by Sonia West

Like in most movies, the valedictorian channels a lot of energy and pressure into writing and drafting the perfect words to motivate and inspire their peers before moving on to the next stage of their careers.

Have you ever asked yourself, how do I write my graduation speech? What are the necessary components and elements of writing mentioned online to write speech for my big day?

You need to know that all your questions are valid because writing the perfect speech requires patience, time, and the creative skill of storytelling. From the hours of searching online for the ideal topic to resonate with the event to the ongoing research for exciting and motivating quotes and catchphrases, drafting something good is no child’s play.

You could also ask yourself, ‘will it not be easier if I hired a content writer online to write a speech for me?’. As appealing and easy as this may sound, you need to understand that nobody can tell your story better than you; therefore, one of the best ways is to write it yourself.

Here’s all you need to know about graduation speech writing.

What is a Graduation Speech?

It is written to reminiscence and celebrate your experiences and accomplishments, and inspire and motivate you to take charge of your future.

As the valedictorian, knowing what to say in a farewell speech allows you to send forth your peers with wit and wisdom. It is ok to fuss over trying to make your address perfect; however, you must put some important components into perspective.

Essential Components of a Speech

1. Simple and Concise: Your speech for graduation should be easy to understand and brief; you want people to stay calm in the middle of your significant address.

1. Infuse Memories: Chip in all the sweet, sad, touching, and hilarious memories. Remember, your goal is to write a speech that creates a nexus between your experience and the future. Make mention of the pot luck your class organised in the 5th grade or the fun Parent and Teachers car wash you put together to raise money for charity in the 8th; the idea is to tug on their emotions with shared and memorable events.

1. Present Reflection: Your speech should reflect on how far your class has come together and where you are now. Feel free to throw in accomplishments and significant wins.

The Future: In talking about the future, you can slip in words of wisdom, motivational quotes, and sage advice to give it a good finish.

Commencement Speech Outline

Just like in any other form of writing, creating a comprehensive graduation speech outline is essential. Not only because it makes you an organised writer, but also because it allows you to think clearly and maintain a steady flow of thoughts.

The internet provides you with different articles on how to improve grades and develop your killer speech-writing skills. Still, sourcing articles on how to write a good graduation speech might be a little tasking.

Here is a simple outline when writing an inspirational speech; however, feel free to create your own template to suit your writing style.

• Introduction: This is your opening statement; beginning with an ice-breaker that will catch your audience’s attention is essential. Start by thanking the authorities, teachers, and classmates for the fantastic opportunity and honour. You can then introduce yourself and state that you were selected among your peers to give the speech.
• Opening Quote: Here, you must conduct adequate research as to the best and most efficient quote or narrative that resonates with your journey so far, something your classmates can relate to.
• Reminisce: As stated earlier, looking back on old memories creates a sense of nostalgia and fulfillment. Point out all the good, the bad, the sweet, and the naughty experiences with all your accomplishments. If possible, refer to memories as far back as kindergarten, elementary school, and even middle school. This will most likely bring tears to their eyes.
• Motivation and Advice: After creating an emotional atmosphere, you must build up the emotion of your listeners with relevant and motivating life nuggets and advice that will help your peers in the next stage of their lives.

Remember that the goal is to maintain a positive atmosphere; therefore, your advice should be positive and realistic.

• Call to Action: After the motivation and advice, you have to create a sentence or a simple statement that will cheer them on to do great things, and they can hold on to it for the rest of their lives. A statement as simple as; “YES, YOU CAN!” is an example of a perfect motivational call to action.
• Conclusion: Thank your teachers and classmates again for making your academic journey successful. Then thank them for the relationships made and valuable lessons learned.

How to Start a Graduation Speech

There are different ways to start a graduation speech. As stated earlier, the beginning of your speech is the most crucial aspect of giving a perfect address. Therefore, to ensure that your lesson starts on a solid foundation upon which you will build the other parts of your speech, you must carefully pick your central theme. Your theme must represent a story that your audience can relate to; it could be a shared experience, relationships shared, the school mascot, the school building, or anything that is of sentimental value to you and your peers.

Afterward, you must gather as much relevant information as possible to speak confidently and adequately to grab your audience’s attention. One fun and exciting way to do this is to brainstorm with your friends and write down all the events and memories you can remember. Take note of all the social events and memorable landmarks.

Next, you must draft your speech in a format that works for you. You can use the general form to discuss experiences, the present, and the future. You could also reflect on the present, reminisce on the past, and discuss the future. Whichever style you choose would work well if you get comfortable with it.

In as much as giving a speech from the heart might sound appealing, it is too risky, and in most cases, they never go as well as you planned it out in your head. It is, therefore, safer to stick to the manuscript format. The manuscript format prevents you from getting overwhelmed with anxiety and pressure; you can go over it several times to immerse yourself in the tone of the address. Even famous guest speakers still use manuscripts while delivering speeches; despite their years of expertise, they’d rather not take any chances.

How to Write Graduation Speech

What makes a good graduation speech? Let us dive into the main thing. Here we discuss the essential tips for writing a graduation speech. These tips are:

1. Base your writing on a popular and relatable theme
2. Write your opening statement with gratitude and grace
3. Write motivational quotes from famous people
4. Do not be afraid to get personal
5. The tone should be fun, nostalgic, and optimistic about the future.
6. Write about how far you have come and what the future has in store.
7. Avoid clichés and unrealistic statements
8. Carefully create an inspiring call to action
9. It should be brief and concise
10. Practice your manuscript continuously to perfect your speaking flow and tone.

Ways to End a Graduation Speech

How to end a graduation speech? Your closing remark is one that your audience will most likely remember and take away from the event. It is, therefore, crucial that you make it unforgettable.

The end is your conclusion, so it must be engaging, simple, and straightforward. There are three main elements of a perfect ending, and these are:

• Summarize your main ideas: Your ending must summarize your entire write-up in short, simple phrases, laying solid and simple emphasis on your main point and view.
• Call to action: After summarizing your main idea and motivating your audience, it is vital that you clearly and emphatically state your call to action. This statement must be a unanimous special force that draws the attention of your audience to the particular message you are trying to pass through the main idea.
• End on a positive note: Rile the emotions of your audience with a mind-stirring rhetorical question at the end that will leave your parents, classmates, and everyone present excited and on their feet, rendering a standing ovation.

Graduation Party Speech Samples

When writing a graduation speech like in the movies, the best example to model your address after should be those in the movies! One important tip that resonates throughout all the iconic movie farewell speeches is that for you to write a beautiful address, you must write from your heart, with all the emotion and passion you can muster.

Here are some movie graduation speech examples you can garner inspiration from:

•    Night School (2018),
•    Book Smart (2019),
•    Never Have I Ever (Season 3, Episode 10) (2020)

Tips for Writing A Graduation Speech

How to make a graduation speech?

A critical tip for making a good farewell speech is to practice and practice before the graduation party; this will increase your confidence and minimise your use of filler words on the stage.

How to give a graduation speech?

When sharing inspirational remarks, remember to lighten up and throw in a few inside jokes here and there to reduce the pressure. However, note that it is not a roast or a comedy show, so one or two jokes will do.

What to say in a graduation speech?

It must include shared and realistic experiences that your audience can resonate with, as this builds a connection between you and your audience.

What can be a visual aid?

This depends largely on the venue for your graduation ceremony, but the use of a visual aid makes your presentation more attractive and appealing. Visual aids such as slide shows of your classmates, videos from events and social gatherings, and baby pictures from kindergarten will add a sprinkle of originality to your message.