example of dedication speech for school

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18.2 Special-Occasion Speeches

Learning objectives.

• Identify the different types of ceremonial speaking.
• Describe the different types of inspirational speaking.

M+MD – Birthday Speech – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Many entertaining speeches fall under the category of special-occasion speeches. All the speeches in this category are given to mark the significance of particular events. Common events include weddings, bar mitzvahs, awards ceremonies, funerals, and political events. In each of these different occasions, speakers are asked to deliver speeches relating to the event. For purposes of simplicity, we’ve broken special-occasion speeches into two groups: ceremonial speaking and inspirational speaking.

Ceremonial Speaking

Ceremonial speeches are speeches given during a ceremony or a ritual marked by observance of formality or etiquette. These ceremonies tend to be very special for people, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they are opportunities for speech making. Let’s examine each of the eight types of ceremonial speaking: introductions, presentations, acceptances, dedications, toasts, roasts, eulogies, and farewells.

Speeches of Introduction

The first type of speech is called the speech of introduction , which is a minispeech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and his or her speech. Few things are worse than when the introducer or a speaker stands up and says, “This is Joe Smith, he’s going to talk about stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls flat. Audiences won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Joe’s speech.

Just like any other speech, a speech of introduction should be a complete speech and have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion—and you should do it all in under two minutes. This brings up another “few things are worse” scenario: an introductory speaker who rambles on for too long or who talks about himself or herself instead of focusing on the person being introduced.

For an introduction, think of a hook that will make your audience interested in the upcoming speaker. Did you read a news article related to the speaker’s topic? Have you been impressed by a presentation you’ve heard the speaker give in the past? You need to find something that can grab the audience’s attention and make them excited about hearing the main speaker.

The body of your introductory speech should be devoted to telling the audience about the speaker’s topic, why the speaker is qualified, and why the audience should listen (notice we now have our three body points). First, tell your audience in general terms about the overarching topic of the speech. Most of the time as an introducer, you’ll only have a speech title and maybe a paragraph of information to help guide this part of your speech. That’s all right. You don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the main speaker’s speech; you just need to know enough to whet the audience’s appetite. Next, you need to tell the audience why the speaker is a credible speaker on the topic. Has the speaker written books or articles on the subject? Has the speaker had special life events that make him or her qualified? Lastly, you need to briefly explain to the audience why they should care about the upcoming speech.

The final part of a good introduction is the conclusion, which is generally designed to welcome the speaker to the lectern. Many introducers will conclude by saying something like, “I am looking forward to hearing how Joe Smith’s advice and wisdom can help all of us today, so please join me in welcoming Mr. Joe Smith.” We’ve known some presenters who will even add a notation to their notes to “start clapping” and “shake speakers hand” or “give speaker a hug” depending on the circumstances of the speech.

Now that we’ve walked through the basic parts of an introductory speech, let’s see one outlined:

Specific Purpose: To entertain the audience while preparing them for Janice Wright’s speech on rituals.

Introduction: Mention some common rituals people in the United States engage in (Christmas, sporting events, legal proceedings).

Main Points:

• Explain that the topic was selected because understanding how cultures use ritual is an important part of understanding what it means to be human.
• Janice Wright is a cultural anthropologist who studies the impact that everyday rituals have on communities.
• All of us engage in rituals, and we often don’t take the time to determine how these rituals were started and how they impact our daily routines.

Conclusion: I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Wright at the regional conference in Springfield last month, and I am excited that I get to share her with all of you tonight. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wright (start clapping, shake speaker’s hand, exit stage).

Speeches of Presentation

The second type of common ceremonial speech is the speech of presentation . A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor. Speeches of presentation can be as simple as saying, “This year’s recipient of the Schuman Public Speaking prize is Wilhelmina Jeffers,” or could last up to five minutes as the speaker explains why the honoree was chosen for the award.

When preparing a speech of presentation, it’s always important to ask how long the speech should be. Once you know the time limit, then you can set out to create the speech itself. First, you should explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is important. Second, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the award to be bestowed. Did the person win a race? Did the person write an important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight his or her work. Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well. While you don’t want to steal the show away from winner (as Kanye West did to Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, for example http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/435995/taylor-swift-wins-best-female-video.jhtml#id=1620605 ), you may want to highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

Speeches of Acceptance

The complement to a speech of presentation is the speech of acceptance . The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor. For example, in the above video clip from the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, Taylor Swift starts by expressing her appreciation, gets interrupted by Kanye West, and ends by saying, “I would like to thank the fans and MTV, thank you.” While obviously not a traditional acceptance speech because of the interruption, she did manage to get in the important parts.

There are three typical components of a speech of acceptance: thank the givers of the award or honor, thank those who helped you achieve your goal, and put the award or honor into perspective. First, you want to thank the people who have given you the award or honor and possibly those who voted for you. We see this done every year during the Oscars, “First, I’d like to thank the academy and all the academy voters.” Second, you want to give credit to those who helped you achieve the award or honor. No person accomplishes things in life on his or her own. We all have families and friends and colleagues who support us and help us achieve what we do in life, and a speech of acceptance is a great time to graciously recognize those individuals. Lastly, put the award in perspective. Tell the people listening to your speech why the award is meaningful to you.

Speeches of Dedication

The fourth ceremonial speech is the speech of dedication . A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and possibly those to whom the project has been dedicated. Maybe your great-uncle has died and left your college tons of money, so the college has decided to rename one of the dorms after your great-uncle. In this case, you may be asked to speak at the dedication.

When preparing the speech of dedication, start by explaining how you are involved in the dedication. If the person to whom the dedication is being made is a relative, tell the audience that the building is being named after your great-uncle who bestowed a gift to his alma mater. Second, you want to explain what is being dedicated. If the dedication is a new building or a preexisting building, you want to explain what is being dedicated and the importance of the structure. You should then explain who was involved in the project. If the project is a new structure, talk about the people who built the structure or designed it. If the project is a preexisting structure, talk about the people who put together and decided on the dedication. Lastly, explain why the structure is important for the community where it’s located. If the dedication is for a new store, talk about how the store will bring in new jobs and new shopping opportunities. If the dedication is for a new wing of a hospital, talk about how patients will be served and the advances in medicine the new wing will provide the community.

At one time or another, almost everyone is going to be asked to deliver a toast . A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember. First, toasts can be delivered for the purpose of congratulating someone for an honor, a new job, or getting married. You can also toast someone to show your appreciation for something they’ve done. Lastly, we toast people to remember them and what they have accomplished.

When preparing a toast, the first goal is always to keep your remarks brief. Toasts are generally given during the middle of some kind of festivities (e.g., wedding, retirement party, farewell party), and you don’t want your toast to take away from those festivities for too long. Second, the goal of a toast is to focus attention on the person or persons being toasted—not on the speaker. As such, while you are speaking you need to focus your attention to the people being toasted, both by physically looking at them and by keeping your message about them. You should also avoid any inside jokes between you and the people being toasted because toasts are public and should be accessible for everyone who hears them. To conclude a toast, simply say something like, “Please join me in recognizing Joan for her achievement” and lift your glass. When you lift your glass, this will signal to others to do the same and then you can all take a drink, which is the end of your speech.

The roast speech is a very interesting and peculiar speech because it is designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Generally, roasts are given at the conclusion of a banquet in honor of someone’s life achievements. The television station Comedy Central has been conducting roasts of various celebrities for a few years.

In this clip, watch as Stephen Colbert, television host of The Colbert Report , roasts President George W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE_saVX_2A

Let’s pick this short clip apart. You’ll notice that the humor doesn’t pull any punches. The goal of the roast is to both praise and insult in a good-natured manner. You’ll also see that the roaster, in this case Stephen Colbert, is standing behind a lectern while the roastee, President George W. Bush, is clearly on display for the audience to see, and periodically you’ll see the camera pan to President Bush to take in his reactions. Half the fun of a good roast is watching the roastee’s reactions during the roast, so it’s important to have the roastee clearly visible by the audience.

How does one prepare for a roast? First, you want to really think about the person who is being roasted. Do they have any strange habits or amusing stories in their past that you can discuss? When you think through these things you want to make sure that you cross anything off your list that is truly private information or will really hurt the person. The goal of a roast is to poke at them, not massacre them. Second, when selecting which aspects to poke fun at, you need to make sure that the items you choose are widely known by your audience. Roasts work when the majority of people in the audience can relate to the jokes being made. If you have an inside joke with the roastee, bringing it up during roast may be great fun for the two of you, but it will leave your audience unimpressed. Lastly, end on a positive note. While the jokes are definitely the fun part of a roast, you should leave the roastee knowing that you truly do care about and appreciate the person.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died. (Don’t confuse “eulogy” with “elegy,” a poem or song of mourning.) Unless you are a minister, priest, rabbi, imam, or other form of religious leader, you’ll probably not deliver too many eulogies in your lifetime. However, when the time comes to deliver a eulogy, it’s good to know what you’re doing and to adequately prepare your remarks. Watch the following clip of then-Senator Barack Obama delivering a eulogy at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in November of 2005.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsH92sJCr4

In this eulogy, Senator Obama delivers the eulogy by recalling Rosa Parks importance and her legacy in American history.

When preparing a eulogy, first you need to know as much information about the deceased as possible. The more information you have about the person, the more personal you can make the eulogy. While you can rely on your own information if you were close to the deceased, it is always a good idea to ask friends and relatives of the deceased for their memories, as these may add important facets that may not have occurred to you. Of course, if you were not very close to the deceased, you will need to ask friends and family for information. Second, although eulogies are delivered on the serious and sad occasion of a funeral or memorial service for the deceased, it is very helpful to look for at least one point to be lighter or humorous. In some cultures, in fact, the friends and family attending the funeral will expect the eulogy to be highly entertaining and amusing. While eulogies are not roasts, one goal of the humor or lighter aspects of a eulogy is to relieve the tension that is created by the serious nature of the occasion. Lastly, remember to tell the deceased’s story. Tell the audience about who this person was and what the person stood for in life. The more personal you can make a eulogy, the more touching it will be for the deceased’s friends and families. The eulogy should remind the audience to celebrate the person’s life as well as mourn their death.

Speeches of Farewell

A speech of farewell allows someone to say good-bye to one part of his or her life as he or she is moving on to the next part of life. Maybe you’ve accepted a new job and are leaving your current job, or you’re graduating from college and entering the work force. Whatever the case may be, periods of transition are often marked by speeches of farewell. Watch the following clip of Derek Jeter’s 2008 speech saying farewell to Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, before the New York Yankees moved to the new stadium that opened in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJrlTpQm0to

In this speech, Derek Jeter is not only saying good-bye to Yankee Stadium but also thanking the fans for their continued support.

When preparing a speech of farewell, the goal should be to thank the people in your current position and let them know how much you appreciate them as you make the move to your next position in life. In Derek Jeter’s speech, he starts by talking about the history of the 1923 Yankee Stadium and then thanks the fans for their support. Second, you want to express to your audience how much the experience has meant to you. A farewell speech is a time to commemorate and think about the good times you’ve had. As such, you should avoid negativity during this speech. Lastly, you want to make sure that you end on a high note. Derek Jeter concludes his speech by saying, “On behalf of this entire organization, we just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world!” at which point Jeter and the other players take off their ball caps and hold them up toward the audience.

Inspirational Speaking

The goal of an inspirational speech is to elicit or arouse an emotional state within an audience. In Section 18.2.1 “Ceremonial Speaking” , we looked at ceremonial speeches. Although some inspirational speeches are sometimes tied to ceremonial occasions, there are also other speaking contexts that call for inspirational speeches. For our purposes, we are going to look at two types of inspirational speeches: goodwill and speeches of commencement.

Speeches to Ensure Goodwill

Goodwill is an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or reputation of an individual or organization. Speeches of goodwill are often given in an attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. Although speeches of goodwill are clearly persuasive, they try not to be obvious about the persuasive intent and are often delivered as information-giving speeches that focus on an individual or organization’s positives attributes. There are three basic types of speeches of goodwill: public relations, justification, and apology.

Speeches for Public Relations

In a public relations speech, the speaker is speaking to enhance one’s own image or the image of his or her organization. You can almost think of these speeches as cheerleading speeches because the ultimate goal is to get people to like the speaker and what he or she represents. In the following brief speech, the CEO of British Petroleum is speaking to reporters about what his organization is doing during the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCfa6AxmUHw

Notice that he keeps emphasizing what his company is doing to fix the problem. Every part of this speech is orchestrated to make BP look caring and attempts to get some amount of goodwill from the viewing public.

Speeches of Justification

The second common speech of goodwill is the speech of justification, which is given when someone attempts to defend why certain actions were taken or will be taken. In these speeches, speakers have already enacted (or decided to enact) some kind of behavior, and are now attempting to justify why the behavior is or was appropriate. In the following clip, President Bill Clinton discusses his decision to bomb key Iraqi targets after uncovering a plot to assassinate former President George H. W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mpWa7wNr5M

In this speech, President Clinton outlines his reasons for bombing Iraq to the American people and the globe. Again, the goal of this speech is to secure goodwill for President Clinton’s decisions both in the United States and on the world stage.

Speeches of Apology

The final speech of goodwill is the speech of apology. Frankly, these speeches have become more and more commonplace. Every time we turn around, a politician, professional athlete, musician, or actor/actress is doing something reprehensible and getting caught. In fact, the speech of apology has quickly become a fodder for humor as well. Let’s take a look at a real apology speech delivered by professional golfer Tiger Woods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8nseNP4s0

When you need to make an apology speech, there are three elements that you need to include: be honest and take responsibility, say you’re sorry, and offer restitution. First, a speaker needs to be honest and admit to doing something wrong. The worst apology speeches are those in which the individual tries to sidestep the wrongdoing. Even if you didn’t do anything wrong, it is often best to take responsibility from a public perception perspective. Second, say that you are sorry. People need to know that you are remorseful for what you’ve done. One of the problems many experts saw with Tiger Woods’s speech is that he doesn’t look remorseful at all. While the words coming out of his mouth are appropriate, he looks like a robot forced to read from a manuscript written by his press agent. Lastly, you need to offer restitution. Restitution can come in the form of fixing something broken or a promise not to engage in such behavior in the future. People in society are very willing to forgive and forget when they are asked.

Speeches for Commencements

The second type of inspirational speech is the speech of commencement , which is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class or other group of people. The most typical form of commencement speech happens when someone graduates from school. Nearly all of us have sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives. And if you’re like us, you’ve heard good ones and bad ones. Numerous celebrities and politicians have been asked to deliver commencement speeches at colleges and universities. One famous and well-thought-out commencement speech was given by famed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling at Harvard University in 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck

J. K. Rowling’s speech has the perfect balance of humor and inspiration, which are two of the main ingredients of a great commencement speech.

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to think through when deciding on your speech’s content.

• If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is no specific theme, come up with one for your speech. Some common commencement speech themes are commitment, competitiveness, competence, confidence, decision making, discipline, ethics, failure (and overcoming failure), faith, generosity, integrity, involvement, leadership, learning, persistence, personal improvement, professionalism, reality, responsibility, and self-respect.
• Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid pitfalls or take advantages of life. How can your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?
• Make the speech humorous. Commencement speeches should be entertaining and make an audience laugh.
• Be brief! Nothing is more painful than a commencement speaker who drones on and on. Remember, the graduates are there to get their diplomas; their families are there to watch the graduates walk across the stage.
• Remember, while you may be the speaker, you’ve been asked to impart wisdom and advice for the people graduating and moving on with their lives, so keep it focused on them.
• Place the commencement speech into the broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better.

Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a commencement speech. Remember, it’s a huge honor and responsibility to be asked to deliver a commencement speech, so take the time to really think through and prepare your speech.

Key Takeaways

• There are eight common forms of ceremonial speaking: introduction, presentation, acceptance, dedication, toast, roast, eulogy, and farewell. Speeches of introduction are designed to introduce a speaker. Speeches of presentation are given when an individual is presenting an award of some kind. Speeches of acceptance are delivered by the person receiving an award or honor. Speeches of dedication are given when a new building or other place is being opened for the first time. Toasts are given to acknowledge and honor someone on a special occasion (e.g., wedding, birthday, retirement). Roasts are speeches designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Eulogies are given during funerals and memorial services. Lastly, speeches of farewell are delivered by an individual who is leaving a job, community, or organization, and wants to acknowledge how much the group has meant.
• Inspirational speeches fall into two categories: goodwill (e.g., public relations, justification, and apology) and speeches of commencement. Speeches of goodwill attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. On the other hand, speeches of commencement are delivered to recognize the achievements of a group of people.
• Imagine you’ve been asked to speak before a local civic organization such as the Kiwanis or Rotary Club. Develop a sample speech of introduction that you would like someone to give to introduce you.
• You’ve been asked to roast your favorite celebrity. Develop a two-minute roast.
• Develop a speech of commencement for your public speaking class.

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Give a Dedication Speech

Should Students Take Public Speaking Classes?

If you suffer from a fear of public speaking, you are not alone. Giving a speech can be one of the most nerve-wracking moments of your life, but proper preparation can help steady your nerves. Long before you deliver a dedication speech to honor a family member, colleague or friend, make an effort to prepare the right content to ensure that the entire audience, and especially the guest of honor, will appreciate your words. Once you dazzle the crowd with your dedication speech, you may even be asked to give another at a future event.

Highlight Strengths and Share Experiences

Write the dedication speech to honor the individual. Dedication speeches often take place at retirement parties, anniversary celebrations and award banquets. Regardless of the specific event, your speech should highlight the individual's accomplishments, share personal anecdotes and combine poignancy with humor. You can write the entire speech based on your personal relationship with the honoree, or ask other key people for their input for the speech.

Seek Feedback

Share the speech with some of the guests who'll be in attendance to gauge their reactions. Often, a dedication speech relies on humor, but your speech shouldn't offend any guests. A few neutral parties will help you determine the appropriateness of your words. If they make any useful suggestions, make the necessary changes.

Practice Your Speech

Rehearse the speech until you're completely familiar with it. While taking a printed copy of the speech to the podium is acceptable, simply reading your speech reflects poorly on you. Deliver your speech mostly from memory, while keeping an eye on your notes to maintain your place.

Center Yourself

Relax in the period of time leading up to your speech by breathing, talking with friends and drinking water. Remember that joyous events tend to put people in a relaxed mode. Your speech delivery doesn't have to be perfect, so don't worry about thinking it has to be. Instead, keep calm and don't fret as you get ready to deliver the speech.

Maintain an Appropriate Pace

Speak clearly and at a slow pace while you're giving the speech. Rushing your delivery when you're feeling nervous is normal, but doing so negatively affects the delivery of your speech. Speak at a normal pace, and take pauses when appropriate, such as after you made a joke. Often, speeches get easier after you speak for a minute or after you earn the first real laugh from your audience.

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Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.

4 High School Graduation Speech Samples That Inspire

Get ready to motivate and inspire your fellow grads with our example speeches you can use as inspo to craft your own.

Kelly has more than 12 years experience as a professional writer and editor.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

You made it to your senior year! And the next step in your life is graduation. Congrats on being chosen to speak for your class on the big day. While public speaking can be a bit intimidating, we know you have what it takes to do an awesome job. All you need is a little inspo for your high school graduation speech. 

Not to worry. We have your back. So take a deep breath, check out our high school graduation speech examples and tips, and get ready to wow your classmates, faculty, and families. You've totally got this. 

Sample Speeches for High School Graduation

While you probably won't want to use these speeches exactly, they're definitely a great place to start. Use our sample graduation speeches to help inspire your own creativity. Click to download and edit them for your own use. If you have any trouble downloading, please review the troubleshooting guide .

• Graduation Mottos & Slogans to Celebrate Your Class
• 7 Senior Bio Examples to Help You Craft Your Own
• Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win

If you like the style or sentiment of a particular speech, think of how it applies to your own high school experience, and use that as the basis for an original speech of your own.

Sample One: How We'll Measure These Years

You're not the same group of people you were in your freshman year. And our first sample is a speech that talks about how things have changed over your high school years.

My fellow students, we only arrived here four short years ago, and now it's already time to leave. How did it all go so fast? It seems like only yesterday that we were skinny little freshmen fighting with the locks on our lockers, trying to figure out where our next class was, and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen. Now, we are the upperclassmen — the seniors who stand here ready to graduate and move forward in the world. Yet at this seminal moment, we can't help looking back. 

How do we measure the time we've spent in high school? In the beginning, we measured it in class periods, counting down the day to eventual freedom. As the days and weeks passed, we measured it in semesters and later in years as we moved from being those clueless freshmen to becoming sophisticated sophomores who thought they had it all figured out. By the time we reached our junior year, we were confident that we were prepared to take over for the graduating seniors, and we couldn't wait to "rule the school." 

And now here we stand. Our rule is over, and it's up to the next class to step into our shoes and take over. I know that as I look out at all of you, I will measure my time here in a much different way. I will measure it in all the friendships I've enjoyed these last four years. Some were pretty casual, and others were much closer, but I'll remember each one fondly, as I'm sure you all will, too. And when many of our high school memories begin to fade, that's how we'll ultimately measure the time we spent here, not in periods or semesters or years, but in the friendships that we made and the times we shared together. 

Congratulations my fellow graduates of the class of (Insert year). Wherever we go and whatever we do, may we always be friends when we meet again. 

Sample Two: The Future Is in Our Hands

The second example focuses more on what the future holds for a high school graduate.

We stand here today on the precipice of the future. It's not a distant reality anymore. It begins here. It begins today. 

We began high school as children, but we're leaving here as adults. We've completed a basic education that will serve as the platform we use to launch ourselves into our futures. Some of us will go on to college, and others will go straight into the workforce, but each of us will travel our own path. 

No matter where we go or what we do, there are challenges ahead of us. What I'm asking from each of you, and from myself, is to meet those challenges straight on with our heads held high and our hearts wide open. It's not enough to simply try to get by in life. That doesn't move the world forward. We must try to excel in everything we do; strive for excellence in every task, large or small. 

Although it may not be easy to see, every accomplishment we achieve is added to the world's accomplishments. Our individual successes benefit society as a whole because when we succeed, we lighten the burden on our fellow man. When we succeed, we are in a position to give rather than take. 

Imagine if every individual lived up to their own potential. Think about how amazing that would be, and how much better off the world would be. Now imagine if just half of those individuals lived up to their potential. The world would still be an awesome place. If even 1/4 of those individuals worked to make their lives successful, they could still make some amazing contributions to society. 

Well, we may not have the power to inspire the entire world to strive for success, but we do have the power to try to achieve it for ourselves. My challenge to each of you and to myself is to do all that we can to reach our full potential. If each of the (Insert number) students in this graduating class is able to do that, just imagine the effect that would have. The future is truly in our hands, so let's make the most of it. 

Sample Three: A Debt of Gratitude

Nobody's accomplishments are 100% their own—there's always someone there to provide support, inspiration, and motivation. The third sample is about giving thanks to those who have helped everyone successfully graduate from high school.

I'd like to welcome everyone to this solemn and joyous occasion. It has been a long four years, but here we are, ready to graduate. We worked hard to get to this point, but we didn't do it by ourselves. 

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the following people. To our teachers, thank you for so unselfishly sharing your time, talent, and knowledge with us. Yes, we know it was your job to do it, but what you did for us went beyond the call of duty. You took the time to explain assignments, sometimes repeatedly because we weren't paying attention. You allowed us to come to your classroom after school for extra help when you could have gone home to spend time with your family. You put in the effort to make lessons more interesting so we wouldn't just tune out. You demanded excellence from us whether or not we wanted to give it. You set the bar high and challenged us to live up to it. 

To our parents, thank you for supporting us in more ways than it's possible to count. You dragged us out of bed each morning and made sure we were fed and clothed for school. You herded us out the door to the bus stop or drove us to school yourselves. You helped us with homework, paid our class fees, and listened to our complaints. You came to our plays, attended our sporting events, and chaperoned our dances. You commiserated over our daily dramas, but you tried to give us enough space to learn how to work things out for ourselves. These are just a few of the thousands of ways you've supported us on our journey. 

To our coaches and advisors, thank you for making school about more than just classwork. Through sports, we learned how to power on through adversity and give it our best effort, win or lose. We learned the importance of discipline and good sportsmanship. Through other activities like participating in clubs, school plays, and service projects, we learned how to work closely with others to achieve a common goal, and we had a lot of fun doing it. 

To our custodial staff and lunchroom attendants, thank you for keeping our school clean and safe. You know better than anyone else what slobs we've been. You actually deserve some kind of medal. 

To our principal, vice principal, and all the office staff, thank you for keeping things running smoothly so our teachers could concentrate on us. We're better off for it. 

To our guidance counselors, thank you for listening and trying to keep us on the right track for graduation. Without your help, some of us might not be graduating today. 

As you can see, behind each graduate there must have been at least a dozen people providing support in at least a dozen ways. The best way we graduates can show our gratitude is to make the most of the opportunity we've been given and go forward into the world with the intention of making it a better place for the generations that follow us. We'll pay that debt of gratitude forward. 

Sample Four: Inspirational Moments for Life

You're getting ready to head out into the world as adults. Adulting can be hard, but you'll find all the inspiration you need inside yourself. This last sample speech is an inspirational high school graduation speech that asks each student to look back on some of the moments from high school that will inspire them forever.

While the last four years were filled with friends, classes, teachers, and work, there were also tiny inspirations hiding in plain sight. In those moments, we were too busy, too distracted, too young to notice them. As we take a retrospective look at our high school years, I hope we will all see them clearly now. 

Close your eyes and imagine, if you will, that one thing that one teacher said to you that didn’t mean much at the time, but means something now. If you can’t hear it, think harder. This is one of your inspirational moments from high school.

Now, imagine that one scary moment with that one friend inside the school walls. Think about how you both acted and how it all turned out. If you can’t see it, think harder. This is one of your inspirational moments from high school. 

Imagine, one more time, that time when you felt so proud of yourself. Think about what you accomplished and how you did it for yourself. If you can’t feel it, think harder. This is one of your inspirational moments from high school. 

The most amazing things happen in high school when we least expect them. Although we're different people with different lives, we all experience these inspirational moments that happened in high school and stay with us for life. As we look toward our future, I encourage you to take time and look for these moments. They’ll be your inspiration for life. 

Example of a Humorous Valedictorian Speech

The following video offers a great example of a graduation speech that really speaks to the graduates while being humorous, appropriate, and entertaining. If you have a natural gift for humor, a funny speech like this will be remembered long after other graduation memories have begun to fade.

Tips for Writing a Graduation Speech

Whether you're writing a speech for your homeschool graduation, as the class Valedictorian, or as a graduation thank you speech , there are a few tips for speech writing that can make your talk meaningful and memorable.

Related: Inspirational Graduation Speeches and Themes

Know Your Audience

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

Grab Their Attention

A good speech grabs the audience's attention and never lets it go. Start off with an attention-grabbing question or a humorous first line, or make a strong statement that provokes curiosity about where the speech is going. Feel free to add appropriate humor liberally. Having a theme for the speech is also helpful.

Tell Stories

Don't just read your speech. Tell your speech by interspersing emotional stories that tug at the heartstrings or inspire positive actions for the future. You might even want to include an original poem to help express your feelings.

Include Everyone

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

Keep It Short, but Not Too Short

Knowing how long a high school graduation speech should be is important before you start writing. Student speeches at high school graduations are generally between five and 10 minutes long, but closer to five is ideal.

End With a Memorable Message

High school graduation speeches by students and special guests often end with a memorable and actionable sentence that encourages the audience to do something great. It's customary to end by saying, "Thank you" in your graduation speech, which you can do after your memorable one-liner.

Don't Wear Out Your Welcome

A really great commencement speech is enjoyed, not simply endured. Put some serious thought into your speech, say something meaningful, and stick to your topic so your message doesn't get lost. Above all, don't talk too long. Remember that everyone wants to receive their diplomas, shed those caps and gowns , and get on with the celebration.

15.2 Types of Special Occasion Speeches

Unlike the informative and persuasive speeches, special occasion speeches are much broader and allow for a wider range of topics, events, and approaches to be employed. However, while the following list of special occasion speeches is long, your instructor will have specific types of special occasion speeches that you will be allowed (or required) to do for class. Since you are likely to give many special occasion speeches in your life, we want to cover everything you might need to know to give a good one.

Speeches of Introduction

The first type of special occasion speech is the speech of introduction , which is a mini speech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and their speech. Few things are worse than when the introducer of a speaker stands up and says, “This is Wyatt Ford. He’s going to talk about stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls flat. Audiences won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Wyatt’s speech.

Just like any other speech, a speech of introduction should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion—and should be brief. As a speech of introduction, it is important to focus on the person being introduced; the speech should be about them.

For an introduction, think of a hook that will make your audience interested in the upcoming speaker. You need to find something that can grab the audience’s attention and make them excited about hearing the main speaker.

The body of your speech of introduction should be devoted to telling the audience about the speaker’s topic, why the speaker is qualified, and why the audience should listen (notice we now have our three main points). First, tell your audience in general terms about the overarching topic of the speech. Next, you need to tell the audience why the speaker is a credible presenter on the topic. Has the speaker written books or articles on the subject? Has the speaker had special life events that make him or her qualified? Lastly, you need to briefly explain to the audience why they should care about the upcoming speech. The outline can be adjusted; for example, you can give the biographical information first, but these three areas should be covered.

The final part of a good introduction is the conclusion, which is generally designed to welcome the speaker to the platform. Many introducers will conclude by saying something like, “I am looking forward to hearing Wyatt Ford’s advice; please join me in welcoming Dr. Wyatt Ford.” At this point, you as the person introducing the speaker are “handing off” the speaking duties to someone else, so it is not uncommon to end your speech of introduction by clapping as the speaker comes on stage or shaking the speaker’s hand.

Speeches of Presentation

The second type of special occasion speech is the speech of presentation . A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor.

The introduction in a speech of presentation needs to let the audience know what award is being presented, just a brief statement about the award is enough to begin the speech. In the body of the speech, you want to make sure you explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is important. Next, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the award to be bestowed. Did the person win a race? Did the person write an important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight his or her work. Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well. While you don’t want to steal the show away from the winner, you may want to highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

Speeches of Acceptance

The complement to a speech of presentation is the speech of acceptance. The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor. In the introduction for this speech, you want to acknowledge the award, then the body of the speech usually shares these three typical components of a speech of acceptance: 1) put the award or honor into perspective, 2) thank those who helped you achieve your goal and tell stories of their contributions, and 3) discuss the work you did to achieve the award. First, you want to put the award in perspective. Tell the people listening to your speech why the award is meaningful to you.

