I was in several clubs in high school, I was the valedictorian, and I happened to be the youngest in our graduating class. Needless to say, I had to write and give more than one speech at our graduation.
Being asked to give a graduation speech in high school is a tremendous honor and responsibility. It takes a lot of preparation, from planning to writing and editing your speech.
My guide should show you how to write a graduation speech for high school, especially with the examples I’ve included. Follow the template and tips, and you’re sure to receive a standing ovation from your audience.
How Long Is a High School Graduation Speech?
The best high school graduation speeches aren’t long and boring since the ceremonies already take hours. Aim for an address that doesn’t exceed 10 minutes. Keep your audience’s attention and save some for other people’s speeches.
Your graduation speech should only be around 500 to 600 words. You have to read it slowly and articulate the words clearly. One way to keep it shorter is by removing cliches and other unnecessary content.
High School Graduation Speech Template
Essays and speeches usually have three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is a structure you can follow for a memorable high school graduation speech.
Introduction
- Thank people for attending. Acknowledge the presence of your teachers, parents, and fellow graduates.
- Introduce yourself. Not everyone in the room knows you, even if you’re the class valedictorian.
- Catch the audience’s attention by sharing a motivational quote or saying. Your personal narratives and advice will later be based on this saying.
Body
- Recall memorable high school experiences. Anything is worth sharing, whether it’s a simple day in class or your debate competition.
- Encourage classmates not to forget these beautiful memories.
- Share helpful advice for this new chapter of their lives.
Conclusion
- Restate the quote or saying you mentioned in the introduction.
- End with a call to action that will encourage the graduates to make a difference.
- Thank the audience for hearing you out.
How to Write a Graduation Speech for High School
Public speaking takes a lot of preparation. Here are some tips you should follow when writing and delivering a graduation speech for high school.
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Pick a Theme
Inspirational high school graduation speeches leave a mark on people. If you want to create one, try building it around a central message.
Think about everything you experienced in high school and look for patterns. Was high school about learning from mistakes? Or was it about achieving big dreams with small steps? Consider not only what is essential to you but also what is important for your fellow graduates.
Once you have picked a theme, selecting a quote, including advice, and recalling high school memories will be much easier. Here are some popular themes you can consider using for yours, but make sure to choose ones that are relevant to you and/or your class.
- Embracing failure
- Big things take time
- Achieving big dreams with small steps
- Facing change with grace
- Overcoming adversity
- Becoming a lifelong learner
- Being more intentional and responsible for your future
Begin With Gratitude and a Self-Introduction
Once you step on stage, you must start with a few formalities. Know the name of the previous speakers and acknowledge their excellent speeches. Then, thank everyone in attendance, including the teachers, parents, and fellow students.
Say it’s a privilege to speak before the audience on this special day. This is also the best time to introduce yourself.
Don’t assume that everyone in the room knows who you are. State your name and why you were tasked to create the speech. Below is an example.
“Thank you, Mr. Jones, for the wonderful speech. And thank you to the parents, teachers, staff, and fellow graduates in this room who have made the past four years unforgettable. It’s a pleasure to stand in front of everyone and represent the class of 2022 at this address. I am [name], your class valedictorian.”
Make It About Everybody But You
Your graduation speech is not a mini-biography of your accomplishments. Only sprinkle a few personal anecdotes, then include what the four years of high school have been like for the other students. Below is an example.
“Four years ago, we were freshmen walking through the doors of [school name]. While some of us want to be doctors, artists, engineers, and singers in the future, we all had one goal in mind during that time: to leave a mark on the school in the next four years.”
Recall High School Memories
Tap the ceremony’s nostalgia by recalling important events from the past four years. You can include prom, school fairs, and even mundane scenarios. Include hardships, such as the sudden shift to online classes during the pandemic.
If you are a valedictorian, you should know which memories everyone treasures. Try interviewing some of your peers about their best high school memories. Below is an example.
“Every batch of graduates from [school] has a common core memory. For us, it was probably prom 2022. Instead of getting our beauty sleep the night before the dance, everyone stayed in school until 8 PM because of the last-minute changes. While that experience was full of pressure and chaos, we look back on that memory remembering teamwork and dedication.”
Share Advice
Your advice is the most crucial part of the speech. It serves as a call to action the students will follow in the future.
Make sure to keep it positive and remind everyone that anything is possible. You can also advise them to advocate for others and treat everyone equally.
Here’s an example showing what I mean.
“The future is uncertain, and the only thing we can do is be optimistic about it. We learned to stay determined in the past four years, so we can do it again throughout college or our careers.”
Incorporate Your Personality
Just because you’re speaking for the rest of the class and following an outline doesn’t mean your speech should be boring. You can still infuse your personality through humor, anecdotes, and life experiences.
You can also open your address with something funny, as long as it’s appropriate and timely. If you’re a valedictorian, self-deprecating humor will be a hit. Try adding quirky memories from classes that will immerse your audience.
Leave Your Audience Inspired
You are not at the graduation to merely receive your diploma. As a speaker, you need to leave your audience inspired on the next chapter of their lives. Encourage them to find their purpose and make a difference in the world.
Some speakers end their speeches with another quote. Here is the one I used in my high school speech, but there are tons to be found on the internet you can use that might better suit your needs.
- “All our dreams can come true… if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney
Finally, thank everyone for taking the time to listen to your speech. Express gratitude toward your classmates for the memories over the last four years.
Proofread Your Work
Read your writing out loud and fix parts that don’t sound pleasing. Doing so will make your writing more powerful and precise. Look out for flowery language, excessive adjectives, and lengthy sentences.
When editing, make sure to remove cliches from your writing. These are words and phrases that have been overused in speech and writing. These include phrases like “all walks of life,” “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and “two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Try sharing more personal anecdotes and collective memories than tired pieces of advice. This will make the speech more interesting and customized for the audience. Find out what your fellow high school graduates and the rest of the audience want to hear and know, then write it concisely and effectively.
Once you’re done fixing clarity issues, it’s time to fix structural errors. Perform several edits on your speech to remove all spelling and grammar mistakes.
Practice Your High School Graduation Speech
There’s no exact formula for the perfect valedictorian or commencement speech. But if you follow my tips and examples and speak from the heart, your fellow graduates will live by your words as they go about their futures.
Remember to keep your engaging speech positive and inspiring. Recall memories from high school, then make them look forward to creating new ones in their careers or college.