As high school graduation quickly approaches for many seniors out there, now is the perfect time to address some of the things that I've heard a little too often in graduation speeches. Granted, every school has a different format and way of doing their speeches, but there are always a few things to consider before giving a speech in front of so many people. Whether you're one of many students giving a speech, or the sole speaker for your class, hopefully these things will guide you when writing your speech.
1. Don't use clichés.
You all know exactly what I'm talking about. "Let us look forward by looking back," or "You'll look back on these days as the best in your life," and my personal favorite, "This is the first day of the rest of our lives." I've heard them all, and they aren't any less annoying each time I hear them. Not only are they tiresome, but they don't exactly personalize your speech with your class.
2. Keep the acknowledgements to a minimum.
We all know someone who has used their grad speech to excessively shoutout certain people. I'm not saying not to give a quick thanks to your parents, or that one teacher that really stood out to you. All I'm saying is that no one cares about your childhood friend who helped you after you fell off your bike. Or every member of your family who gave you great advice. Thank those people on your own time.
3. Stop sharing so many personal stories.
On the same topic of keeping acknowledgements to a minimum, keep the personal stories to yourself as well. Of course, if you have one that your entire class can relate to, or one that has a strong message, that's different. But if it's something that you and maybe a few close friends did, it's going to be hard for the rest of the student body to relate to and even concentrate on what you're saying.
4. Make sure your speech isn't too long.
Odds are, if you're giving a graduation speech, your advisors are going to want it to be long enough to get a message across, but short enough to keep everyone's attention. Take their advice. There have been numerous studies that show that most people lose interest in a speech after the first couple of minutes. Plus add to the fact that you'll probably be in either a packed building or outside in the heat, people are going to stop listening after a while.
5. Remember that your speech is ultimately for your class.
Graduation isn't about you, your parents, or your teachers. It's about your entire class as a whole, so be sure to address it as such. Putting in too much of your own personal things will end up disassociating yourself with your class, which is certainly not the point of a graduation speech. If you think about it, in 20 years, no one is going to remember exactly what you said in your speech. But if it's relatable to them in the moment, they'll remember how it made them feel, resulting in a lasting impact!