Second, you want to give credit to those who helped you achieve the award or honor. No person accomplishes things in life on his or her own. We all have family members, friends, and colleagues who support us and help us achieve what we do in life, and a speech of acceptance is a great time to graciously recognize those individuals. Lastly, you want to share the work you put in to achieve this award.  If you know you are up for an award, have a speech ready. A good rule to remember is: Be thankful, be gracious, be short.

Speeches of Dedication

A fourth special occasion speech is the speech of dedication . A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and possibly those to whom the project has been dedicated.

When preparing a speech of dedication, start by explaining how you are involved in the dedication. If the person to whom the dedication is being made is a relative, tell the audience about your relationship and your relative’s accomplishments. Second, you want to explain what is being dedicated. If the dedication is a new building or a pre-existing building, you want to explain the importance of the structure. You should then explain who was involved in the project.

If the project is a new structure, talk about the people who built the structure or designed it. If the project is a pre-existing structure, talk about the people who put together and decided on the dedication. Lastly, explain why the structure is important for the community in which it is located. If the dedication is for a new store, talk about how the store will bring in new jobs and new shopping opportunities. If the dedication is for a new wing of a hospital, talk about how patients will be served and the advances in medicine the new wing will provide the community.

At one time or another, almost everyone is going to be asked to deliver a toast . A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember. First, toasts can be delivered for the purpose of congratulating someone for an honor, a new job, or getting married. You can also toast someone to show your appreciation for something he or she has done. Lastly, we toast people to remember them and what they have accomplished.

When preparing a toast, the first goal is always to keep your remarks brief. Toasts are generally given during the middle of festivities (e.g., wedding, retirement party, farewell party), and you don’t want your toast to take away from those festivities for too long. Second, the goal of a toast is to focus attention on the person or persons being toasted—not on the speaker.

As such, you need to focus your attention toward the people being toasted, both by physically looking at them and by keeping your message about them.  The body of the speech should share stories or fun information about the people being toasted and should be appropriate to the occasion.  You should avoid any inside jokes between you and the people being toasted because toasts are public and should be accessible for everyone who hears them. To conclude a toast, simply say something like “Please join me in recognizing Gina for her achievement,” and lift your glass. When you lift your glass, this will signal to others to do the same, and then you can all take a drink, which is the end of your speech.

A roast is a very interesting and peculiar speech because it is designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Because of this combination of purposes, it is not hard to argue that the roast is a challenging type of speech to write given the difficult task of simultaneously praising and insulting the person. Generally, roasts are given at the conclusion of a banquet in honor of someone’s life achievements. The television station Comedy Central has been conducting roasts of various celebrities for a few years, and if you’ve ever watched one, you know that the “roasters” say some harsh things about the “roastees” even though they are friends.

How does one prepare for a roast? First, you want to really think about the person who is being roasted. Does he or she have any strange habits or amusing stories in their past that you can discuss? When you think through these questions, you want to make sure that you cross anything off your list that is truly private information or will really hurt the person. The goal of a roast is to poke at them in a good-natured manner.

Second, when selecting which aspects to poke fun at, you need to make sure that the items you choose are widely known by your audience. Roasts work when many people in the audience can relate to the jokes being made. If you have an inside joke with the roastee, bringing it up during the roast may be great fun for the two of you, but it will leave your audience unimpressed. Lastly, end on a positive note. While the jokes are definitely the fun part of a roast, you should leave the roastee and the audience knowing that you truly do care about and appreciate the person.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died. Not to sound depressing, but since everyone who is alive will someday die, the chance of your being asked to give a eulogy someday for a friend or family member is significant. However, when the time comes to deliver a eulogy, it’s good to know what you’re doing and to adequately prepare your remarks.

When preparing a eulogy, first you need to know that you were asked because you are an important person in their lives and know about the deceased. The eulogy should be personal and help the audience to appreciate and celebrate the person who passed. Although eulogies are delivered on the serious and sad occasion, it is very helpful to look for at least one point to be lighter or humorous. In some cultures, in fact, the friends and family attending the funeral expect the eulogy to be highly entertaining and amusing.

Knowing the deceased and the audience is vital when deciding on the type and amount of humor to use in a eulogy. It would be appropriate to tell a funny story about Uncle Joe’s love for his car or Aunt Mary’s love of tacky Christmas sweaters. Ultimately, the goal of the humor or lighter aspects of a eulogy is to relieve the tension that is created by the serious nature of the occasion and to celebrate the person who has passed.

If you are ever asked to give a eulogy, here are three parts of a eulogy (i.e., main points) you can use to write one: praise, lament, and consolation.

The first thing you want to do when remembering someone who has passed away is remind the audience what made that person so special. So you will want to praise them and their accomplishments. This can include notable achievements (being an award winner; helping with charities), personal qualities (“she was always willing to listen to your problems and help in any way she could”), or anecdotes and stories (being a great mother; how she drove to college to visit you when you were homesick).

The second thing you want to do in a eulogy is to lament the loss. To lament means to express grief or sorrow, which is what everyone at a funeral has gathered to do. You will want to acknowledge that everyone is sad and that the deceased’s passing will be difficult to get through. Here you might mention all the things that will no longer happen because of the death. “Now that Grandpa is gone, there won’t be any more Sunday dinners where he cooks chicken on the grill or bakes his famous macaroni and cheese.”

The final step in a eulogy is to console the audience, or to offer comfort in a time of grief. What you must remember is that a eulogy is not a speech for the person who has died; it is a speech for the people who are still living to try to help them deal with the loss. You will want to end your eulogy on a positive note. Offer some hope that someday, things will get better.

“We may miss Aunt Linda deeply, but our memories of her will live on forever, and her impact on this world will not soon be forgotten.”

Using the Praise-Lament-Console format for eulogies gives you a simple system where you can fill in the sections with 1) why was the person good, 2) why you will miss him or her, and 3) how you and the audience will get through this loss. It sometimes also helps to think of the three points in terms of Past-Present-Future: you will praise the deceased for what he did when he was alive (the past), lament the loss you are feeling now (the present), and console your audience by letting them know that things will be all right (the future).

With regard to a eulogy you might give in class, you generally have two options for how to proceed: you can eulogize a real person who has passed away, or you can eulogize a fictional character (if your instructor permits that). If you give a eulogy in class on someone in your life who has passed away, be aware that it is very common for students to become emotional and have difficulty giving their speech. Even though you may have been fine practicing at home and feel good about giving it, the emotional impact of speaking about a deceased loved one in front of others can be surprisingly powerful.

Speeches for Commencements

A speech of commencement (or commencement speech) is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class or other group of people. These typically take place at graduation ceremonies. Nearly every one of us has sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives. Numerous celebrities and politicians have been asked to deliver commencement speeches at colleges and universities.

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to think through when deciding on your speech’s content.

• If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is no specific theme, come up with one for your speech. Some common commencement speech themes are commitment, competitiveness, competence, confidence, decision making, discipline, ethics, failure (and overcoming failure), faith, generosity, integrity, involvement, leadership, learning, persistence, personal improvement, professionalism, reality, responsibility, and self-respect.
• Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid pitfalls or take advantage of life. How can your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?
• Make the speech humorous. Commencement speeches should be entertaining and make an audience laugh.
• Be brief! Nothing is more painful than a commencement speaker who drones on and on. Remember, the graduates are there to get their diplomas; their families are there to watch the graduates walk across the stage.
• Remember, while you may be the speaker, you’ve been asked to impart wisdom and advice for the people graduating and moving on with their lives, so keep it focused on them.
• Place the commencement speech into the broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better.

Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a commencement speech. Remember, it’s a huge honor and responsibility to be asked to deliver a commencement speech, so take the time to really think through and prepare your speech.

After-Dinner Speeches

After-dinner speeches are humorous speeches that make a serious point. These speeches get their name from the fact that they historically follow a meal of some kind. After-dinner speakers are generally asked to speak because they have the ability both to speak effectively and to make people laugh. All the basic conventions of public speaking previously discussed in this text apply to after-dinner speeches, but the overarching goal of these speeches is to be entertaining and to create an atmosphere of amusement.  The speech should have a theme, such as celebrating the accomplishments of the last year, or connecting the audience to a special event that is important to the group.

When creating the speech, go back through and look for opportunities to insert humorous remarks. Once you’ve looked through your speech and examined places for verbal humor, think about any physical humor or props that would enhance your speech. The goal for a funny prop is that it adds to the humor of the speech without distracting from its message.

Just because you find something unbelievably funny in your head doesn’t mean that it will make anyone else laugh.  Often, humor that we have written down on paper just doesn’t translate when orally presented. You may have a humorous story that you love reading on paper, but find that it just seems to be too long once you start telling it out loud. You also need to make sure the humor you choose will be appropriate for a specific audience. What one audience finds funny another may find offensive. Humor is the double-edged sword of public speaking. On one side, it is an amazing and powerful speaking tool, but on the other side, few things will alienate an audience more than offensive humor. If you’re ever uncertain about whether a piece of humor will offend your audience, don’t use it.

So you may now be asking, “What kind of topics are serious that I can joke about?” The answer to that, like the answer to most everything else in the book, is dependent on your audience and the speaking situation, which is to say any topic will work, while at the same time you need to be very careful about how you choose your topic.

Take, for example, the experience one of your authors had while he was attending a large university. One of the major problems that any large university faces is parking: the ratio of parking spaces to students at some of these schools can be 1:7 (one parking space for every seven students). In addressing this topic at a banquet, a student gave an after-dinner speech that addressed the problem of the lack of student parking. To do so, he camouflaged his speech as a faux-eulogy (fake eulogy) for the yellow and black board on the parking lot gates that was constantly and consistently driven through by students wanting to access restricted parking. The student personified the board by noting how well it had done its job and lamented that it would never get to see its little toothpick children grow up to guard the White House. But underneath the humor incorporated into the speech was a serious message: this wouldn’t keep happening if adequate parking was provided for students on campus.

Motivational Speeches

A motivational speech is designed not only to make an audience experience emotional arousal (fear, sadness, joy, excitement) but also to motivate the audience to do something with that emotional arousal. A motivational speech helps to inspire people in a broader fashion, often without a clearly articulated end result in mind. As such, motivational speaking is a highly specialized form of persuasive speaking commonly delivered in schools, businesses, religious houses of worship, and club or group contexts.

The hero speech is a motivational speech given by someone who is considered a hero in society (e.g., military speakers, political figures, and professional athletes).

The survivor speech is a speech given by someone who has survived a personal tragedy or who has faced and overcome serious adversity.

The religious speech is self-explanatory; it is designed to incorporate religious ideals into a motivational package to inspire an audience into thinking about or changing aspects of their religious lives. The final type of motivational speech is the success speech, which is given by someone who has succeeded in some aspect of life and is giving back by telling others how they too can be successful.

As stated at the beginning of this section, you will almost certainly be limited by your professor with regards to which of these types of speeches you can give for your special occasion speech in class, but it is not unrealistic to think that you will be called upon at various points in your life to give one or more of these speeches. Knowing the types and basic structures will help when those moments arise.

a mini-speech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and his or her speech

a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor

a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor

a speech delivered to mark the unveiling, opening, or acknowledging of some landmark or structure

a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember

a humorous speech designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored

a speech given in honor of someone who has died

a speech designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class or other group of people

a humorous speech that makes a serious point

a speech designed not only to make an audience experience emotional arousal (fear, sadness, joy, excitement) but also to motivate the audience to do something with that emotional arousal

a motivational speech given by someone who is considered a hero in society

a speech given by someone who has survived a personal tragedy or who has faced and overcame serious adversity

a speech designed to incorporate religious ideals into a motivational package to inspire an audience into thinking about or changing aspects of their religious lives

It’s About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century Copyright © 2022 by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Special Occasion Speech Writing Instructions and Handy Tips

08 November, 2020

13 minutes read

Author:  Donna Moores

If you have earned a reputation as one of the best high-school or college students, you may be assigned to write some special occasion speech dedicated to an event or a person. The first thing you need to do after assuming this challenge is to pat yourself on the back because of the honor entrusted to you. However, your happiness is at risk of ending soon, as this may be your first time dealing with this type of paperwork. So, try to calm down and take control over your feelings and emotions. This assignment is not as complicated as it may seem.

That’s why we have prepared a full guide to writing a perfect special occasion speech of any type and complexity. Learn the general concept of the speech, its types, topic samples, and check on the inspiring examples that may provide you with a great deal of motivation. Stay positive and get ready to present a brilliant special occasion speech!

What is a Special Occasion Speech?

Generally, special occasion speech definition is quite simple. It is a speech given on some special occasions or events. Before you start working on the content, it is crucial to find out about the type of the occasion. It may be some school or college event, wedding, birthday, graduation, retirement, anniversary, etc.

As a rule, special occasion speeches are much shorter than, for example, informative ones. When being delivered, this speech should last no more than 5-10 minutes and be strictly to the point. Depending on the event, the speech may be extremely emotional, evoking a strong reaction of the audience. The broad usage of pathos in such types of speeches is quite justified as the main goal of the author is to make listeners feel happy or reflective depending on the nature of the occasion.

Sometimes, special occasion speech conveys an informative message. Thus, wedding speeches may be delivered to tell some romantic stories about the bride and groom. As you can see, the nature of every special occasion speech is very specific and needs to be considered individually in the context of the forthcoming event.

For you to choose the right outline and mood of your future special occasion speech, check the checklist of questions you would need to get answers to before you start working on your assignment.

Points to consider before writing special occasion speech

• What type of occasion do you need to dedicate your speech to?
• What role do you assume on this occasion?
• Who is your audience? Are there any professionals in some specific fields?
• When is your deadline? How much time do you have to complete a task?
• Should your speech convey a formal or informal message?
• What is the main goal of your speech?
• Is the occasion sensitive? What issues do you need to avoid while preparing your speech?
• Should you speak on behalf of yourself or some organization?
• Will the personal experience or some funny stories be appropriate to share with the audience?

This checklist will help you address your special occasion speech ideas properly and consider all the key details while elaborating on a speech.

Types of Special Occasion Speeches

The mood of the special occasion speech directly depends on the event it is dedicated to. There may be hundreds of various occasions, but we’ll consider only the most common ones to give you an idea of how to write a special occasion speech and succeed. Each type of speech features its specific rules and norms that should be obeyed in case you want to convey a proper message to your audience.

Ceremonial Speeches

This type of speech is usually delivered during the ceremonies and requires the etiquette norms and all the formalities to be observed. In their turn, the ceremonial speeches are divided into presentations, introductions, dedications, toasts, acceptances, farewells, eulogies, and roasts.

Presentations

Speeches for presentations are usually delivered when you need to present the winner of some prize or express honor to somebody. This type of special occasion speech needs to be very brief, as usually, occasions like this have very strict time limits.

Introductions

The introduction speech is delivered by the host of the event who wants to introduce another speaker or present the brief content of their speech. Despite being short enough, the introductory speech should also have its intro, body part, and conclusion. The main goals of the introductory speakers are to:

• make their speech last not more than 3 minutes;
• keep the audience intrigued about the speaker that is being introduced.

