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posted: 6/8/2014 6:30 AM

Career Coach: What's the real message of a graduation speech?

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  • Lake Park High School held its graduation Monday, June 2 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

    Brooke Hayes | Staff Photographer


During this time of the year, it is common to hear speeches at various commencement ceremonies -- whether for high school or college graduations or other graduate schools. With so many speeches given by the selected students, alumni and external leaders, what messages are new graduates walking away with?

While graduates may be easily distracted by the ceremony and the celebratory meals and parties with families and friends, they should still come away with at least three things:

A feeling of personal pride, excitement and accomplishment.

A charge or mandate for what they still need to do in the future.

A message of hope and optimism that they can and must make a difference in order to have an impact and improve the world.

Some of the most famous speeches illustrate these key themes. President John Kennedy gave an address at American University in 1963 called "A Strategy of Peace," where he talked about the need for hope and a "can-do" attitude.


Likewise, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, gave the address at Harvard University in 2008. While she is known for speaking about the "fringe benefits of failure," she also eloquently spoke about the impact that graduates, particularly those from a prestigious school can and should have on the world they live in. As she noted:


Steve Jobs, in his speech at Stanford in 2005 focused on these points as well, particularly the charge for the future. By using himself as an example, he emphasized to graduates to find what they love to do for their work, and not just settle with doing anything. As he stated:


So, graduates of today's schools, no matter what topic you studied or where you attended school, heed the advice from these great speeches. As graduates, you are among an elite group of people who had the opportunity to attend school (whether high school, college or graduate school). First, really thank those who supported your journey. Then remember that you are expected to use this experience to not only better your own life situation and your family's, but also to improve the world around you. An opportunity? Absolutely. Yet, your degree is also a responsibility. This is what many commencement speakers hope graduates remember from their speeches: To make each day count and to make a positive difference no matter what you end up doing.


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