Sample High School Graduation Speeches

From LoveToKnow Teens

As you prepare for your high school graduation, sample high school graduation speeches can give you some inspiration for creating the perfect speech to commemorate this special day.

Effective Speech Writing

How can you write an effective speech? What ideas should be incorporated into a speech to really have an affect on your audience? Let's face it. Speeches are often boring. In many cases, the audience often shuts down until the person they've come to watch is featured. The speech segment of a graduation ceremony is often something that is endured, just a portion of the event that must be tolerated until the actual handing out of diplomas.

If you are slated to give a speech, however, you want people to really listen and maybe even walk away from this event with a memory of what was said. How do you do this? How can you inspire others? How can you pique your audience's interest? Sample high school graduation speeches can often provide great inspiration, with ideas that vary from humorous to nostalgic. What makes an effective speech?

Points to Consider
  • Steer away from generic topics.

Sure, you are focusing on future goals and expectations, but these are the type speeches that immediately cause an audience to lose interest.

  • Tell stories.

Don't just read your speech,tell your speech, interspersing emotional stories that tug at the heartstrings or inspire positive actions for the future.

  • Include everyone.

Don't just speak to the academic achievers, the sports stars, and the popular crowd. Your topic should be all inclusive of your graduating class.

  • Grab your audience's attention.

A good speech grabs the audience's attention and never lets that attention go. Start off with an attention grabbing question, or make a strong statement that provokes curiosity about where the speech is going. Don't be afraid to use humor in your speech.

  • Know your audience.

Even though parents, faculty, and members of the community will be on hand, the main focus of your speech should pertain to your fellow classmates. Speak to them!

Using Sample High School Graduation Speeches

Finding and using sample high school graduation speeches doesn't mean you copy them word for word. Read a variety of speeches, and think about what you like in each speech. What portion of each speech attracts your interest? Which portions do you dislike or find boring? What part of the speech is inspirational?

  • As you review each speech, highlight the parts you'd like to revamp for your own speech.
  • Create a folder of possible ideas for your speech that you can review later.
  • Keep copies of really good sample speeches and quotes, and consider how you can recreate that speech to make it your own.
  • Once you've written a rough draft of your speech, try it out on some of your peers, and ask for their honest opinions. Ask them to be specific on their likes and dislikes regarding your graduation speech.

The following is a list of sites that offer sample graduation speeches. Remember, if you find a speech that you really like, think about why you like it, and then try to incorporate those positive aspects into the theme of your speech.

  • 123HelpMe- You'll find a variety of sample speeches on this site. Some you'll like, and some you'll want to forget, but this site is worth checking out.
  • Speech Topics, Help & Advice- This is a very comprehensive speech site with categories such as "persuasive", "motivational", "school", and "graduation."
  • John Hersey High School Speech- While this isn't a site featuring numerous speeches, it is an excellent example of a speech that grabs an audience's attention!
  • Conan O'Brien's Harvard Graduation Speech- While this speech was given at a university graduation ceremony instead of a high school, it is a great example of how a speech can be both funny and insightful.

Can you write a speech that will one day be considered an inspiration for others to copy? Of course! Take your time, and think about what you really want people to hear!

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