Follow the six steps below and you'll have a workable speech ready to be delivered with plenty of time to party afterward. This is a basic, workable skeleton outline for a good valedictorian speech. Add your experiences and make changes that suit your speech style. We've included some sample text for each section of the speech to demonstrate what your valedictory might contain. You're the valedictorian. You can brag a little.
But only a little, because this is an important, memorable day for all your friends and indeed all your foes in your graduating class. Crafting an inspirational valedictorian speech includes everyone in the shared success of the day.
Valedictorian speech themes should focus on your successes as a class, not as a person. Your goal is to create a memorable speech , something that people will recall as a high point of graduation day. The more effectively you can include everybody in the room, the more successful your speech will be. Writing your valedictorian speech might seem like a daunting task, but with enough time, energy, and help from others, you'll be able to write a beautiful speech for graduation day.
For more advice, check out our list of tips for giving a great speech. Remember that how you deliver your speech is almost as important as what you write! Read up and you're sure to lay down some successful oratory. All rights reserved. Writing Your Valedictorian Speech.
General Tips for Valedictorian Speeches There might be no greater honor on graduation day than being named valedictorian. Therefore, our first tip… Breathe : This is the easy part. The hard part? That was the years of constant studying and exam stress. You did it. Revel in it. Exude Confident Humility : A valedictory is formalized bragging, and you have every right to enjoy it. At the same time, just talking about how awesome you are probably isn't going to engage the audience.
A good valedictory is all about hitting the balance between talking about your amazing accomplishments, sharing the lessons you learned, and crediting the people you learned them from. Keep It Short : Graduation ceremonies can drag, even when you're part of them. Keep it concise, then let people celebrate. Keep it to ten minutes, tops. You thought becoming the valedictorian of your high school class was tough?
Great valedictory speeches follow a pattern. They offer a fond reflection on the high school years. They connect with audiences using anecdotes and lots of name-dropping. And they offer gratitude. My fellow graduates. Over the last four years here at [Insert name of high school. And Mr. For example maybe he taught you how to swear in Portuguese. Or maybe he taught you the best way to approach a girl at a dance.
Make it funny but revealing about a beloved teacher. And all of this knowledge will no doubt be valuable as we go forward in life. But I think that the most important thing that we have learned over the last four years is [Insert major theme. Keep the theme simple. People love hearing their names. The average speaker reads about words in a minute. Put your most important message at the end.
This will be the last thing anyone hears, making it the thing they will most likely remember from your speech. This will make it easier to remember. Your message does not have to be philosophical or mundane. It can be humorous. Part 2. Thank people. Even though your speech is for the whole graduating class, take a few moments to thank people specifically for what they did to help you get there. You can make a list of names, including your parents, teachers, and friends. Just remember to be brief, and turn your attention back to the graduates.
Include a few jokes. Adding a few lines in your speech to encourage laughter will help you and your audience get comfortable. These can help personalize your speech, and reference things that most of the audience will recognize. This is a valedictorian speech, not an audition for your stand-up comedy career.
Remember to write them down and rehearse them just like the rest of your speech. Keep it clean. Your audience will include teachers, parents, grandparents, and siblings, including your own, so make sure your jokes are appropriate for all. Reflect on the past. Focus at least part of your speech on things you and your classmates did during your time at school. Graduation is a time to celebrate all that you have done, including finishing high school. Look for sports championships, awards, charity events, anything that you or your classmates accomplished during your time in high school.
Talk about what comes next. Graduation is also a time to look forward to the future. Spend some time talking about what will happen after graduation.
Remember to stay positive, and think about what good will come next. Tell a personal story. One good way to illustrate your theme and tie your story to past experiences is to tell a personal story.
Think about an experience you had in high school that taught you the big lesson from your theme. If it includes your friends, or others in the audience, even better. This is a good way to personalize your big theme, and let your classmates know about your particular high school experience. Avoid cliches. One or two good quotes from famous people can be useful, as long as they relate directly to your main point. Remember that people want to hear you talk, not recite a list of famous lines.
Part 3. Practice your speech. Give yourself a few practice runs beforehand, either in front of a mirror or your friends. This will let you see how long your speech goes and if it is too long , as well as how it actually sounds when you say it out loud.
Wear your cap and gown so you will be comfortable in them, and practice at the podium or where the graduation is, if possible. The more familiar you are with the setting, the more comfortable you will be in giving your speech. Keep it together.
If you feel some tears coming on, take a few deep breaths and grip the podium to distract yourself. Letting one or two tears out can be fine. You can always pass it off by blaming allergies, or make a joke about it being dusty in the room. Enjoy yourself. This is a big moment for you, and it should be a proud one too. If anything, it just might take some of the pressure off of you. Relax, have fun, and stick to your big ideas.
The important thing is that you find a message that you care about and think is important. Sample Serious Valedictorian Speech. Sample Funny Valedictorian Speech. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Lynn Kirkham Public Speaking Coach. Lynn Kirkham.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. Yes, but do not make it the main focus of your speech. Also, do not forget to provide the reason you are thanking them, but keepe it short and sweet. Not Helpful 4 Helpful That depends on how you want them to feel. Graduation is a happy time, so you should avoid weighty or negative topics.
Try to keep focused on positive messages about good memories and hope for the future, to make people feel good about what you have to say. Not Helpful 14 Helpful
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