You would agree that the graduation ceremony is a very important moment for everyone involved in it. If you are given the opportunity to give a speech at such an important celebration, of course you should express your gratitude and thanks to all those who have contributed to the success of your education. Want to know some easy tips for composing a concise but meaningful graduation speech? Read on for this article!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Gathering Ideas
Step 1. Make a list of the people you want to thank
This step is important to do so that you don't forget important names when starting to compose a speech! If you're going to be speaking to a large audience, there's no need to mention a specific name if it's not really important to mention. For example, you might say, “Thank you to all the teachers who have guided me so far,” instead of mentioning their names one by one; this method is much more concise and does not run the risk of making certain people feel neglected.
- If your thank-you note is specifically for close friends and relatives, mention their names when saying it.
- Write down the names of everyone that comes to mind. Don't worry, you can edit the list after that.
Step 2. Write down the reasons behind your thanksgiving
If you have long enough time, try to mention some reasons behind your gratitude to your friends, relatives, or teachers at school.
- Give the most honest reason.
- Don't think of overly complicated reasons. For example, you might say, “Thanks to the history teacher for always making me laugh in class,” or “Thanks to my mom for always waking me up every morning.”
- The more sincere your thanks, the better the quality of your speech. Therefore, make sure you take the time to understand how you really feel for these people.
Step 3. Write down any ideas that come to your mind
Try to apply the technique of free writing about your gratitude to the people who have contributed to your educational life. There's no need to think too hard; believe me, by applying a free writing strategy you will actually find ideas or sentences that are sincere and unthinkable before.
- Remember, there is no right or wrong way to gather ideas; Most importantly, keep writing.
- Keep writing for at least 30 minutes or until you run out of material to write about.
- After that, try to assemble all of your ideas into a complete speech.
Part 2 of 3: Composing a Speech
Step 1. Create an opening paragraph
Start your speech with an interesting sentence that is able to capture the attention of the audience. For example, you can start your speech with a rhetorical question, a quote, or a short anecdote. Basically, you can use any strategy as long as it's relevant to the theme of your speech, which is to give thanks on graduation day. Make sure your opening paragraph is only 2-5 sentences long (or 2 paragraphs for speeches that are longer than 5 minutes). Some good examples for you to use:
- Begin your speech with a rhetorical question such as, “What is your greatest gratitude today?”. These questions are called rhetorical because you ask them without requiring the audience to answer them.
- Start your speech with a quote like, “As Willie Nelson once said, 'The wheel of my life turned 180° when I started trying to be grateful.'".
- Begin your speech with an anecdote such as, “This morning was my first morning at this school. Surprisingly, I stayed in front of the classroom door for almost 15 minutes because I was too afraid to enter. This morning was my last morning at this school, and I was also silent in front of the classroom door for the same length of time. But this time, what was on my mind was no longer fear, but endless gratitude.”
Step 2. Create the body of the speech
In the body of the speech, you need to express your gratitude to the closest people who have contributed to your educational life. Go back through your idea notes, read the names of the ones you want to thank, and try to put your entire thank-you note in 1-2 full-sentence paragraphs (or 2-3 paragraphs for speeches longer than 5 minutes). Make sure you don't spend more than 3 sentences thanking one person, unless the service is really important to you.
- You can say, “Thank you to all my friends and family who always encourage me to get back up whenever I feel down.”
- Another example is, “Thanks to Mr. Z for helping me choose a major.”
- The body of the speech is located directly below the opening paragraph.
- Do not insult or attack the audience. Don't be too busy complaining about your personal problems or criticizing others while giving a speech.
Step 3. Summarize the speech
Summarize everything you said in 1-2 whole sentences (or 1 paragraph for speeches that are longer than 5 minutes). Make sure the conclusion of your speech is in line with the theme and is able to show the relevance of all the things you said earlier. Remember, the conclusion is located below the body of the speech and should be presented in a simple format. For example, you might simply say, "Again, thanks for everything."
- Another simple example is, “Once again, I feel very lucky to have such wonderful friends and relatives. Thank you."
- End your speech by saying, “My final thanks go to my dear grandma who has always been there to meet all my needs. Good night."
Step 4. Edit your speech before practicing it out loud
Improve the grammar, delete the parts that are less important, and fix the parts that you think are still not perfect. If you have time, ask a friend, relative, or teacher to read your speech and offer helpful suggestions. If you are satisfied with the result, you can start practicing reading it.
Part 3 of 3: Practicing Speech
Step 1. Print your speech
While it's okay to take it on graduation day, it's best not to stare at your speech notes as you speak. Print your speech on paper that is large enough to make it easier to read. If after printing it turns out that there are still some things that need to be improved, edit and reprint your speech.
Step 2. Read your speech aloud while calculating its duration
Turn on the timer just as you start your speech and observe how much time you spend reading the entire speech. Most likely, your school has determined a certain duration that you must fulfill. If that's not the case, you're the one who needs to set a time limit. Stop the timer when your entire speech is read.
Step 3. Edit your speech to meet the specified duration
If your speech is too long, try to summarize the statements in it and remove the less important parts. After editing a few sentences or ideas, read your speech again while calculating the duration. Do this process until the length of the speech is in accordance with the specified time limit.
Step 4. Practice your speech regularly
Read your speech aloud several times a day until your graduation day arrives. Make sure you also calculate the time so that the duration of your speech is not too long. Trust me, the speed and fluency of your speech will improve if you get used to it.
Step 5. Speak in confident, confident body language
In other words, don't be afraid to smile and make eye contact with your audience; make sure you are also not busy moving like someone who is restless. Control your breathing as you speak and don't say "Um…" or "Uh…" too much. Practice your speech in front of the mirror, in front of a camcorder, or in front of your closest friends; after that, correct the mistakes that appear until your speech feels perfect.
Step 6. Deliver your graduation speech
Remember, make sure you always control your breathing, make eye contact with the audience, and smile when you speak. Take a peek at your notes if you're confused about what to say and enjoy the opportunity to express your gratitude to those closest to you. Have fun!
Tips
- Enjoy the moment because you will only experience it once.
- When giving a speech, make sure you always smile and make eye contact with the audience.
- To reduce the feeling of nervousness, practice your speech regularly.
