Being a valedictorian doesn’t necessary mean you will be a good public speaker. You may be an expert on ancient Greece but that won’t necessarily make you a Socrates. He, after, all was the one who said “To speak is easy, to speak well more difficult.
As a valedictorian your speech should reflect the fact that you are an excellent student. You need to have an opening that will catch the attention of your audience. You might decide to use a relevant saying or ask a question or state an unusual fact. You should, of course, mention your fellow students and how you studied together… You ought to give thanks where they are due, whether it’s to parents or guardians. Your speech should, however, always reflect on your own experiences in college and on the course from which you have graduated.
You may, for instance, be talking at a nursing graduation pinning ceremony. You may be a mature student who has achieved a lifetime’s ambition by graduating. Theology or Tourism may have been your area of interest. Whatever the subject like all graduates you will feel relief, excitement and a little apprehension about what lies ahead. Your speech should I reflect such feelings. Finally whatever you say or however you say it you should end your speech with a good luck wish to your fellow graduates.

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The Arizona State University won’t but Notre Dame will give President Obama an honorary doctorate when he speaks at their commencement ceremonies. In Kansas they don’t think he has been long enough President to do anything to warrant it. In Notre Dame the only speakers they invite to their commencements are those they already feel deserve the honour.
Whatever about the President thousands of student graduate every year and they are sure of receiving their degrees. Deans and guest speakers will address those who graduate in media studies or environmental studies… In fact whatever students study whether it be nursing, theology or social studies they will undoubtedly receive that important bit of paper that shows the world they have qualified at long last. Whether or not they listen to the words of advice from the speaker is, of course, something else.
Unlike the students of course the President doesn’t need that to show any prospective employer his qualification. He already has the job. The two universities obviously though have different ideas on that. It gives a whole new meaning to the glass being half empty or half full doesn’t it?

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Has it ever occurred to you that graduation day is a day when new ideas are let loose on the world? Every graduate has his or her own thoughts and beliefs on a chosen subject and is ready to change the world in his or her own particular way. Take the landscape architect for instance. He or she has studied and trained to beautify our world. Perhaps the graduate will work for the municipal authorities and create improved streetscapes or wonderful parks. He or she may choose to work privately but the gardens or grounds he or she designs will translate those new ideas and make them a reality.

A graduate might, on the other hand, qualify in sports science and health and so encourage others to partake in sports and to lead healthier lifestyles. In a field where ideas or constantly changing he or she may bring to some sporting organisation new ideas on fitness and health.

Media studies graduates are the obvious choice when it comes to communication of ideas to the locality, the state or indeed a country. Through their writing or their involvement in radio or television they will be airing their ideas to an audience who may be influenced by their programmes or their articles.

Whether a graduate graduates in classics or business administration he or she will have an influence in his or her particular field. He or she will have new ideas and enthusiastically put them into practise. He or she will talk to those already in the field and share his or her ideas. The changes that happen as a result may be small or huge but the world will be a different place when those graduates leave college bursting with enthusiasm and full of ideas to share.

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This is the time of the year that teachers or guest speakers often address students. They may be giving graduation speeches but they may also be speaking to students who are not graduating. Such a speech should be motivational, inspirational or persuasive in tone. They might speak to them about how to challenge themselves and reap the rewards or something more practical such as suggesting that they plant a tree and help reforest the earth. You might tell them to live each day as if it were their last or persuade them to be blood donors. You might explain the joys of volunteering or the enjoyment to be got by learning to swim. For older students how to be successful is a very relevant topic. Whatever the topic give them something to remember, discuss and hopefully they may even act upon your suggestions.

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Whether you are giving a graduation speech, a wedding speech or a persuasive speech you should always speak with sincerity. You must believe in what you are saying. So if you cannot say the bride’s mother has been caring you might, with truth, be able to mention the fact that she had an excellent eye for colour or was a great cook, talents which her daughter has obviously inherited. If you believe that graduates are in for a tough time because of an economic recession you should not say everything in the garden looks rosy. Instead your speech as a Dean should offer suggestions on how to overcome the recession. If you are giving a persuasive speech you should choose a topic in which you believe. If you are anti abortion for instance that should shine through your speech.

So be honest and be sincere and your audience will respect you for it.

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As a valedictorian you are graduating with honours but will your valedictory speech reflect this? You may be a genius at maths or an expert on law but that does not mean that you are a competent speechwriters. Your valedictory speech should laud your fellow students and speak meaningfully of the education you have received. You should give gracious thanks to tutors, family or those who helped you attain your education. It should have some humour and a little pathos. Above all it should be optimistic, speaking of the golden future that lies ahead.

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Graduation Commencement Speeches.
I’ve been looking around for a few variations on these. I mean how many times can you say ‘reach for the stars’ ? Unsurprisingly there are few speakers who tell it as it is, ie: it’s going to be a hell of a struggle and statistically 10% of you will be dead in the next ten years. All the graduates want to hear is short, short, short. There is one ray of hope I came across. It’s from Dr Suess and it’s called, ‘Oh, the places You’ll Go’ http//www.mit.edu/people/adorai/seuss/seussboy.html’ - check it out.

It’s pretty cool and perhaps a work of genius. Would make a hell of a commencement speech though.

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