I love this example high school graduation speech which was sent in by Safiya from Saudi Arabia. It honors, parents, teachers and other students, and looks back over the ups and downs of school life.
And like all good speeches, it contains a great, inspirational quote, providing food for thought and making the speech memorable.
Use Safiya's speech to give you ideas about what to say on YOUR big day.
Thank you, Safiya, for sharing your speech with us.
Good evening everyone. First of all, I would like to say that I am very honored to have been given the opportunity to present this speech.
Wow, we're finally graduating!
Thank you to everyone present here. Thank you to everyone who is part of the school. Thank you to our supportive principal _____ Thank you to our teachers and parents and families and friends.
You all have helped shape us into the people you see today, and I can say in total confidence that without you we would have become very different.
As students and friends, we have made many memories together, many good and some bad, most of which we can now look back upon and laugh!
We went through so much during the past decade. We often clashed over what some might call trivial situations. And despite the fighting, we never hesitated to have each other's backs. I consider myself lucky to have met you all and to be part of the strong bond we have created.
We have had some of the best teachers, who truly cared about us and taught us with passion. They gave everything they had in hopes of molding great contributors to society.
Fellow graduates, I have known you for a long time, and I know that each and every one of you has something special.
You all are creative and smart in many different ways, so please promise me that - no matter how cliché this sounds - you will never doubt yourselves.
Alan Alda once said, "Don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Laugh at yourself, but don't doubt yourself."
I am counting on seeing you conquer life in your own fantastic way. And I know we will keep in touch inshallah!
Up until recently, I felt apprehensive whenever I thought of finishing school and starting a new chapter. But standing here today after going through the senior year, I am filled with ecstasy and excitement to venture into another world and offer all I have.
I hope the school always nurtures better seniors and I wish them luck.
Thank you again, and I hope you will hear good things from us in the near future.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2018!!
Our sample graduation speech exemplifies some of the key elements discussed in our guide. The speaker starts with a heartfelt introduction, expressing their honor and gratitude for being able to present the speech. This is an excellent way to commence, as it sets a humble and appreciative tone.
The speaker then proceeds to acknowledge various groups, from the school administration to teachers, parents, families, and friends. Such acknowledgments are important, as they recognize the collective efforts that contributed to the students' journey.
The speech also incorporates shared memories, drawing attention to the good, the bad, and the humorous instances that the students have experienced together. This aspect creates a sense of unity and nostalgia, essential for a memorable valedictorian speech.
In addition, the speaker shares an inspirational quote by Alan Alda, encouraging their peers not to doubt themselves. This adds a motivational element to the speech, inspiring the graduates to believe in their abilities as they move into the next stage of their lives. If you need to find a quote, you can begin with a search on the net or use a book of inspirational quotes. "The Complete Book of Inspirational Quotations: A Collection of Quotes Designed to Inspire and Motivate" Kindle Edition is affordably priced on Amazon. Teen Vogue lists 131 Graduation Quotes that they consider "Legit Inspiring."
Finally, the speech concludes on a hopeful note, expressing excitement for the future and wishing luck to upcoming seniors. A warm conclusion like this leaves the audience with positive feelings and a sense of closure.
This sample speech provides a great template to follow when writing your own graduation speech. By incorporating gratitude, shared memories, inspirational messages, and a hopeful conclusion, you can craft a speech that will resonate with your peers and create a lasting impact on your graduation day.