Ponder over the hook you would need to integrate into your speech to make your listeners feel excited about it.

Dedications

The speeches of dedication are delivered to stress the importance of some event – the opening of a new monument, square, museum, library, etc. The dedication speech needs to reflect your relation to this specific event and the way you are involved in this particular dedication.

Many people hate to deliver toasts. It happens because of their natural shyness or inability to talk a good game. If you are asked to tell the toast, try to identify what message you want it to convey – congratulations, appreciation, or maybe a tribute to someone’s memory. Keep your speech brief and emotional not to make your audience fall asleep.

Acceptances

Someone who is lucky to get an award or a prize for their achievements is honored to deliver a speech of acceptance. As a rule, this type of speech should express gratitude to some people who have contributed to your success and helped you achieve your goals.

These are the so-called “good-bye” speeches dedicated to people who finish one part of their life and move to another one. They may change their job, move from their hometown, graduate from college, etc. The farewell speech usually expresses gratitude to a person for their presence in your life, sincere appreciation, and best wishes for the next stage of their life.

This type of speech is delivered in honor of a person who has passed away. Eulogies usually require sharing your memories about the person who died. You can tell some touching stories about the deceased in case you have been close enough.

Roast speeches are the most controversial ones. Their goal is both to praise and to slightly insult the person you are talking about. However, this insult should be good-natured and very amiable. As a rule, the roasts are delivered at the end of some celebrations dedicated to someone’s success or achievements.

Inspirational Speeches

If you have been asked to make an inspirational speech, your main task is to motivate and inspire your audience. Usually, speeches have a persuasive nature and require you to share some personal experience, facts, figures, and ideas with the listeners to make them accept your point of view and start acting. Despite its nature, this special occasion speech shouldn’t be too complicated, but emotional enough to inspire the audience and let people trust you.

If you are still unsure on whether you can cope with your task – you are in the right place to get help. Our pro essay writers will always answer to the question “Who can write my speech?”

Special Occasion Speech Topics

Choosing the topic for your speech may turn out to be a real challenge. Check the most common special occasion speech topics to come up with brilliant ideas and make the whole writing process easier.

Informative

Briefly introduce your theme to give your audience an idea of what it is about. Be clear but don’t make your speech too extensive. Mention the reasons why all of you have gathered on such a special day. Share some facts and support them with your own experience or research. Don’t forget to introduce some opposite opinions to make your speech sound fresh and complete. The conclusion should be made based on the key points stated in the body paragraphs of your speech.

This speech is delivered when someone is leaving the place of living or a job. This speech is always full of gratitude and appreciation. Thank a person for the friendship and great emotions you have shared and wish all the best in the next stage of their life.

Specify what is so special about this occasion and how you relate to it. Highlight the importance of the tribute and let the audience ask you some questions.

Birthday parties, weddings, Christmas, New Year, Easter – make your speech sound entertaining and touching. Focus on the importance of the event and stress how crucial it is to share it with the closest people. If it is someone’s birthday, make the hero of the occasion feel special and loved. When delivering a speech at the wedding, mention some funny and embarrassing facts about the couple. This will help create a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Special Occasion Speech Outline

When we talk about special occasion speech outlines, there is no universal scheme that would suit any type of speech. However, like all other pieces of the paperwork, it should have an introduction, body section, and a conclusion.

Introduction

Make sure it contains an attention-getter that is a brief hook, as well as a thesis that represents the main concept you would like to share with the audience. There is no need to stuff your speech with several significant aspects – select only one that seems crucial to you. It is better to make your focus as narrow as possible to deeply develop and convey your idea. The thesis should be delivered in very simple words, so don’t make it sound too formal or stuffy.

Body section

Here is the part of the speech where all your ideas should be expanded. Share a couple of the in-depth cases that support the aspect mentioned in the introduction. Include some personal experiences and confirmed research. Make your speech as emotional as possible but make sure you don’t sound artificial and speak from your heart.

Conclude your special occasion speech with the words that would leave your audience with the proper aftertaste. Try to make the final phrases of your speech memorable and logical.

Special Occasion Speech Examples

To inspire yourself with brilliant ideas as to your creative assignment, check every special occasion speech example provided below. This will help you define the type of speech you need to focus on, choose the topic, and make an outline:

• President Bill Clinton. Presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Little Rock Nine.  
• Russell Conwell. Acres of Diamonds.  
• Thomas L. Friedman. Listen to Your Heart.  
• Theodore Roosevelt, Duties of American Citizenship . 
• John F. Kennedy. The Decision to Go to the Moon.

An Extra Bit of Speech Writing Help

Now you know everything and even more about special occasion speech writing. But what to do in case you don’t have time or have lost your inspiration? Don’t sink into despair and stop bracing yourself for the worst. Refer to us so we could help you elaborate on a brilliant special occasion speech of any type and complexity. All you need is just provide the writing experts with all the information on the forthcoming event.

In case your deadline is tight, no worries – our experts have great experience working in stressful situations with no harm to the quality of the creative work.

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Graduation Speech Examples

In this article, you will find examples of graduation speeches written by WriteSpeech.io that you can use to write your own speech.

Graduation marks a significant milestone in a person’s life, a moment of pride and celebration. It is an occasion that brings with it a mixture of excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation for the future.

To help you craft an unforgettable speech, here are five different examples of graduation speeches, written by writespeech.io . Each example is written for different academic environments and designed to meet varying needs in tone and length.

1. High School Graduation Speech Example

Length: Medium (around 4 minutes)

Tone: Neutral

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, faculty members, parents, and fellow graduates of the class of [Graduation Year], it is an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate this significant milestone in our lives. As we reflect on our high school journey, we are filled with a mix of emotions - pride, nostalgia, excitement, and perhaps a hint of uncertainty about the future. The last four years have been a whirlwind of growth, learning, challenges, and triumphs. We have worked hard, overcome obstacles, and persevered to reach this momentous day. Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As we prepare to embark on new adventures and pursue our dreams, let us remember the lessons we have learned inside and outside the classroom. The friendships we have forged, the teachers who have inspired us, and the experiences that have shaped us have all contributed to our personal and academic growth. As we look towards the future, let us carry with us the values of perseverance, resilience, and empathy that we have cultivated during our time here. Let us embrace change with open minds and open hearts, knowing that we have the skills and abilities to navigate the unknown with confidence and determination. Graduation is not just a ceremony; it is a symbol of our dedication, hard work, and commitment to our own success. It is a testament to the support of our families, friends, and educators who have helped us along the way. Let us express our gratitude to all those who have supported us on this journey, and let us strive to make them proud as we move forward into the next phase of our lives. Class of [Graduation Year], as we stand on the brink of a new beginning, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead with courage and enthusiasm. Congratulations to each and every one of you on your graduation, and may your future be filled with success, fulfillment, and happiness. Thank you.

2. College Graduation Speech Example

Length: Medium (around 5 minutes)

Dear fellow graduates, faculty, family, and friends, As we stand here today in our regal caps and gowns, it is surreal to think that the time has come for us to embark on the next chapter of our lives. The year [Graduation Year] will forever be ingrained in our memories as the year we officially transition from students to graduates, ready to take on the world with vigor and determination. Throughout our time here, we have laughed together, studied together, and supported each other through both triumphs and challenges. The bonds we have formed and the memories we have created will stay with us forever, serving as a reminder of the incredible journey we have shared. Today is a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that have brought us to this moment. Each of us has faced obstacles along the way, but we have proven time and time again that we are resilient, capable, and destined for greatness. As we look towards the future, let us remember the lessons we have learned, the friendships we have made, and the experiences that have shaped us into the individuals we are today. Let us carry the spirit of curiosity, passion, and innovation with us as we venture out into the world, ready to make our mark and leave a lasting impact. To our professors, mentors, and loved ones who have supported us along the way, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your guidance, wisdom, and unwavering belief in us have been the foundation upon which we have built our success. As we say goodbye to this chapter of our lives and embrace the endless possibilities that lie ahead, let us do so with hope, courage, and an unwavering belief in ourselves. Congratulations to the graduating class of [Graduation Year] - may your future be bright, your dreams be fulfilled, and your journey be filled with love and joy. Thank you.

3. College Graduation Speech Short Example

Length: Short (around 3 minutes)

Tone: Enthusiastic

Class of [Graduation Year], it is an honor to stand before you all today as we celebrate our graduation! We made it, we conquered every challenge, and we have emerged stronger and wiser. This is a momentous occasion that marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and determination. As we reflect on our time here, we remember the late nights studying, the group projects that tested our patience, and the friendships that will last a lifetime. We have grown academically, emotionally, and socially, thanks to the experiences and opportunities that our university has provided us. Today, as we look towards the future, let us remember the lessons we have learned within these campus walls. Let us remember the value of resilience, the importance of perseverance, and the power of community. We have shown that we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way and that with determination and passion, anything is possible. Every one of us has the power to shape our destinies, to make a positive impact on the world, and to leave a mark that will last for generations to come. So, let us go forth from this moment with courage in our hearts, inspiration in our souls, and a commitment to making our dreams a reality. Class of [Graduation Year], the future is ours to seize! Let us embrace it with open arms, with hope in our hearts, and with a zest for life that knows no bounds. Congratulations to each one of you, and may our journey ahead be filled with success, happiness, and fulfillment. Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the friendships. Go forth and conquer the world! Go forth and make a difference! Once again, congratulations, Class of [Graduation Year]! We did it!

4. University Graduation Speech Example

Length: Long (around 7 minutes)

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished faculty members, beloved friends and family, and fellow graduates of the class of [Graduation Year], it is with immense joy and gratitude that I stand before you today to celebrate this momentous occasion. As we gather here, on the cusp of a new beginning, we are surrounded by an abundance of memories, both cherished and challenging, that have shaped our journey as university students. Looking back on our time here, I am overwhelmed by a sense of pride in every one of us. We have overcome countless obstacles, pushed ourselves beyond our limits, and emerged stronger, wiser, and more resilient than ever before. The late nights spent studying, the group projects that tested our patience, the moments of self-doubt and uncertainty – all of these experiences have contributed to shaping us into the individuals we are today. But beyond the academic achievements and accolades that we have earned, what truly sets us apart is the sense of community that we have fostered here. The friendships we have made, the bonds we have formed, and the support we have shown one another have created a network of love and camaraderie that will endure long after we leave these halls. As we stand on the threshold of the next chapter of our lives, let us take a moment to reflect on the lessons we have learned during our time here. We have learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. We have learned that success is not measured solely by grades or achievements, but by the impact we have on the world around us. We have learned the importance of empathy, kindness, and understanding – qualities that will serve us well as we navigate the complexities of the world beyond these walls. But perhaps the most important lesson we have learned is the power of believing in ourselves. Each of us has faced moments of doubt, of insecurity, of fear. And yet, through it all, we have remained steadfast in our belief that we are capable of achieving greatness. As we move forward into the unknown, let us carry this belief with us – let it be our guiding light, our North Star, guiding us through the darkest of times. And so, as we prepare to embark on this new adventure, I urge you all to embrace the future with open hearts and open minds. Let us be fearless in the pursuit of our dreams, bold in the face of adversity, and unwavering in our commitment to making the world a better place. To my fellow graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. May your future be filled with joy, success, and fulfillment. And may the memories we have created here sustain us in the years to come. Thank you, class of [Graduation Year], for inspiring me, for challenging me, and for being a part of this incredible journey. Here's to us, to our accomplishments, and to the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Congratulations, and may the future shine brightly upon us all.

5. Community College Graduation Speech Example

Dear fellow graduates, esteemed faculty members, friends, and family, As I stand before you today, filled with a mix of emotions — excitement, nostalgia, gratitude, and a hint of nervousness — I am reminded of the incredible journey we have all undertaken to reach this momentous occasion. The year 2024 will forever hold a special place in our hearts as the year we officially became graduates of this esteemed university. Looking back on our time here, we have experienced moments of triumph, moments of challenge, and moments of growth that have shaped us into the individuals we are today. We have pulled all-nighters studying for exams, collaborated on group projects, cheered on our sports teams, and formed friendships that will last a lifetime. Each class we attended, each professor we learned from, and each experience we encountered have played a vital role in preparing us for the next chapter of our lives. As we step out into the world beyond these university walls, we are armed with knowledge, skills, and a passion to make a difference. The world may seem daunting at times, but I am confident that every one of us has the potential to create a meaningful impact in our unique way. Whether we pursue further education, enter the workforce, start our own businesses, or embark on a different path altogether, let us remember the lessons we have learned here and carry the spirit of curiosity, perseverance, and resilience with us. I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to our families, friends, and loved ones who have supported us throughout this journey. Their unwavering belief in our abilities, their patience during our moments of stress, and their endless encouragement have been the driving force behind our success. Let us take this opportunity to thank them for all that they have done for us and to celebrate this achievement together. As we look towards the future, let us maintain a sense of optimism and hope for what lies ahead. Let us embrace new opportunities with open hearts and open minds, knowing that we are well-equipped to face whatever challenges come our way. And most importantly, let us never forget the friendships we have forged, the memories we have created, and the lessons we have learned during our time here. Congratulations, Class of 2024! May your futures be bright, your dreams be bold, and your hearts be filled with joy as you embark on this new chapter in your lives. Thank you for being a part of my university journey, and may we all continue to inspire and uplift each other in the years to come. Here's to us, here's to our future, and here's to the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Go forth and conquer, my fellow graduates! Thank you.

As you step up to deliver your speech, remember that this is not just a celebration of academic achievements but also a pivotal life moment for every graduate present. Your words have the power to impact, encourage, and shape how your fellow graduates view and begin their next chapter.

Whether your speech is reflective, humorous, profound, direct, or community-focused, it should resonate with your personal experiences and the collective journey of your peers.

With writespeech.io , you can craft a message that not only honors this special day but also inspires and entertains you just need to fill the template and we will write a unique speech for you.

Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone, and may your speech be as memorable as your time spent learning and growing!

Ready to start writting your speech?

Examples of Dedications

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You've written a book, dissertation, or thesis; you've passed out from joy and woken up! Now, you need to write a dedication to that person (or those people) who made it all possible. 

You want the thesis or book dedication to be meaningful, but how can you make it work? You have lots of options, from simple to complex and from informal to formal.

Read on to discover how you can write the perfect dedication, whether it is a dedication to a friend, parent, child, or someone else.

Tips for Writing a Dedication Page

A dedication is usually a single sentence at the beginning of a book, thesis, or dissertation that offers the work to someone who inspired you or helped you with it. It's a short statement but one that can be very personal.

Here’s an example of a dedication for a thesis: 

Before diving into the dedication examples below, you should keep a few things in mind: 

There's no right or wrong way to write a dedication sentence. Who you thank and how you thank them can and should be personal.

If the list of people you need to thank is long, you can use your Acknowledgments section to pay tribute to as many people as you'd like.

Everyone who reads your book, thesis, or dissertation will see your dedication page. Be aware of the impact that your dedication will have. 

Be brief. Dedication sentences should be short and to the point. 

Check out How to Write a Dedication for more writing help.

Formal and Informal Dedication Examples

Informal and simple dedication.

This one goes to you, Mom.

Formal and simple dedication

This is for my mother.

