When I graduated from high school in 1995, I was the senior class valedictorian. With this honor came the highly coveted opportunity to address a 2500-member crowd of my peers and their families about the past four years as well as the uncharted territory that lay ahead.
On the day of graduation, the weather that day was a hot and muggy. Despite the hours that I spent pressing the natural curls from my hair, the humidity inflated my hair-do like a hot air balloon. Not exactly the look I was going for to deliver my landmark speech. Thank goodness for graduation caps and bobbi pins to diffuse the fluff that was growing by the moment beneath it.
The opening of the ceremony came and went and it was finally my turn to address the crowd. Suddenly my eyes zeroed in on the only place in the room that could offer any comfort…my family. I looked at my father’s face. He’d travelled 1,000 miles to see me that day. My mother beamed with pride as this was a culmination of all of her hard work, raising me as a single parent. I saw my sister’s head rise and fall as she took a deep breath, her offering as a silent reminder that I could do anything I put my mind to. I looked at my boyfriend’s face who smiled anxiously as he waited for the procession of memories to flow from my mouth.
During my speech, I saw the faces of friends responding with laughter and sometimes tears. They cheered me on as I’d sought to inspire them toward the days ahead. I reminded them of the fact that we had a duty to accomplish. We owed it to ourselves to attempt every impossible goal and support each other as we chased these pursuits. I wrapped up my speech with a mark of my own hope for a new identity. I said, “When someone asks who I am, I want to say more than just my name. I want to be able to say that I am a God-fearing, self-sufficient, goal-oriented, positive individual with goals set higher than any mountain or any cloud.”
The room erupted with thunderous applause. Nothing like a standing ovation to seal the words that I’d said about the outlook for the future being one where I saw myself emerge as a leader of crowd. It changed the way that I saw myself, not just because I had the courage to proclaim it before a couple thousand people. I was awe-struck by their support of my plan.
After my speech was over, I’ll never forget the words that my favorite principal uttered with tears in her eyes. She said greeted me just behind the curtain and said, “I haven’t been inspired like that in a long time. I thank you for your bravery out there.”
So if I could offer any words of advice to prepare for your glorious moment of commencement speaking, I would say the following things are very important:
Give yourself time to reflect. If you’re tasked with the job to wow the crowd with words that really make an impact, be thoughtful about it and take your time. Compiling the experiences that will inspire will take time so give yourself time to develop your speech.
Speak slowly. Give your audience an opportunity to absorb the words you’re saying. Carefully injected pauses will emphasize the words that you really want to drive home.
Be sincere. Sincerity will take you where jokes can’t. Finding your way to an honest and humble account of your experiences is something that everyone can appreciate.
Aim to inspire. At a time when everyone in the room is thinking about change and daring to dream big, reassurance that we’re all in the same boat but we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to goes a long way.
Enjoy the moment. The most important aspect of commencement ceremonies is relishing the experience of the great times of the past and the joy of looking ahead. Don’t spoil the fun by over-thinking your game plan. Just enjoy your moment and the pleasure of accomplishing your own goal…graduation.
