HELP - Commencement Address
 

No, I was not the first choice but I have been asked to provide the commencement address for a local high school. The person that was to speak had a heart attact. Anyway, I received the call while I was in Atlantic City this weekend. I've become so neverous that I came back from my trip early to gather my thoughts. Now, I need your help. In hindsight, what do you wish someone had told you during the commencement address.

To help craft your thoughts, you should consider why the students would think you're important.

If you have no connection to them or can't figure out if you would impress them by your profession, then keep the remarks short and inspiring.

Example..... my high school graduation speaker was then-Representative Floyd Flake (before he became an Alpha). The seniors had nothing to do with inviting him to speak. Our parents sorta groaned when they heard it would be him. I can recall nothing that he said other than the general feeling I had of not being impressed.

Truthfully, I am not sure if anyone I know remembers the content of their 12th grade commencement speaker's speeches.

Anyway, to reiterate....just make it general and short and you will be appreciated -- in hindsight, I don't think a graduation speaker would have taught me anything that my teachers, mentors, and family hadn't already. :)

LOL, considering i come from Floyd Flake territory, that's funny. he made an appearance at my HS graduation to give some random award. he took some pictures and was out. :rolleyes:

as for the OP, i would also keep it short and sweet, since youre the stand-in. and it's probably gonna be a hot and long ceremony - everyone wants to get out of there. maybe you can shout out the guy who was supposed to give the speech, to make some kind of connection?

unless you can think of something really moving and what not, keep it basic.

I just came back about an hour ago from a graduation practice for one of our local high schools!

I agree with what Senusret and tld said. If there is a large group (the group I was with today will consist of nearly 600 graduates) then they want you to get it, hit it, and sit it!

Their graduation is tomorrow evening at 6:30, and then I'll be attending another one Thursday evening as well. If the speakers say anything interesting, I'll come back to post some highlights. When will your ceremony take place?

And my graduation was too doggone long ago to remember anything other than I wore a white dress under my gown!

i am not feeling encouraged - i'm thinking that i will say something wonderful that will make these kids want to change the world. i guess you are right . . . i don't remember what was said or who spoke at my high school graduation.

hahaha, aww, sorry to knock down your hopes and dreams on that one. but seriously, short and sweet. unless you want to be remembered as "that guy who gave the long @ss speech."

Good Luck Bro Professor