![]() I want to focus my remarks on the enduring need for public service. I thank Dan for that kind introduction, and I thank you all for welcoming me back. I don’t know why that is, but it is true. I have briefed Presidents, I have negotiated with Afghan warlords, but there is something weirdly intimidating about coming back to speak at one’s alma mater. Thank you for that kind introduction and for giving me the opportunity to visit Seaver College again. And, ending with a bang in the form of an amazing quotation will help inspire your audience and leave them feeling upbeat.Before entering the private sector, Miscik had a distinguished twenty-two year career in intelligence, ultimately serving as the Central Intelligence Agency's deputy director for intelligence. Telling personal stories that everyone can relate to, sprinkled with humor, is a wonderful way to keep people engaged throughout your speech. Lewis told us that “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” So let’s go find them.īeginning with a theme and an outline helps focus your speech, which should make it easier for you to write with clarity and to find the right stories and quotations to use. George Saunders said, “Do all the other things, the ambitious things-travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes…but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness.”.Lots of people end with a quotation, and this can be from someone famous or from you. End your graduation speechĮnd with some advice and a call to action. To graduate is to change gradually.” I know we’ve all changed so much already and we will continue to do so. ![]() Share how a lesson you learned at school will help you after you leave, and remind everyone that you have learned much more than what was on the syllabus.Įxample: As Rita Moreno said, “The day you graduate, you do not arrive. If you chose to focus on overcoming adversity, recall a challenge you faced that you know a lot of other people did too. Now is the time to focus on the theme that you chose, and to include stories about your shared experiences. The bulk of your speech will be spent talking about your time at the school and about how you see the future unfolding. You can do a personal shout-out to your mom and dad, but be inclusive and remember that your classmates will have received support from a range of people. Now’s the time to thank the families in the audience too. Thank your teachers and other staff at the school who have made a difference and tell an anecdote about someone to personalize this.Įxample: “I know I speak on behalf of all of my classmates when I thank the catering staff, who have made sure we fuel our brains with more than just fries and soda during exam times.” Now your audience is paying attention, it’s time for gratitude. A speech by James Glaser at Tufts University contained only questions, one being: “Would you believe that my 5’1” sister met her 5’4” husband in a short story class?” This would be a very funny way to begin a speech about meeting special people. Other ways to hook your audience are by telling a short, personal story that your classmates can relate to, or by giving a statistic or question that fits with your theme. ![]() Lots of people choose to begin with a quotation that captures the theme of the whole speech.Įxample: I want to begin with a quotation from Nora Ephron: “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” Then, grab your audience’s attention from the very start with a hook. ![]() A good speech will have the following:īegin by thanking everyone for attending and for choosing you to be their speaker. Breaking it up into manageable parts not only makes it feel less overwhelming, but it helps to give your speech structure, making it easier for the audience to follow. The next step for any commencement speech is to write an outline. Once you have your theme, it will be easier to choose anecdotes, quotations, and examples to put into your speech. Popular themes are the importance of friendship perseverance and overcoming adversity having big dreams and imagination making a difference. But there are lots of ways to do this, and picking the right theme is a big part of it. The overall goal of graduation speeches is to inspire and move your audience.
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