearl S. Buck. “We have every reason to look forward into the future with hope and excitement. Fear nothing and no one. Work honestly. Be good, be happy. And remember that each of you is unique, your soul your own, irreplaceable, and individual in the miracle of your mortal frame.”

Thank You.

Graduation Speech

President (name) guests, Graduates of the class of (current year), parents, alumni, friends and invited guests it is a great pleasure and a special honor for me to be with you today.

Someone once said, “Almost nobody listens to a commencement speech except, perhaps, a few parents, who are engaged in one last hope that they will get something for their money.” That may be true at some colleges in America. However, I think we can all agree that it would not be true at this one. Name of College/University has a storied reputation for being a (college/university) that molds people who create real tangible results in the so called real world when they leave. I challenge each and every one of you to ask yourself whether you feel more prepared for the challenges ahead now or when you arrived here a few years ago. As the personal growth was incremental we often don’t realize how much we’ve changed.

When we arrived on the first day of school, the car packed with our scattered belongings like a lava lamp and a Brad Pitt poster, did we really have any idea about what the university experience would be like? Did we ever imagine that our minds could be shaped as we were exposed to the creative ideas of our fellow students?

Most of us arrived as naïve dreamers taking one step to making the world a better place. I trust that most students are not entering the “real” world with any cynicism learned at (university). The institution is a place for dreamers and I sincerely hope that it always retains that identity in increasingly difficult times.

On behalf of our graduating class I would like to thank the (university) faculty and staff whose expertise and talents are matched only by their genuine dedication. The faculty was symbolized by an on open office policy. Every time I needed help with an essay topic I was patiently dealt with, even on Friday afternoons

The diplomas you receive today will only tell half the story. Our educations have been, and will continue to be, a collaborative endeavor of learning from one another.

I encourage you to take a few seconds to acknowledge those who have propelled you forward.

If you’ll indulge me, I would like to say a few words to my parents. This is long overdue and twenty odd years in the making. On this graduation day, I just like to say two words, “You’re welcome.” In all seriousness, I would to thank my family who has supported me both financially and emotionally throughout my life. Thank you.

Graduation Speech – Grade Eight or High School

German author, poet and philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said: “What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it! / Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

When I first entered the gates of (Name) Primary School (number) years ago, I had no idea that I was beginning something bold, something magical. It is a great honor to have been selected as your valedictorian and I feel that it is only fitting to first pay tribute to those who have guided me onto the path of success.

Firstly, I would like to honor two teachers who have been instrumental in my development. Not only have they guided and prepared me well for my (high school/College), but they genuinely were interested in my future. They provided me with two pillars of strength to lean on. These two teachers have shown dedication and commitment in their teaching through their selfless sacrifice in going the extra mile, all for us. They are (name of teacher), my (association to teacher – eg – my English teacher in 2008) and (name), who was my (association to teacher).

(First teacher name) is a dedicated and patient teacher who was always pushing me to the next level. (Teacher) was innovative and was always trying new methods to help us improve. She was the first teacher who used (example of innovation) the Internet during her lessons. The Web was incorporated into her lesson plans because he/she is a modern visionary. (Teacher) will personally make the rounds to ensure that everything he/she had taught is crystal clear.

(Second teacher) believes that it is never too early to learn the power of thinking for yourself. He/she never gave us the answers without first posing challenging questions and forcing us to examine all sides of the question. He/she knows that critical thinking is the main tool necessary for success in today’s world. He/she must have been exhausted with our constant pestering and insistence that all that matters is the right answer. We all learned never to content with just any easy solution to a problem. I now always ask myself, “what if…”

The firm belief in the potential that I had and more importantly by making me believe in myself, made me push myself beyond what I had thought I was capable of. This conviction that my dreams are attainable is a wonderful gift to imprint on a young person’s soul.

(Name of school) did not just equip me academically. This school has also provided many learning opportunities for me to grow spiritually. For example, through our (name of extracurricular activity – eg – Pen Pals Abroad), I learned that wisdom is often found outside of the classroom. Several of us were able to interact with (name of people – eg- visiting students from South America. I learned that the world is getting smaller and will continue to grow smaller as our minds grow larger in a hyperlinked world.

I will, therefore at this point, like to say a big thank you on behalf of my cohort (year) to (first teacher), (second teacher) and all the teachers who have done a lot to guide us in the process of learning, who cared for us, be it in school work or extracurricular activities. I would now like to invite all of you to join me in giving them a round of applause as a tribute to the difference that they have made in our lives.
[pause for applause]

To the graduating class of (current year), Shakespeare once said, “To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first.” As the world buzzes around you time will feel as though it is accelerating but that should not be any reason for you to go faster. If the pace around you quickens it is usually the best time for pause and reflection. The road is long and the short sprints will eventually feel like a marathon. That is one of the fundamental principles that I learnt in my (number) years in this school.

The last point I want to convey to you today is that all of you have the potential to forge your own path. You have been equipped with the tools over the last (number) years at (name of school). This institution has helped you map out a path, but you must make all the right choices with your own personal moral compass. I wish you all the best as you embark on another learning journey. Last of all, I would like to end my speech with a quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

He said “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, each guided by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.”

I wish you all the greatest success as you embark on a giant, magical, bold discovery of yourself and the world around you.

Thank you.