Commencement Speeches

Commencement speeches are given by special guests at the graduation ceremony. Most commonly, they are given at college graduation ceremonies, but they are becoming increasingly more prevalent at high school graduations as well.

Commencement speeches are generally delivered by people of merit such as Bono, Toni Morrison, Barbara Kingsolver and Paul Hawkins (all of whom were speakers at various colleges). Some may be famous or otherwise noteworthy.

They often have ties to the school or college at which they are speaking, and are invited to speak at the graduation as a motivating presenter, as one who once stood where the day's graduates now find themselves.

Graduation is a momentous event, and one which signifies a parting of ways.

The graduates have up to this point, shared a common experience.

Following the graduation ceremony, their paths will diverge, each proceeding through life on their own unique trail.

This parting of ways is a significant change in all their lives. It is one laden with emotion: fear, excitement, anticipation, bittersweet happiness.

The uncertainty of the future is scary, and it's a guarantee that these feelings are shared by the graduates involved in the ceremony. Uncertainty and the fear it instills in many is a topic which can easily be included in commencement speeches.

While the uncertainty of the future is a bit scary, it is also very exciting. The graduates venturing out into the world and beginning to make their own paths is ideal to emphasize.

As one who has been in their shoes, the commencement speaker is intimately familiar with the feelings they're experiencing. As one who has been invited to speak, you are an example of how the uncertain future can contain success and significant achievements.

It is essential that you communicate the excitement and anticipation you know the graduates are feeling about the new experiences that await them.

Emphasize that each of them will be making new decisions and life choices. Up to this point, they have shared a common history, culminating in their presence at the graduation ceremony. However, from this point forward, they will have futures separate from one another and in pursuit of their unique dreams and goals.

You'll want to draw on that common history in your speech to make it significant and meaningful to your entire audience, but especially to the graduates.

They are your primary audience, and their achievements are what draw you all together on this special day. Celebrating their common history and individual accomplishments is the purpose of the ceremony. Be sure to craft your speech in a way that accomplishes this.

Commencement speeches can contain any variety of personal experiences and motivational messages. The speeches themselves are as unique as are the speakers who deliver them.

There are however, some elements which should be included in any speech given at a graduation ceremony. Essential components include a welcome to guests, acknowledgement of faculty and staff, and a heartfelt expression of your feelings on being asked to speak at such a tremendously important event.

Graduation is an historic occasion, and should be celebrated as such. Commencement speeches should include well selected quotations and stories that mark the importance of such events in life.

They should also emphasize the importance of celebrating achievements and moving into the future with hope and enthusiasm.

Here are links to some of my all time favorite commencement speakers:

Commencement Address by Barbara Kingsolver in 2008 at Duke University

Toni Morrison's Commencement Speech at Wellesley College in 2004

Bono's Commencement Address in 2004 at the University of Pennsylvania

Paul Hawkins Speech at the University of Portland in 2004

Seems like 2004 was a good year for commencement speeches! I find the above 4 speakers to be brilliant although their speeches are vastly different. They are all inspiring and motivating. I would have felt extremely honored to have been sitting in the audience on graduation day listening to them and soaking in all they had to say.

 

Commencement Speeches to Special Occasion Speech Topics
Quotes for Graduation Speeches
Example of a Valedictorian Speech
Graduation Speeches
Graduation Songs
Sample Graduation Speech
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