Making a Graduation Speech

If you've accepted an invitation to make a graduation speech, you're taking on a tough task. As speeches go, the graduation speech is probably second only to the eulogy as a challenge.

Think about it.   

The graduates are eager to get through the ceremony and start the graduation parties.

Family and friends of the graduates are often packed into an auditorium or even a gym where the seats and the climate may be uncomfortable. They don't want to hang around long either.

Considering this, how do you write and deliver a graduation speech they'll be glad they heard?

Here are some graduation speech tips.

Writing the Graduation Speech

Keep it short. Graduation audiences start getting restless at 15 minutes, and downright resentful at 20.

Know your audience. What are their interests and values? Look for subject matter that will appeal to them.

Write your thoughts down on small sheets of paper or index cards. Stack them, edit them, and organize them into an outline.

Craft a message or use a theme. What do you know, through experience or education, that the graduates don't? What lesson have you learned that will be instructive and valuable to them?

Use anecdotes and stories to illustrate your points. Personal stories are best if you have good ones. But stories you've heard about other people will work well if they're relevant and interesting.

Did I mention keep it short?

Be careful trying to use humor. Very few speakers are good at it. Avoid inserting jokes into your graduation speech just to try to get a laugh, because very often it doesn't work and it only damages your credibility.

Speaking of damaging your credibility, avoid using superlatives. They get old fast.

Avoid cliches.

Use relevant quotations.

Ahhh...let's see. Oh, make sure to keep it short.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice your graduation speech in front of a mirror, into a digital or tape recorder, or best of all, using a video recorder. Critique yourself.

Record your entire graduation speech if possible, burn it onto a CD, and listen to it over and over in your car (especially if you're subject to a long commute)

Test all stories, anecdotes and attempts at humor on friends, family or co-workers and associaties. Gauge their reaction to what you say. Ask them to be brutally honest.

Time your speech. Don't just guess. Edit as necessary.Remember what I said above: keep it short.

The Technical Stuff

Scout the setting. Make sure you check out the sound system and lighting so you know what to expect. I know a speaker who had a bright spotlight on him during his speech. In fact the light was so bright, he had trouble adjusting his eyes as he as he shifted his gaze from the audience to the paper his speech was written on. You don't want last minute surprises like that.

Avoid using audio visual aids in a graduation speech. Unless you're working with a company that's been hired to run audio visuals for the event, you're inviting disaster with each technical element you introduce.

Decide whether you want to read your speech word for word from a "script," or ad lib from an outline. This is a personal choice. But in either case, use large type and leave plenty of white space on your script or cards. White space helps keep you from losing your place.

"And That's a Wrap"

One final thought on graduation speeches. If you've read everything above and you're still concerned about finding relevant stories, anecdotes, quotes and other material, go to the Internet. There's plenty of free information available, and there are also lots of inexpensive books and audio programs you can buy. There are even companies you can hire to write your entire speech for a modest fee (see below).

Despite its challenges, it's not impossible to write and deliver a memorable, relevant, interesting and even entertaining graduation speech. Use the resources at your disposable, and above all remember to (guess what) keep it short.

Download a 28 page PDF explanation about making a dazzling presentation, written by one of the most successful public speakers in America? Click on Get Applause Now.