As commencement approaches, prospective graduates and their parents are beginning their graduation celebration preparation. In some cases, a commencement speech may be needed, or just a fun or inspirational quote to use for a toast at the graduation party. These quotes are some of my all time favorites that can also be used in greeting cards to the graduate, for use in invitations to graduation, or to simply celebrate this coming of age accomplishment in the life of any graduate.
1. You have brains in your head, You have shoes on your feet. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you want. You are the guy to decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss, beloved author of Horton Hears a Who and Cat in the Hat.
As you approach graduation, whether it be from high school or college, you are now equipped with the knowledge of your education, the teachings of your parents and your own experience has brought you to a place where now you can start to decide for yourself which direction you want to go in. Will you join the military? Attend college? Get a job? Now, you are the only one who directs your steps from this point on.
2.Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After twenty-two years of child raising, they are now unemployed. – Erma Bombeck
This is too true, as my own son graduated from high school I attended the ceremony as the proud parent. Hours later at dinner and other celebratory events I realize my 18 year old son is grown now and will be making his own decisions. I may be unemployed as a parent, but I sure “ain’t” getting unemployment compensation!
3.A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that ‘individuality’ is the key to success. -Robert Orben
How often do we attend the graduation ceremony of our family or friends only to be unable to actually determine which one they are among the sea of black gowns and red tassels? As I attended my son’s graduation, I realized three or four pictures into it I was actually taking pictures of the wrong person. It is just one more contradiction of our educational system, where we teach knowledge as a group, then turn around and ask them to use it as individuals.
And nothing proves this more than the groans and sighs of our graduates as they open up the results of their ACT or SAT college entrance exam scores.
5.To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too may one day be president of the United States. — George W. Bush
Need I say more? Mediocrity at it’s very best, awarded and celebrated. Don’t work too hard in college, after all there is drinking and party-ing to be done, and look where getting excellent grades got those before you.
6.I will try to follow the advice that a university president once gave a prospective commencement speaker. “Think of yourself as the body at an Irish wake” he said. “They need you in order to have the party, but no one expects you to say very much.” – Anthony Lake
To our commencement speakers, congratulations on all that you have achieved, but try not to linger on it today of all days. Your achievements are obvious in your tassels and accessories to your gown. Also, we all know who you are, your name is in the program and you are the only one with something to say today other than shaking a hand and saying, “Thank you.”
7.Your families are extremely proud of you. You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money. -Gary Bolding
Parents, friends and relatives — this is perfect for including in your invitations to the party and ceremony. After all, at what other point in time can we truly expect our child to receive hundreds of dollars for graduating from the education that we paid for?
8. At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards. My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros.- Paul Freund
And if you can’t wait for that moment to be bold, make sure to express yourself with puffy paint, glitter and your most inventive clip art possible on top of your square shaped mortarboards and exuberantly throw them in the air in celebration.
9. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance! -Andy McIntyre
As you contemplate the cost of your college education, as it looms before you, just remember how much more you will lose in life by not pursuing your dreams — and taking that chance to make as much money as possible with your college degree.
10. All our dreams can come true…if we have the courage to pursue them. — Walt Disney
Now that you have graduated what are you going to do? I bet it won’t be a trip to Disney World. But now is the time to pursue all those dreams you have dreamed during your education. There is no more “What if?” but only “I can.”
As each of you, parents and prospective graduates anticipate the joys of this day, remember it is a new beginning in life. Think of your education as learning to ride a bike, it is something you will never forget. And now you get to drive a car in the fast lane and achieve all your hopes and dreams.