Informal and complex dedication

This is for my dad. Thanks for teaching me how to make casserole and for all those laughs.

Formal and complex dedication

I dedicate this to my sister, who was always there for me, even on the tough days.

Informal dedication with an anecdote

To Rebecca. Thank you for getting us lost in Mexico and eventually getting us found. Keep leading the way. 

Formal dedication with an anecdote

I dedicate this to Kimberly Marsh, for her outpouring of support when Charlie was hospitalized. Her steadfast commitment, love, and dedication will not be forgotten. 

Informal dedication in memoriam

In memory of Chuck Thomas. It was a joy to serve you coffee every Thursday. I'll never forget you.

Formal dedication in memoriam

I dedicate this book to Don Reynolds, who influenced countless people in his too-short time here on earth. I miss you more than words can say. Thank you for believing in my dream. I look forward to the day we meet again. 

Dedication Examples to Different Parties

Book dedication to a child examples.

I dedicate this little book to my children. This one is for you, from me, your loving mother. 

To all my children. I almost named you after the characters in this book. If you can guess which name was almost yours, no complaining. 

To Nate and Jenny. I have nothing but gratitude to you, my children, for reminding me that walking to the beach is just as fun as being there. 

Book dedication examples to a friend

This book is dedicated to Tim. Thanks for encouraging me to write it. 

I dedicate this book to my friend and confidante, Jack Millhouse. He was the first person to encourage me to try. 

To Melissa R., for being a dedicated reader through all those rounds of revision. This one is for you. 

Book dedication to parents examples

To my parents. Thanks for keeping the interest rates low on everything I owe you. 

I dedicate this to my parents, for your constant love and support. 

This one is for my parents. Thanks for trying. 

Whether you are dedicating a thesis or a book to a friend or a family member, our examples can help you draft a dedication that both you and your dedicatee are proud of. 

If you're struggling to find the right words, our editors can make sure you're on the right track.

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Scribendi's in-house editors work with writers from all over the globe to perfect their writing. They know that no piece of writing is complete without a professional edit, and they love to see a good piece of writing transformed into a great one. Scribendi's in-house editors are unrivaled in both experience and education, having collectively edited millions of words and obtained nearly 20 degrees. They love consuming caffeinated beverages, reading books of various genres, and relaxing in quiet, dimly lit spaces.

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How to Write an Unforgettable Teacher Appreciation Speech

Sharing is caring!

Today we are showing you how to write a teacher appreciation speech that’ll show your all the teachers how meaningful they are.

Expressing gratitude towards wonderful teachers is not just a formality, but a meaningful gesture that can leave a lasting impact.

A well written appreciation speech has the power to inspire, uplift, and acknowledge the incredible work that educators do every day and show them how much each teacher deserves tremendous love.

Teachers play a vital role in shaping the lives of their students, instilling knowledge, values, and a passion for learning.

Here we dive into the art of writing a teacher appreciation speech that goes beyond mere words to truly resonate with its audience.

We will explore the significance of honoring teachers, the heartfelt emotions involved, and the importance of expressing gratitude sincerely.

Whether you are a student, a parent, or a colleague looking to convey your appreciation, crafting a thoughtful speech can convey your deep respect and admiration for the dedication and hard work of teachers.

After all, teachers are what make school such a special place. School would be just a hollow building without all the deeds amazing teachers do everyday.

A speech is a great idea for teacher’s appreciation week .

Looking for more great teacher appreciation ideas ? We’ve got lots of great teacher appreciation printables and teacher appreciation craft ideas too!

Table of Contents

Understanding the Role of Teachers in Society

Crafting a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech, structuring an inspiring teacher appreciation speech, delivering the speech with confidence and sincerity, acknowledging the impact of teacher appreciation, teacher appreciation speech example.

Teachers hold a pivotal role in shaping the future of society through their impact on students’ lives. They go beyond imparting knowledge, influencing values, skills, and character development. Let’s delve into the multifaceted role of teachers in our society.

Here are some things to consider before writing your speech.

Impact of Teachers on Students’ Lives

Teachers are more than just educators; they are mentors, role models, and supporters. Their influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the beliefs, attitudes, and aspirations of their students.

Teachers instill a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and a thirst for knowledge that can last a lifetime. They play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

The relationships teachers build with their students can have a profound impact on their personal and academic growth. Teachers not only teach academic subjects but also impart life lessons, instilling values like empathy, resilience, and perseverance.

They help students discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and realize their full potential. The guidance and encouragement provided by teachers can set students on a path to success and fulfillment.

Challenges Faced by Teachers

Despite their vital role, teachers encounter numerous challenges in their profession. From heavy workloads and limited resources to diverse student needs and societal pressures, teachers navigate a complex landscape every day.

The demands of modern education, including standardized testing, curriculum changes, and technology integration, add to the challenges teachers face.

Moreover, teachers often deal with issues beyond academics, such as student behavior problems, mental health concerns, and societal inequalities.

The emotional labor involved in supporting students’ social and emotional well-being can be draining. Despite these challenges, teachers remain dedicated to their students’ growth and well-being, often going above and beyond their job descriptions.

Appreciation for teachers is crucial not only to boost their morale but also to acknowledge the hard work, passion, and dedication they bring to their profession.

Recognizing the challenges teachers face and expressing gratitude for their contributions can inspire them to continue making a positive impact on students’ lives.

In a society where teachers play such a significant role in shaping the future generations, it is essential to value and appreciate their efforts, recognizing the impact they have on individuals, communities, and the world at large.

Sharing a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech is a meaningful way to express gratitude and admiration for the educators who impact our lives.

Reflecting on personal experiences with teachers and how they have influenced us can add a personal touch to the speech, making it more genuine and memorable.

Personal Reflections on Teacher’s Influence

Begin by reflecting on specific moments when the teacher made a difference in your life.

Recall instances where their guidance, support, or encouragement influenced your personal growth and academic journey.

Share anecdotes that highlight the positive impact the teacher had on you, allowing the audience to understand the depth of your appreciation.

Expressing Specific Appreciation

Expressing gratitude with specific examples can make your speech more impactful. Mention particular qualities or actions of the teacher that you admire and appreciate.

Whether it’s their dedication to helping students, their innovative teaching methods, or their unwavering support, sharing concrete examples can demonstrate the profound impact they have had on you and others.

Adding Personal Touches to the Speech

Adding personal touches to your teacher appreciation speech can make it more heartfelt and memorable. Consider using resources like teacher appreciation poems and teach appreciation quotes to add a creative and touching flair to your message.

These elements can beautifully complement your anecdotes, illustrating the profound bond between teachers and their students.

You can also incorporate personal experiences or lessons learned from the teacher that have shaped your growth and perspective. Personalizing the speech shows thoughtfulness and gratitude, making the teacher feel truly valued and appreciated.

Crafting a teacher appreciation speech that resonates with your audience requires careful structuring to ensure your message is impactful and memorable. Here’s how you can structure your speech to inspire and honor your teachers.

Setting the Tone

The introduction of your teacher appreciation speech sets the tone for the entire address. It serves as the hook that captures the audience’s attention and piques their interest. Consider starting with a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking quote, or a heartfelt thank you to immediately engage your listeners. A captivating introduction not only grabs attention but also sets the stage for the heartfelt appreciation you’re about to express.

Sharing Appreciation Stories

In the body of your speech, sharing personal anecdotes and appreciation stories can profoundly impact your audience. Reflect on specific moments when a teacher’s guidance or support made a difference in your life or the lives of others.

By weaving these stories into your speech, you humanize your message and illustrate the positive influence teachers have. Personal narratives create a connection with your audience and showcase the genuine appreciation you have for your teachers.

You can get ideas in our guide for writing teacher appreciation letter or examples for thank-you notes from parents , which can provide a personal touch and demonstrate the collective appreciation of the community.

Sharing specific instances where teachers have made a significant difference can make your speech more relatable and heartfelt.

Inspiring Closing Remarks

Concluding your teacher appreciation speech with impactful closing remarks leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Use this final opportunity to reinforce your gratitude, summarize key points, and leave the audience inspired.

Consider ending with a with an inspiring message, possibly echoing the sentiments found in thank-you messages from students , leaving a lasting impression of heartfelt appreciation.

Crafting an inspiring teacher appreciation speech involves structuring your message thoughtfully, from the attention-grabbing introduction to the heartfelt conclusion.

By setting the right tone, sharing personal stories, and ending with impactful closing remarks, you can create a speech that honors and celebrates the teachers who have made a difference.

Delivering a teacher appreciation speech with confidence and sincerity is a critical aspect of making a lasting impact on your audience. Here are some tips to help you practice, maintain eye contact, and deliver your speech with genuine emotion:

Tips on Practicing the Speech

• Practice Makes Perfect : Rehearse your speech multiple times to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
• Record Yourself : Recording your practice sessions allows you to identify areas for improvement, such as pacing and tone.
• Seek Feedback : Ask friends or family to listen to your speech and provide constructive feedback for refinement.
• Visualize Success : Picture yourself delivering the speech confidently and envision a positive response from your audience.

Maintaining Eye Contact

• Connect with Your Audience : Maintain eye contact with different individuals in the room to establish a personal connection and convey sincerity.
• Engage with Emotion : Use eye contact to express genuine gratitude and appreciation for the teachers you are addressing.
• Practice In Front of a Mirror : Practice making eye contact with your reflection to build confidence in maintaining eye contact during the actual speech.

Delivering with Genuine Emotion

• Speak from the Heart : Infuse your speech with personal anecdotes and heartfelt sentiments to evoke genuine emotion.
• Express Gratitude : Verbally express your appreciation for the teachers’ dedication and impact on your life and education.
• Stay True to Your Emotions : Avoid sounding rehearsed by staying authentic and allowing your emotions to shine through in your delivery.

By following these tips, you can deliver your speech for teachers with the confidence and sincerity that will truly inspire and touch the hearts of your audience.

Expressing gratitude towards teachers not only brightens their day but also plays a significant role in shaping their teaching journey. Let’s delve into how gratitude impacts teachers and ways to continue appreciating them beyond a speech.

How Gratitude Impacts Teachers

Gratitude acts as a driving force for teachers, fueling their passion and dedication towards their students. When teachers feel appreciated, it boosts their morale, leading to increased job satisfaction and motivation to excel in their roles.

The simple act of acknowledging their hard work and commitment can have a profound impact on their overall well-being.

It reinforces a sense of value and recognition, creating a positive environment where teachers feel supported and encouraged to continue making a difference in the lives of their students.

Continuing the Appreciation Beyond the Speech

While a thank you speech is a wonderful gesture, it’s essential to continue showing gratitude consistently.

Simple actions such as writing a heartfelt note, volunteering to help with classroom tasks, or participating in school events can go a long way in recognizing and supporting teachers.

Building a culture of appreciation not only benefits individual teachers but also fosters a sense of community within the school.

By consistently showing appreciation and support, we can empower teachers to thrive and inspire future generations with their dedication and passion.

Here’s an example of a great teacher appreciation speech.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and most importantly, our honored teachers,

As we gather in this moment of gratitude, we find ourselves reflecting on the invaluable impact you’ve made on our lives. Your dedication extends far beyond the walls of any classroom, reaching deep into the hearts and minds of those you teach. Today, I wish to celebrate you with words that mirror our collective admiration, starting with a poem that echoes our sentiments:

“In the garden of life, teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever. With gentle hands and a nurturing heart, they cultivate dreams, inspire curiosity, and awaken the soul to the endless possibilities that await.”

This poem, though simple, captures the essence of what you do every day. You are the gardeners of human potential, nurturing budding minds with the richness of education and the warmth of your dedication.

In the spirit of expressing our deepest thanks, let me share a quote that resonates profoundly with the essence of your contribution: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Your impact is immeasurable, not confined by the here and now but extending into the infinite reach of future generations. Your words, your lessons, and your care forge the legacy of your influence, a legacy that transcends time and space.

Every day, you paint the world with the colors of wisdom and truth, guiding us with patience and understanding, and illuminating the path of learning with the light of your knowledge. Your commitment to education is not just a profession but a profound calling, a dedication to shaping the architects of tomorrow and the guardians of a brighter future.

Through your eyes, we have glimpsed the wonders of the world, and through your words, we have been inspired to pursue our dreams with courage and confidence. You have shown us that the quest for knowledge is not a race to be won but a journey to be savored, filled with endless curiosity and boundless possibilities.

As we stand here in admiration of your unwavering dedication, let us acknowledge that the true essence of teaching is not to fill minds with data but to ignite the spark of understanding and the flame of passion. You have mastered this art with grace, imparting lessons that endure far beyond the final bell.

In closing, let this moment be a testament to our heartfelt appreciation for the countless ways you enrich our lives. Your influence shapes not just the intellect but the very spirit of those you teach, igniting a fire of learning that burns brightly within us all.

Thank you, dear teachers, for every moment, every lesson, and every memory. Your legacy is not just in the minds you’ve enlightened but in the lives you’ve inspired. We are all better for having known you, and our gratitude is as boundless as the knowledge you share.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Crafting a heartfelt teacher appreciation speech is not only a gesture of gratitude but also a powerful way to inspire and uplift those who dedicate their lives to education.

Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the hard work and dedication of teachers, we have explored how to structure a speech that resonates with sincerity and admiration.

Remember, simplicity and authenticity are key when expressing your gratitude. Let your words flow naturally, focusing on the impact your teacher has had on your life and the lives of others.

Take the time to reflect on the qualities that make your teacher special and be sure to convey your appreciation with genuine emotion.

By harnessing the power of gratitude in your speech, you have the opportunity to create a lasting impression that will inspire both your teacher and your audience.

So go ahead, write your own teacher appreciation speech and let your words be a beacon of gratitude and inspiration.

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8th Grade Graduation Speech Examples

Graduation speeches are a time-honored tradition, and they can be a lot of fun to give. If you are feeling nervous about giving your speech , don’t worry! We are here to help. If you’re looking for inspiration, or simply want to see how other people have done it, we’ve gathered some 8th grade graduation speech examples and inspiring quotes to include for you.

Before we get to the examples themselves, let’s go over a few tips on how to make your 8th grade graduation speech memorable.

How to Give a Memorable Speech

Giving a memorable speech in 8th grade is all about finding your personal voice and using it to connect with your audience. The best speeches are the ones that sound like they were written just for the occasion, and that’s exactly what you should aim for.

Start by thinking about what makes you unique – what experiences, hobbies, or interests do you have that nobody else does? This can be anything from your love of animals to your talent for painting.

Once you’ve pinpointed what makes you special, use that as the foundation for your speech. What message do you want to share with your classmates? How can you inspire them to follow their own dreams ? Answering these questions will help you write a speech that is both personal and powerful.

And if you’re still feeling nervous about speaking in front of a group, remember that practice makes perfect! Studies show that the more you speak in front of others, the more confident you’ll become.

Here are some tips to help you make it memorable:

• Be yourself: This is probably the most important tip of all. Being genuine and authentic will help you connect with your audience and deliver a speech that is truly meaningful.
• Use humor: A little bit of humor can go a long way in making your speech more enjoyable for everyone. Just be sure not to overdo it – too much jokes can make you seem unprofessional.
• Tell a story: Stories are a great way to engage your audience and illustrate your points. If you can, try to find a personal story that relates to the topic of your speech .
• End on a high note: Your conclusion is what people will remember most, so make it count! Sum up your main points and leave your audience with a strong and positive message.

