Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing to start a speech
• Part 2 of 4: Addressing the audience
• Part 3 of 4: Saying thank you
• Part 4 of 4: Starting your speech
• Tips

Speaking in front of large groups of people is always difficult. When speaking at a graduation ceremony, expectations can seem even more intimidating. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. There are many common ways to give a speech, but try to avoid the cliches. Use the usual ways to start a speech as a springboard for your own ideas.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Preparing to start a speech

1. Be prepared. Bring note cards if you have not written down your entire speech. Make sure they are easily accessible. You don't want to mess around on stage for everyone. Make sure you're ready to start once you get there.
2. Focus your speech on your audience. Of course you want to talk about something that is important to you, but a big part of giving a speech is connecting with those who are listening. Try to find the balance between what is important to you and what is important to everyone else. Hopefully there is a big overlap when you are the graduation speaker.
3. Keep calm and exercise. It's normal to be nervous. Part of the preparation, however, is a way to calm your nerves. Try to practice in front of your friends or parents so that you feel comfortable with the rhythm of the words. This way you will be less likely to stumble over your words.

Part 2 of 4: Addressing the audience

1. Make sure you address everyone in the audience. Do not start your speech right away. People expect a little preamble and it's good to warm up your voice first. Speak to the crowd and say good morning, good afternoon, whatever it may be.
   • For example, say something like "Good morning / afternoon / night to the faculty, our administrators and of course my classmates."
2. Address specific people. It is probably a good idea to name the principal of the school. You can also address your parents, or maybe a specific teacher as a joke, or someone who helped you write the speech. This is always a good way to give a speech, and it will help warm you up when you get into it.
   • For example, "I want to thank my grandparents for traveling all the way from Alaska to be here today." or "I want to thank my 1st class teacher, Ms. Janssen, who developed my love for writing poetry."
3. Do not go too fast. Remember that you are just getting started. You will certainly be nervous and nerves will inevitably make you talk faster than you think. Consciously slow yourself down. Take breaks, observe the crowd. While it may be terrifying, understand that everyone is on your side. This is a moment in your life, but there is no pressure! Appreciate the experience for what it is. Do not hurry.
   • Rushing will make your speech harder to hear and sound worse. Pauses can make a good speech great, speeding up can make a good speech terrible.

Part 3 of 4: Saying thank you

1. Thank everyone who helped you get where you are. Starting a speech by thanking people is quite common. In general, you want to end your speech with a message, rather than saying thank you. It's not like a movie where the credits roll at the end. Try to think about who is important to you and who you owe. Who enabled you to give this speech?
2. Thank the school. The school gives you the opportunity to address the entire student council, the teachers and maybe even the board. It is appropriate and recommended to thank your school for providing this platform.
   • For example, "I want to thank our school for always making sure we were prepared for the next step and refusing to drop us"
3. Thank you classmates. These are your colleagues, and they will listen to you and support you. Thank them for their friendship and their role in your school experience. They will appreciate it.
4. Thank your parents. Of course! No doubt your parents have given you tremendous support in your life. This is a small way to express your gratitude. It doesn't take long, just thank them for their help.
   • For example, say, "Thanks to my parents for their support through my many years of academic and extracurricular activities. You have always made it very easy to succeed."

Part 4 of 4: Starting your speech

1. Start with your favorite quote. It changes the mood in the room and gives people a sense of what you'll be talking about. You can make it a really inspiring quote, or something you think is funny. Try to choose something that is relevant to your speech. This is a classic way to give a speech, but that doesn't mean it's a bad way.
2. Think about what you liked most about your school. Whether it was a school trip, a funny moment, or a small detail that you remember, don't forget to include it in the speech. Talking about a specific reminder is a great way to help people focus on your speech. Anecdotes are great ways to start a speech.
   • For example, "I'll always remember Ryan Hoolihan smearing peanut butter on all four sides of his bread at lunch."
3. Think about what you will miss about the school. Use small details (the gravy for lunch, the color of the toilets, etc.) that you think the school would look differently, and include them in your speech. Use these things to illustrate other points that will come later in your talk. Maybe one of your teachers has learned in a way that you really value.
4. Start with humor. Graduation is a sad day, so make sure it's funny to lighten the mood a bit. Don't make silly jokes, but don't be too serious. Naming specific people or agencies by name is a great way to laugh and get started. It will not be a burdensome public.
5. Use your own voice. Don't use difficult vocabulary just because you have to. You want to keep your own voice in the speech as much as possible and avoid sounding too old. You can be formal, but try not to sound like an academic report. You want people to pay attention to what you say.
   • For example, "It's been four years since we've all been to school together, and we still don't know who stole that headrest from the bus on the third-grade field trip - but we've learned many other things"
6. Start by talking about the differences in school from the time you got there to the time you left. This helps people reflect on the time they spent in college. It will also make people feel nostalgic.
7. Give advice. Graduation talks don't have to include advice, but it's a good way to start. You can use your own personal advice or advice someone has given you. By giving advice, you can immediately continue talking.

Tips

• Do not insult anyone during your speech.
• Keep it neat. Even if you're tempted to swear or tell a dirty joke, remember everyone trusts you to speak up there. Do not ruin it.
• Make your speech sound fluid and make it sound like you wrote it, not the internet.