The 8th grade graduation speeches examples below provide a great starting point, but remember that the best way to make your speech memorable is to be yourself. Be natural, and speak from the heart. This is your time to shine, so enjoy it!

And now, without further ado, here are some 8th grade graduation speech examples.

Blurbs to include in your 8th Grade Speech

“Class of 20xx, we did it! We made it through 8th grade! I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty proud right now. It’s been a long journey, full of ups and downs, but we’ve made it to the end. And I think that’s worth celebrating!”

“This is just the beginning. 8th grade may be ending, but there are so many great things ahead of us. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of you. Congratulations, and best of luck!”

“Graduation is a time to look back on all we’ve accomplished, and to set our sights even higher for the future. So let’s make a promise to ourselves right now: to never give up on our dreams, no matter how big or small.”

“It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you over the past few years. You’re an amazing group of people with bright futures ahead of you. I have no doubt that you’ll go on to do great things in the world. Congratulations!”

“Wishing all of you a bright future full of happiness, success, and lots of love. Congratulations, 8th grade graduates!”

Short 8th Grade Speech Examples

Speech example 1.

“Class of 2023, we did it! We made it through 8th grade! This is a huge accomplishment and I’m so proud of each and every one of you. I can’t wait to see all the great things you will do in high school and beyond.

Now, I know graduation speeches are supposed to be serious, but I also know that 8th graders aren’t always the most serious bunch. So, instead of giving a long speech full of big words, I thought I would leave you with this quote from Dr. Seuss:

‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’

Class of 2023 , congratulations again. Make sure to enjoy the rest of your summer break!”

Speech Example 2

“It seems like only yesterday we were starting 8th grade. Time really does fly when you’re having fun, or in 8th grade’s case, when you’re trying to survive 8th grade. But we made it! We’re finally graduating and moving on to high school.

I’m going to miss all of you, but I know that we will all keep in touch and stay friends. I want to wish you all the best of luck in high school and beyond. Remember to always stay true to yourselves and never give up on your dreams.

And with that, I’ll leave you with one more quote, this time from Walt Disney: ‘All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.’

Thank you and good luck!”

Speech Example 3

“As I stand here today, looking at all of you, I’m filled with so much pride. We’ve come so far, and we’ve accomplished so much. 8th grade is a big milestone, but it’s only the beginning. The sky is the limit for all of us.

I encourage each and every one of you to follow your passions and never give up on yourselves. Believe in yourselves and always stay positive. And finally, don’t forget to have fun! Life is too short to not enjoy every moment.

Thank you all for making 8th grade such a great year.”

Speech Example 4

“Graduation is a time to celebrate our accomplishments, reflect on our journey thus far, and set our sights on the future. For some of us, 8th grade was tough, but we made it through! We should be proud of ourselves for everything we’ve overcome.

As we move on to high school and beyond, let’s always remember the lessons we learned in 8th grade. Be kind to others, work hard, and never give up on your dreams. With that said, I’ll leave you all with one last quote from Maya Angelou:

‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’

Class of 2023, congratulations and best of luck!”

Speech Example 5

“It’s been a pleasure getting to know each and every one of you over the past year. You’ve all accomplished so much and I know you’re going to do great things in high school.

I encourage you to always stay true to yourselves and never give up on your dreams. And remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. So, enjoy the ride!

Thank you all for making 8th grade such a great year. I wish you all the best of luck in high school and beyond.”

Quotes to Use in Your 8th Grade Speech

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” – Unknown

“Don’t let anyone ever dull your sparkle.” – Unknown

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” – Brad Montague

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein

“Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” – Unknown

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the best.” – John D. Rockefeller

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Unknown

We hope these 8th grade graduation speech examples have inspired you to write your own. Remember, the most important thing is to be yourself and have fun. Congratulations on your big day!

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My School Life Speech for Students and Children

My school life speech.

Memories have been the part and parcel of my life, much like everyone else. We remember the good days which have gone by and the bad ones as well. One of the good memories in life is definitely of their school life. In fact, it is considered to be the best phase of their lives by many. A student knows the importance of school life and they consider it the golden period of their life. And why should it not be? It is the first truly impactful thing in one’s life and the importance of it can never be disproved. Read my school life speech here.

A Learning Experience

My school life was surely a learning experience. The confidence and motivation it gave me, I couldn’t get anywhere else. Most importantly, it is the place where I recognized my uniqueness and individuality. My school life is no less than a treasure for me which gave me invaluable joys in life.

It is where I started by learning the alphabet and can now solve equations using the same. The warm welcome I received when I first started my school is something I will never forget. It is what also defines why my school life is so important to me.

My school life helped me learn about the things which were first mysterious to me. For instance, I got answers to many questions that were always at the back of my mind. It helped me gain knowledge and excel in studies. It is through my school life that I realized I have the talent of being a painter.

The things I have learned over the course of my school life will always stay with me forever. In fact, had it not been for my school life, I would’ve missed out on so many things. The knowledge, experience and memories, I owe it all to my incredible school life.

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An Unforgettable Journey

It has indeed been an unforgettable journey which will remain in my heart forever. My school life was filled with lots of excitement and love. It made me understand the value of time and became a wonderful chapter in my life.

It is definitely the period where I found myself and learned a great deal about myself. My school life helped me learn dedication and self-actualization. My teachers motivated me and pushed me to achieve my best which is a big part of what I am today.

Most importantly, I earned friends here. Friends who will remain so for my entire lifetime. One of the greatest blessings of my school life has indeed been my friends. They were the ones who made this journey unforgettable and easy.

They helped me when I was down and elevated me when I was up. Moreover, they gave me strength and the courage to try out new things. My most memorable moments have been the ones spent with my friends. Other than that, I will remember the times we spent in the school canteen during recess. Each day was magical in my school life.

As we all know that the first and last day of our school life is the most memorable days. I entered my school weeping and even while leaving, I have the same tears in my eyes. The difference being the former was for not wanting to go and the latter is for not wanting to leave. They joys my school life has given are surely countless and will remain to be the best days of my life.

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Speeches > Gordon B. Hinckley > Dedication of the John Taylor Building

Dedication of the John Taylor Building

Gordon b. hinckley.

Of the First Presidency

September 14, 1982

I am honored to be with you this morning. It is no small or insignificant or unimportant thing to intrude upon the time and attention of so many thousands of you. Thank you for coming. I pray that I may be directed by the Spirit to say something to you which will be useful in your lives.

Welcome to Students

I am here for two assigned purposes. The first is to welcome you on behalf of the First Presidency of the Church, who stand as the president and vice-presidents of the Board of Trustees, to this new academic year. The second is to dedicate the John Taylor Building on this campus.

As President Holland has explained, it has been customary over a period of many years for the president of the Church to meet with you each fall. I regret that President Kimball has found it necessary to excuse himself this morning. Your disappointment is no greater than is my own. I am pleased to report that he is getting along well. He meets with us almost every morning. He was with us this morning. The last thing I did before leaving to come here was to talk with him. We greatly appreciate that association. He is the Prophet of the Lord in this day. We honor him as such and look to him for guidance. He gives us inspiration, and we are grateful for it. I assure you that no major decision is reached by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve, and no policy is implemented that impacts upon the membership of the Church without his approval. That should be reassuring to the membership of the Church who sustain him as prophet, seer, and revelator. Such he is, and of this I bear testimony to you.

I bring you his love and blessing. I bring also the love and blessing of his devoted and inspired counselors, President Tanner and President Romney. The Brethren in whose behalf I speak have great love and appreciation for this tremendous institution. They have great expectations concerning you, its student body. They and their associates of the Board of Trustees have allocated from the general funds of the Church, which are sacred trust funds, millions of dollars that have come from the consecrations of the members of the Church across the world, to make it possible for you to be here and drink at the fountains of knowledge, both secular and spiritual.

In so doing they have placed upon you a great and sacred trust. As a few thousand among the millions of Church members, you occupy a unique and enviable position. Yours is the opportunity to attend Brigham Young University, the university of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here to study under a faculty of men and women of learning and of faith. There are many wonderful colleges and universities on this continent. But BYU is unique. It is the largest private university in America, and that is an indication of the great beneficence of the church which supports it and of the board which has responsibility for its operation. Furthermore, its plant, its programs, and its faculty are unexcelled. Most important, there exists a guiding determination on the part of its board that the Spirit of God shall be constantly invited as an overriding component of the environment in which you live and work while you are here.

BYU ought to be the very best in the entire world. Reflect for a moment upon the motto of this institution—“The glory of God is intelligence.” You who have come here to study are walking the road that leads to immortality, eternal life, and that glory whose very essence is pure and godly and eternal intelligence.

I cannot emphasize too strongly the need on your part to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity that lies ahead of you as you begin this academic year. You must qualify yourselves with skills and with flexibility to meet the challenges of a changing society. I recently read a provocative monograph, dealing with a thesis on “the restructuring of America in the decade ahead.” It emphasized that our society is changing far more rapidly than most of us realize.

This study pointed out that we are moving from an industrial to an information society:

In 1950, 65% of the U.S. work force was engaged in industrial occupations. Since 1950, that 65% has dropped to 27%. . . . In 1950, about 17% of the work force was in information jobs (those involved with creating, processing, and distributing information)—today that figure is up to 60%—and the projection is that 80% of the U.S. work force will be in information jobs by the year 2000.  [John Naisbitt, “The Restructuring of America,” Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters]

This study further points out that we are moving from a centralized to a decentralized society. There is a new federalism spoken of in Washington. The demise of the great, large-circulation magazines such as  Life, Look,  and  Saturday Evening Post  is indicative of this decentralization. “There are now more than 4,000 special interest magazines being published in the United States, and no huge circulation, general purpose magazines.”

The study goes on to talk of a shift from a national economy to a global economy. We in the United States have witnessed some of this in the automobile and electronics industries. Once we were the preeminent producers of automobiles. There are now eighty-six countries that have automobile assembly plants.

“We now have two economies in America, one falling and one rising. We have a group of sunset industries and a group of sunrise industries” (Public Affairs Forum C.P.C.U., vol. 3, no. 1).

These shifts, which are going on all about us and which will continue in the years ahead, make education so very necessary—first, to recognize them; and secondly to be prepared to adjust to them. The competitive pressures will be tremendous as the Third World gears for increasing industrial capacity which in the past has been in other hands. I am convinced that the faculty of this university will face greater challenges than they have known in a long while. We must keep abreast of the times—no, we must keep ahead of them. This is one of the great responsibilities of education, to anticipate and to prepare for that which inevitably will come.

There is another evolution or revolution that has been going on. This too has created and will continue to create tremendous challenges, and particularly for the graduates of this institution.

Jim Bishop, prominent columnist, recently wrote as follows: “This is the twentieth year of America’s Rotten Revolution. Two decades ago, this nation began its slide down the drain. It moved faster, more destructively, than the fall of the Roman Empire.” He quoted from a book by Marvin Harris to be published this November by Simon and Schuster under the title  Why America Changed . He spoke of the moral decline, the decline of ethics and principle. And then he concluded: “It was, no matter how you gauge it, a Rotten Revolution. America has paid dearly for greed on all levels. We cannot wish our way back to strength. The only way is to restore the morals we had in our innocence.”

I am, by nature, an optimist. But no one, it seems to me, can be blind to the tremendous forces that are slapping our society. I received my baccalaureate degree fifty years ago, in the depression-ridden year of 1932. None of you students here today really has any idea of the economic darkness of those times. To be thrown onto the employment market in those times was like being cast into the sea to swim through heavy waves. Unemployment reached 30 percent. People committed suicide in despair. If a man had a job earning a hundred dollars a month, he was considered fortunate. Men who had been profitably employed found themselves standing in soup lines and living in shantytowns.

But with all of this, it seems to me, as I reflect on those days, there was something of tremendous good in the people. There was a spirit of mutual helpfulness, a spirit of respect one for another and, generally speaking, a high moral tone. Of course there was crime, even gang crime. There were the rumrunners and the moonshiners. There were even those who wished for arrest and conviction so that they could trade the cold of the outside for the warmth of jail. But, at least in the society of which I was a part as a young man, there was a great—and what I regard as wonderful—respect for women. Homosexuality was almost unheard of. The use of hard drugs was practically unknown.

We have traveled far since then, and the results are told in our statistics, of crime, divorce, and a long and sickening train of various immoralities.

And so, my dear young friends, as we welcome you this new academic year, we expect, and we hope you expect, to make the very most of the great and challenging opportunities you have before you—on the one hand, to equip yourselves for the changing and competitive world in which you will earn your livelihood, and, on the other hand, to cultivate a compelling loyalty to the unchanging and ever-constant principles of morality, integrity, and eternal truth which must undergird the character of every good man and woman, and every progressive society.

The John Taylor Building

Now, this brings me to the second reason for my being here, and that is to dedicate the John Taylor Building. I am grateful that we are now naming on this campus a structure for this remarkable man who sometimes is little remembered in this generation. Our studies of him are diminished, in comparison, by our studies of the two great men who preceded him as presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.

John Taylor was a remarkable man, whose life and example we ought to study more.

He was a man of principle, integrity, and fidelity. He was born in the lake country of Westmorland, that magnificently beautiful area of England where the deep waters of Windermere, Grasmere, and Morcombe Bay lend a quality to the environment that is exhilerating simply to inhale. I have been there, and I have tasted of that beauty. Here he grew through his childhood and youth and at the age of seventeen became a Methodist lay minister. A few years later he came to the New World and in 1832 settled in Toronto. It was here that his path crossed the path of Parley P. Pratt, who had been sent on a mission to Canada under a prophecy of Heber C. Kimball that there he would find a people ready to receive him, and that out of that service would come a harvest which would lead, among other things, to the spread of the work to the British Isles.

The story of the fulfillment of that remarkable prophecy is too long for this telling. Suffice it to say that John Taylor and his wife were baptized into the Church in 1836 through the labors of Parley Pratt who said, “The people there drank in truth as water, and loved it as they loved life” ( PPP,  p. 152). Thereafter, until the day of his death, John Taylor, the convert, was an unflinching and powerful exponent of the truths which had come into his life and which had taken possession of all his loyalties. He selected as his motto, “The kingdom of God or nothing.” With that motto as his anchor, his life became the fulfillment of that marvelous promise given by the Lord through revelation when he said: “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you” (D&C 88:67). He met Joseph Smith, and there came into his heart a great and powerful conviction that this man was indeed a prophet of God.

John Taylor said on one occasion: “I do not believe in a religion that cannot have all my affections, but in a religion for which I can both live and die. I would rather have God for my friend than all other influences and powers” (G. B. Hinckley,  Truth Restored  [Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1947], p. 140).

He believed this. He lived it. He advocated it by his example. He was a man of absolute fidelity and loyalty to Him whom he accepted as his leader.

He responded to calls twice to go to England, on another occasion to go to France, on another occasion to go to the Eastern States, and on yet another occasion to plead the cause of the Saints in Washington.

In the dark and troubled days of Nauvoo, when a number of those who had been close to the Prophet turned against him, John Taylor was one who remained at his side with absolute loyalty. There were traitors in those days, men who clandestinely connived against the Prophet. There was another group, the members of which professed belief but who spent much time criticizing and finding fault rather than holding the work together and building the kingdom. Selfishness and pride, and a lust for power and attention took possession of them. All this dissention reached its climax on the tragic day of 27 June 1844, when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed by the mob in Carthage Jail. There were two good men with them in that jail at that time. One was Willard Richards, who miraculously escaped injury; and the other was John Taylor, who was savagely wounded, four balls having entered his body from the pistols of the mob. The watch which he carried in his pocket stopped the one which likely would have taken his life. He would have given that life. Concerning his coming into the Church he had said:

I expected when I came into this Church, that I should be persecuted and proscribed. I expected that the people would be persecuted. But I believed that God had spoken, that the eternal principles of truth had been revealed, and that God had a work to accomplish which was in opposition to the ideas, views, and notions of men, and I did not know but it would cost me my life before I got through. . . .

Was there anything surprising in all this? No. If they killed Jesus in former times, would not the same feeling and influence bring about the same results in these times? I had counted the cost when I first started out, and stood prepared to meet it . [ JD  25:91–92]

It was he who wrote what we now have as section 135 of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning the death of Joseph Smith, saying:

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. . . .He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum . [D&C 135:3]

It was that kind of loyalty to his leader, it was that kind of fidelity to the cause to which he had given his life, that sustained that cause and kept it moving forward in the dark and troubled days that lay ahead. John Taylor’s faith in those difficult times was unmistakable. Listen to his words on the position of the Church in that fateful year of 1844:

The idea of the church being disorganized and broken up because of the Prophet and Patriarch being slain, is preposterous. This church has the seeds of immortality in its midst. It is not of man, nor by man—it is the offspring of Deity: it is organized after the pattern of heavenly beings, through the principles of revelation; by the opening of the heavens, by the ministering of angels, and the revelations of Jehovah. It is not affected by the death of one or two, or fifty individuals. . . . Times and seasons may change, revolution may succeed revolution, thrones may be cast down, and empires be dissolved, earthquakes may rend the earth from centre to circumference, the mountains may be hurled out of their places, and the mighty ocean be moved form its bed; but amidst the crash of worlds and the crack of matter, truth, eternal truth must remain unchanged, and those principles which God has revealed to his Saints be unscathed amidst the warring elements, and remain as firm as the throne of Jehovah.  [ Times and Seasons  5:744, December 15, 1844]

Such is the nature of the man we honor today. How appropriate that a building on this great campus be named to his memory. How marvelous his example to all of us who will accept it and live by it. We have those in the Church these days, as there were in Nauvoo, who profess membership but spend much of their time in criticizing, in finding fault, and in looking for defects in the Church, in its leaders, in its programs. They contribute nothing to the building of the kingdom. They rationalize their efforts, trying to justify with pretenses of doing good for the cause, but the result of those efforts is largely only a fragmentation of faith, their own and that of others. How different the motto and the life of the man we remember today: “The kingdom of God or nothing.” I commend it to each of you as a standard for your own lives.

God bless his memory to our good and his life as our example, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, if you will bow your heads and close your eyes, we shall join in a prayer of dedication.

Dedicatory Prayer

Our beloved Father in Heaven, thou who art our Father and our God, we bow before thee this day in solemn prayer with grateful hearts. We are met on the campus of this great institution which is operated in thy name and in the name of thy beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are thankful for this university with its faculty and all of it facilities, and for the great student body who have come here to learn with hope and desire, and with faith and prayer.

We reflect today upon those who have gone before us who laid the foundations of the great work of which we are a part—thine anointed servant, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and those who have succeeded him in that high and sacred office down to him who stands in that office today, even President Spencer W. Kimball, for whom we pray.

On this occasion we particularly remember with appreciation the third President of the Church, President John Taylor, whom thou didst bless and whose mind thou didst touch so that he received the teachings of everlasting truth and who thereafter with great courage, and with faith and fidelity loyally walked as one who was a convert in very deed and who became a great and powerful exponent, even that he came to be known as “the Champion of Liberty.” We thank thee for the life of President John Taylor. We thank thee for his leadership. We thank thee for his great example. We thank thee for those of his descendents who are with us this day and ask thy special blessings upon them that they may always remember him who was their forebear, who walked in faith and with courage and great capacity as an exponent of thy word.

Now, Father, we are here to dedicate a structure named in his memory, even the John Taylor Building. In the authority of the holy priesthood which we hold, and in behalf of all who are present, we dedicate the John Taylor Building on the campus of the Brigham Young University for the great purposes for which it has been constructed, that it may stand on this campus as a place of beauty, yes, but, more importantly, as a place of learning as well as of teaching, as a place of service, as a place of helpfulness, and that all who are housed here may have in their hearts a great sense of service to those who come seeking assistance. We pray that thou wilt bless them with a love for humanity, for this building is presently used to house those departments of the university and of the Church which are designed to look after the needs of those who need help of many kinds. Dear Father, bless those who are there to serve that they may do so with kindness and with love and in the Spirit of thy Son whose life was the very essence of love and service to others.

We pray that thy watchcare may be over this building that it may stand on this campus with its associate buildings as a great tribute to the beneficence of the Church which operates this university. May the name of John Taylor receive a new emphasis and a new attention as a result of the presence of this building on this campus, and may all who enter its portals be constrained to reflect in their minds upon the life, the strength, the faith, and the example of him whose name it carries. To this end we seek thy blessing on this day of dedication, and, in so doing, we dedicate ourselves anew to thy service in the name of thy beloved Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gordon B. Hinckley was a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 14 September 1982.

Dedications

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What God Might Say in a Graduation Commencement Speech

By Richard Curtis

Hello Students. Congratulations on your great achievement. Whether you are opting for further education or a new vocation, there are three things I would like to tell you.

First, choose your friends wisely.

—Engage everyone, but your closest friends should be Christians. The flesh, the world, and my enemy can be very persuasive in making life decisions you will later regret. Do not be reluctant to call on me, I can protect you, provide for you, and give you a peace that will surpass your understanding.

“…do not be afraid, I am your shield, I am your very great reward.” Genesis15:1b

Second, choose who and what you listen to carefully.

—-Know how to defend your faith and the truth in the Bible. Do not be afraid of science. Investigate modern scientific discoveries and see if they do not prove that the complexity and order of life cannot be explained by the laws of nature. True science and scripture will not contradict each other. I know because both were my ideas.

Third, choose your vocation thoughtfully.

—-Three men were in a field swinging sledge hammers breaking up large boulders into smaller stones. The first man was asked, “What are you doing?” He replied “I am busting up rocks, what does I look like I’m doing?”. The second man was also asked, “What are you doing?” He replied “I am making a living to support my family, and it is a difficult job!” The third man was asked the same question, “What are you doing?”. He replied, ”I am helping to build a great cathedral!”

Work is an important part of life. I mention it throughout Scripture. Pick a vocation that you believe in and will be passionate about.

In closing, congratulations on your achievement. For those of you who already know me, keep in touch. For those of you who don’t, I will be close by if there is anything you would like to talk about.

“Call to me and I will answer you, and I will show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

*all verses New International Version.

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40 Thank You Speech and Words Of Appreciation For School Management and Principal

As parents or guardians, you are not supposed to wait for teachers ‘ day, open day, or principal appreciation days before we appreciate those who care for and teach our children. The more we appreciate them the more they realize that you acknowledge their effort and their hard-noticed ice. Words of appreciation for school management and the principal will always get them motivated to joyfully deliver better service to your kids.

Appreciation goes a very long way no matter the standard of the school or the qualifications of the teachers in the school. As much as they teach your child and that child is doing excellently well I feel such teachers or schools need to be appreciated for a well-done job.

The four walls of a school build a child for six years of primary school and another six years of secondary learning, this is a huge task for them. It is high time we inculcated the art of acknowledging the effective work of a school that makes learning, development, growth, and many other avenues a convenient place for students.

In this collection of words to appreciate a school, the management of the principal, we have put together sweet and mind-blowing words of appreciation for the school.

Thank You Speech for School Management

Appreciation words for school principal, school appreciation speech, school appreciation quotes.

1. We appreciate you, you are doing a great job. You are such a great teacher Thank you! It gladdens my heart to say this school is the best among all the schools around. Your excellence in everything makes this school stand out and we are proud of it as a parent-teacher association.

2. We want to say thank you, we notice all the good things you are doing. All your efforts have the effect of obvious improvement in our children’s learning skills, they keep improving every day and they are doing well academically. This has always been the Joy of parents to see their children succeed.

3. I love your school, you guys are doing a great job, I love your teaching style and the school environment, and the school uniforms are like no other in this community. My mind is rest assured that my children are in safe hands and at the best school ever.

4. This great Citadel of learning has been amazing, helping your student, by all means, to do well academically is what I appreciate the most. I wish other schools could be like this and have this kind of teaching pattern. You guys are good at what you do.

5. I would like to give accolades to the school management for giving room to capable teachers who are qualified for the work and to the staff thank you for giving your best in the class and to the school. Your effort has been a noticeable positive change. Thank you!

6. The story of the success and huge difference of our children cannot be complete without involving the school management. The roles have played in children’s lives are amazing. Am saying thank you to the school principal, staff, and non-teaching staff for their zealousness to see the children excel.

7. Our children keep saying a lot of good things that have happened and how the teachers take good care of them. We can see the effect of your hard work and commitment in their lives. We are saying thank you for this utmost transformation academically.

8. Thanks to your esteemed principal, able teachers, and other faithful members of the staff. During the term I noticed the new potential my son just discovered, he’s not doing well in his science subject. I’m so happy to see you active like this. Thank you for this special role you took in his life.

9. We want to use this moment to say a very big thank you to the school management for a successful term. I appreciate the extracurricular activities that were organized for the students. It has been an amazing period for the student

10. My genuine appreciation goes to the whole school management, you all are amazing in your doings. The school and everything in it has been exceptional out there. Thank you for every time you show love, discipline, and correction to our children. We are grateful!

11. Your compassion and understanding of our students are admirable and your ability to connect with them is inspiring. They all truly love to be around you to learn more about how to be a good example of themselves and stand out in their academics. We are truly thankful for all you have done.

12. Dear principal, thank you for the countless efforts you put into our school. Your commitment and support to the school environment, staff, and students are truly inspiring. With this new revolution, I believe they are going places. Thank you for always and constant support to us all

13. You brought passion and enthusiasm that has positively impacted everyone in our school. You have led by example, modeling the traits of a good leader, integrity, respect, compassion, and perseverance everyone can now relate with each other with love and assistance

14. You have created a safe, conducive, and supportive learning environment where students can show their talent and apply wisdom without the help of teachers. Students feel supported and valued even though the staff are constantly appreciated.

15. Your vision for the school is truly extraordinary and remarkable from other schools. The discipline, standards, and academic excellence are uncommon. We are lucky to have a principal like you. Thank you for your daily guidance and support. You have made a positive and remarkable impact on our lives.

16. I want to say thank you for being the principal every student would love to have. You know how to control students without abusive words or insults. You are so patient and flexible with students no matter who they are. No comparison in your arms of love and that makes us love you the most. You are the best so far and you will remain the best .

17. I appreciate you sir for everything you are doing to advance the school, your new motives and renovation have been the talk of the town and many can’t wait to gain admission to the school. I’m very blessed to have a principal like you, you care and understand students so well.

18. I can beat my chest and say that if other school principals can initiate your kind of vision and personality and the like, we would have a high probability of raising thoughtful future leaders of tomorrow. You are one of the big role models for your students to emulate. I’m saying thank you to you and the entire staff.

19. Dear Sir, your presence in our school is a true gift. You are a role model for students and staff. Thank you for making our school the best place for learning, vocational skills, and growth where many will love to be given admission. We are thankful for your hard work and support.

20. You are a natural leader that people love to follow. Thank you for inspiring us every morning on the assembly ground. every one of your words took firm ground in our hearts. You make learning enjoyable. We sincerely appreciate you for all you’ve done.

Relevant topic : thank you message to students for good performance

21. Dear loving parents, we want to thank you for trusting us and for your unwavering help and engagement in your child’s education. Your dedication and involvement have played a vital part in their success throughout the session and I know it is not stopping here. Thank you!

22. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the best parents ever. Thank you for your exceptional dedication and for entrusting us with the care and education of your children. We are honored for such trust. Your encouragement and support have helped us this far.

23. We appreciate you for your everyday concern towards your child’s learning journey. It has made learning easy for them and the school environment has grown stronger. This means a lot to us and we must say we are happy to partner with yoOurOut partnership has brought a huge difference to the school.

24. Dear parents, we cannot appreciate you enough your consistent involvement in your child’s education has motivated us all. We are thankful for your constant support and the huge positive impact it has on our school. We are blessed to have you all as our parents.

25. What then can we say to our champion parents you all are amazing, for your tremendous support and engagement in our school events and activities. Your passion and enthusiasm have made a wall and world of difference. We celebrate and appreciate you all.

26. From the deepest part of us as the school management we would like to express our gratitude to our parents and to reflect on the academic calendar we realize that your consistency in support and your dedication has brought us this far. Every one of you has been incredible towards the learning of your children. We want to say thank you!

27. To the super amazing parents of our students we are grateful for choosing us and not giving up on your children’s education. This term has been so amazing alongside your inspiration, contribution, and dedication to the school community. We are grateful for your support.

28. We want to appreciate all the parents who have been constantly active in school activities and dedicated to the upbringing and development of their children. It has been a great Joy to notice your impact on your children’s assignments and other homework. Thank you very much!

29. To our supportive parents we want to extend our heart of appreciation and gratitude for your help and engagement over the term. We noticed all you did individually and collectively. We can only say thank you because we are nothing without your cooperation.

30. Dear parents, we are full of joy to convey our appreciation to you. Thank you for your support, understanding, contribution, and loyalty. We enjoy your unwavering effort towards your children’s learning journey and always yielding to our calls whenever your attention is needed in the school. We hope to have more great success this term. Thank you!

Read also : Remarks of Teachers on Students’ Progress

31. It takes a large heart to help shape a small mind. As we reflect on the school calendar we cannot look away but recognize your support as a parent to the school and its environment. Your time and resources honestly count and we appreciate it the most. Thank you!

32. We appreciate all that you do, this school wouldn’t have attained this height if not for your generosity and contribution. Thanks for planting seeds of knowledge into the lives of your children. Your support and crucial role in their academics are excellent. We love you all!

33. Thank you for making a difference every day, we are super amazing at the positive difference, the kids have been doing excellently well since they started this school and that is good news all the way. God will continue to give you wisdom and knowledge to lead and train them right.

34. This school made me realize that You don’t just teach, you inspire. Your hard work has inspired the children to always want to learn and grow in all aspects. Thank you for giving it your best to see them excel and be the champions they are meant to be. We are grateful!

35. Appreciation is a good thing to do, it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. Because divided we fall United we stand. Cooperation and transparency in the partnership with the schools and parents can only make a better future. We are thankful for your kindness !

36. A shout out to those incredible educators who make you a better person and teach every day for you to grow. It hasn’t been an easy task but your reward will always be yours. We are grateful for helping in growing the children and exposing them to a better future.

37. We want to show thanks for all that you have done. You are the best of all the best. We can’t deny all of your support, commitment, contribution, prayers, and advice. They have helped us to stand for the right thing and go for the best. We appreciate you!

38. Hats off to all our students and parents. We are proud of you. The success story of this school can never be complete without a salute to our lovely parents. You have given us your best time and resources. We would love to partner with you more in this next session. Together we can do it!

39. Your financial support and encouragement have helped us to this noticeable height. The school has been coming first in all external exams, quizzes, debates, and many more. Please encourage your children to study hard for their goals to be easy to achieve.

40. We want to appreciate our loving parents no other. We see all that you do and we acknowledge it. Thank you for your time and consideration. It has been helpful to every member of the staff and the school itself. We pray that God continues to bless you more and more for you to do your responsibility as parents.

Related topic : kindergarten thank you messages from the students

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Dedication Speech (2009)

By Jacob Barnett

(Presented at the Evan Bayh Leadership Summit on October 24, 2009 and in a slightly abridged form at Project Leadership’s Red Rubber Ball Banquet on June 26, 2010)

Hello everyone, I’m very happy to be here. It’s an honor to speak here in Indianapolis today. I’d like to thank Senator Evan Bayh for inviting me out here to speak. I’d also like to thank Mr. Brent Wake, and all of the Project Leadership staff for helping making this possible. Also, I want to thank my friends and family for all of the support they have given me.

My topic today is dedication.

Gail Devers, Olympic Gold Medalist, said, “Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Dedication is necessary to follow your dreams and to make a difference to the people around you. The world needs more dedicated leaders.

There are many people in the world today who aren’t dedicated enough or dedicated to anything at all. There are people who say things about themselves that aren’t entirely true. They can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.

I don’t want to be one of those people.

I’m dedicated to be a successful Twenty-first Century Scholar. I’ve made a promise to stay out of trouble, off of drugs and get good grades. I meet once a week with a mentor who encourages me to be myself and inspires me to be the best person I could possibly be. She’s been meeting with me for three years and I’d like to recognize her today. Stephanie Santarosa, would you please stand up.

Talk about dedicated. She was a complete stranger in my life three years ago. Now she’s one of the most helpful, supportive and enthusiastic friends in my life. She represents my definition of dedication — to become more involved in the things you say and to invest or spend more time in whatever you are into.

I’ve been fortunate to have many dedicated people in my life.

Take Grandma Barnett. She raised 11 kids. It was always tough for grandma and grandpa – neither went to college – and it was hard for them to get money. She raised her children to be great people. My Dad was one of those people. To this day, even though she’s well into her 80s, she continues to provide for my disabled uncle, feeding him, lifting him into chairs and caring for him daily. And she makes a great broccoli cheese casserole.

Then there’s my youth pastor Dwayne. I’ve never seen him frown. He smiles all the time and connects well with young people. He’s a teen-ager at heart. He’s taught me many great things about faith. He invests his time in young people and God.

“Dedication is necessary to follow your dreams and to make a difference to the people around you. The world needs more dedicated leaders.” – Jacob Barnett

My parents are the greatest example of all. They’re dedicated to providing me with the education I need and to taking care of me. They’re just there – there to love me and support me through my life. They want to see me go onto college. They teach daily lessons in discipline and dedication.

One of the things my dad taught me was how to play the drums. That was 7 years ago and I was 9 years old. I always thought that drumming was something I could do to express myself. And it looked like a lot of fun! Years of dedication in improving my talent has lead to opportunities to use my talent in unexpected ways. Now, I play the drums at my church. At football games, I perform in front of fans and the community with my bass drum.

The point is: Becoming dedicated in using your skills and talents leads to good opportunities in life. It can get you the job you’ve always wanted. It can make you a more responsible and organized person. Or it can help you with all the goals you have set in life.

For example: your homework; I know homework is something a lot of us have to put up with every day but doesn’t homework help us get closer to our goals and opportunities in life? Isn’t it the reason why we are in school learning? You see homework is a task we do, it’s something we have to do a lot, but it challenges us to be dedicated.

So homework — no matter how big or small — gives us a lot of experience in the area of dedication.

And of course there are some people who are dedicated to the wrong things in life. People can be very dedicated to groups or gangs at school, or they can just be dedicated to impressing the whole class with all of the funny jokes that they have. Being dedicated to the wrong things are why most of us teenagers don’t try to be leaders. We can say it’s too much work, or say I’m dedicated to no one or nothing but me. These are some ways people aren’t dedicated; how can we fix these problems?

The answer to this is to have a lot of young dedicated leaders. You know teenagers, pre-teens, young adults. We’ve got to have young leaders who can walk their talk, young leaders who keep going despite obstacles or hard challenges, Young leaders who are reliable and trustworthy, and young leaders who are prepared. Dedicated leaders who are reliable and trustworthy are the types of people who help others out a lot. This type of leadership will make you a huge role model for people you’re helping. It gives them confidence and reasons to look up to you.

An example of this can be your older brother or sister. Both of you have a lot in common but the older sibling may know more than you do. That’s when they begin to help you with things that are very important to you like homework, maybe some personal problems, or tips on how to use a cell phone right. Whatever they help you with will show that they are great leaders or role models who are reliable and trustworthy.

Dedicated leaders also walk their talk and always keep going despite tough obstacles. When I say you should walk your talk I basically mean that you should do what you say.

Just imagine, if this city, this state, this country, were all filled with dedicated leaders. Our parents are dedicated to loving us and taking care of us through our lives. Our teachers are also there to provide us with the education we need. Our youth pastors are there to teach us the many wonderful things of God. Our President of the United States Barack Obama is here to find what’s best for our country. All of this is done out of dedication.

Why can’t we be like them? Why can’t we, the teenagers, be like these great adult leaders? We have plenty of time in our lives to fix up whatever things we’ve done wrong so we can become dedicated leaders. The first thing we need to do is determine if we are ready to be dedicated leaders, and know if we are ready to walk our talk. We are the future of the United States; it is up to us to make the right choices to become a dedicated leader. It’s pretty much like stepping up and filling the role of last year’s quarterback. That’s what we’re basically doing. Some of us here have what it takes to be the next Lebron James or Kobe Bryant. Some of us are pretty good writers, some of you can be the next Dr. Seuss or next J.K. Rowling. And a lot of you I’m sure know a lot about politics and government. You could be the President of the United States someday. And all it takes is some dedication from young leaders like you.

A lot of days my mom and dad ask me what I want to be when I grow up. I tell them, ‘I don’t know right now.’ They ask, “What college do you want to go to?” I give them the same answer. “I don’t know.”

As I stand here today, I haven’t decided exactly what I want to be. But I know who I want to be, the kind of person I want to be. I want to be a positive role model like my mentor Stephanie, my mom and dad, and Grandma Barnett. I want to be a dedicated leader.

Many of us might feel some pressure as high school students to figure out where we want to go to college and what we want to be. Those are important questions to answer. But I encourage you to start with this question: Who do I want to be?

I hope your answer will include one day becoming a dedicated leader.

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16 Best Graduation Speeches That Leave a Lasting Impression

By Kristi Kellogg and Noor Brara

Some of the most impactful and inspiring sentiments are shared during graduation speeches delivered by the leaders we look up to. Graduation speeches from celebrities , entrepreneurs, authors and other influential thinkers are motivational, inspiring, thought-provoking and just might make you reach for the nearest tissue. After four years of hard work, stress, and exhausting self-discovery, lucky graduates are privy to a life-changing speech to top it all off.

Here, we rounded up up 16 of the best graduation speeches of all time, including words of wisdom from Natalie Portman, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and more.

1. Steve Jobs: Stanford, 2005

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

2. Michelle Obama: Tuskegee University, 2015

"I've found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Because no matter what happened, I had the piece of mind knowing that all of the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting...all of it was just noise. It did not define me, it didn't change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn't hold me back."

3. Natalie Portman: Harvard, 2015

"I just directed my first film. I was completely unprepared, but my own ignorance to my own limitations looked like confidence and got me into the director's chair. Once there, I had to figure it all out, and my belief that I could handle these things, contrary to all evidence of my ability to do so was half the battle. The other half was very hard work. The experience was the deepest and most meaningful one of my career."

4. Amy Poehler: Harvard University, 2011

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"What I have discovered is this: You can't do it alone … Listen. Say 'yes.' Live in the moment. Make sure you play with people who have your back. Make big choices early and often."

5. Meryl Streep: Barnard College, 2010

"This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change."

6. David Foster Wallace: Kenyon College, 2005

"Twenty years after my own graduation, I have come gradually to understand that the liberal arts cliché about teaching you how to think is actually shorthand for a much deeper, more serious idea: learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed. Think of the old cliché about quote the mind being an excellent servant but a terrible master."

7. Barack Obama: Howard University, 2016

"You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness, but action. Not just hashtags, but votes."

8. Kerry Washington: George Washington University, 2013

"You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that can write the story that you were meant to tell."

9. Conan O'Brien: Dartmouth College, 2011

"There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized. Today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality … Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen."

10. J.K. Rowling: Harvard, 2008

"I stopped pretending to be anything than what I was. My greatest fear had been realized. I had an old typewriter and a big idea. Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

11. Oprah Winfrey: Harvard University, 2013

"Learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you into being more who you are. And then figure out what is the next right move. And the key to life is to develop an internal moral, emotional G.P.S. that can tell you which way to go."

12. Joss Whedon: Wesleyan University, 2013

"You have, which is a rare thing, that ability and the responsibility to listen to the dissent in yourself, to at least give it the floor, because it is the key—not only to consciousness–but to real growth. To accept duality is to earn identity. And identity is something that you are constantly earning. It is not just who you are. It is a process that you must be active in. It's not just parroting your parents or the thoughts of your learned teachers. It is now more than ever about understanding yourself so you can become yourself."

13. George Saunders: Syracuse University, 2013

"Do all the other things, the ambitious things … Travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop)—but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness."

14. Nora Ephron: Wellesley College, 1996

"Be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

15. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Wellesley College, 2015

"As you graduate, as you deal with your excitement and your doubts today, I urge you to try and create the world you want to live in. Minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, get your hands dirty way."

16. Admiral William H. McRaven: University of Texas at Austin, 2014

"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right."

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Jackson School Dedication Ceremony

Hello, everyone!

I am so pleased to join Dean Levinsohn; Chip Goodyear, who is here on behalf of the trustees; members of the Yale Jackson School faculty; and the broader university community in marking this milestone.

I especially want to recognize John and Susan Jackson for their visionary support of the school we dedicate today.

John and Susan, it is so gratifying to see and celebrate with you both as we embark on this new frontier.

Just over a decade ago, during my service as Yale’s provost, Rick Levin and Linda Lorimer were working with the Jacksons on what would become the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.

I was delighted to join that effort.

And now, it is especially meaningful that we have expanded the Jackson Institute into a school of global affairs at a pivotal time.

Discord around the world is stronger than ever.

Our society faces troubling and deepening divisions.

And we are seeing alarming polarization in our nation and across the globe.

That same polarization inhibits our ability to work collectively to address the world’s pressing issues.

So, it seems that we face mounting crises—crises that point to the fragility of life and the vulnerability of our social and political structures.

And they point to a need for engagement on the global stage even as some seek to retreat from it.

Today, I would like to discuss with you how institutions of higher learning are responding to this need.

And more particularly how we, at Yale, are modeling the collaborative spirit necessary to repair our world through the school we dedicate today.

As a social psychologist, I know that in times of crisis, we are predisposed to insularity and self-protection.

And it can become, too, a response of governments.

Indeed, a significant number of Americans support a diminished role on the world stage for the United States.

Nearly half say we should focus more on domestic problems and less on problems overseas.

Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, existential threats from climate change, and humanitarian catastrophes around the world, Americans tend to focus on domestic issues.

We can see the menace of pressing global challenges, but they are felt by most Americans peripherally because of geographical distance or the time it can take until disasters fully materialize.

Of course, our willingness to counter great, global challenges must not be determined by our proximity to them.

Instead, it behooves us to regard our international engagement as both a moral imperative and a worthy investment.

As we have witnessed with the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of humanity hinges on our capacity to collaborate.

No country is safe if a virus spreads in another part of the world.

Conflict, illness, and misinformation transcend borders, and so must our response to them.

Rising to our global leadership responsibility is in harmony, not at odds, with our own interests.

At Yale, we know the transformative power of working with people and institutions across the globe.

The Jackson School of Global Affairs reflects Yale’s commitment to engage with the global challenges of the day and to do so in a way that diminishes silos that can stunt discovery.

It provides an alternative to the centuries-old organization of schools into academic departments; instead, the new school is organized around challenges it will address.

The Jackson School pushes back against the human predisposition toward insulating and isolating in times of crisis.

And it is Jackson’s environment of integrated study—its insistence on remaining intimate in size, yet impressively broad in scope—that will both raise Yale’s profile as a center for international scholarship and allow us to fulfill our responsibility as a great global university of consequence.

At Jackson, as you know, we bring together faculty members and practitioners from disciplines spanning the arts and sciences and a range of professional schools.

Faculty members have joint appointments elsewhere at the university.

Insights from history, politics, economics, data science, law, and other fields are all brought to bear on global challenges.

Preeminent professors are joined by world leaders in Jackson’s classrooms.

These scholars and practitioners from around the globe enrich the theories they teach with the experiences they’ve lived.

Students can learn from great faculty members whose research addresses many of the most challenging issues facing the world today—and underscores the importance of investigating the historical context of current geopolitical conflicts.

They then can learn from leaders like Ambassador Anne Patterson, one of this nation’s most accomplished diplomats and a recent Senior Fellow at Jackson.

Formerly the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs under President Obama, she served, among other distinguished posts, as US ambassador to Columbia, Pakistan, and to Egypt during critical periods in each region.

Learning from distinguished faculty members and practitioners can have a profound effect on students and on the world.

Let me give you an example.

Daniel José Oliveira came to Yale from Brazil in 2013. [1]

The youngest of eleven siblings, he grew up in a modest family in São Paulo’s countryside.

His parents worked as an office porter and a domestic servant.

Daniel won a scholarship to study economics at a Brazilian university and worked to secure a job at an investment bank.

Despite his success, Daniel felt like he wanted to make a more profound impact than he could by working in banking.

So, he left his job, moved to Jordan to volunteer, assisting Iraqi and Syrian refugees, and later applied to Yale Jackson, where he received a scholarship to study.

Daniel came to Yale with an aspiration to reform Brazilian politics.

During his time at Jackson, he enrolled in courses with General Stanley McChrystal and former president of Mexico, Ernesto Zedillo.

After Daniel graduated from Yale, he returned to Brazil, where he helped to establish a consulting firm in public education.

In 2018, he ran for office on a platform of anti-corruption and education reform, both issues about which he is passionate.

He campaigned relentlessly across São Paulo and was e lected as deputy for São Paulo state.  He became one of the youngest representatives to serve on the legislature.

Today, Daniel represents the most populated state in Brazil as a member of São Paulo’s legislature.

Of course, he also represents the boundless potential of a Jackson education.

As most of you know, a defining feature of a Jackson education is that virtually every graduate student takes courses at Yale’s other professional schools.

This structure is rooted in the recognition that the complexities of our time require perspectives from multiple disciplines:  that we can harness the knowledge born of multidisciplinary ideas both to broaden our own understanding and to better our shared world.

So, by transcending boundaries, the Jackson School equips its students with the intellectual foundation for evidence-based policymaking.

Yet it also imparts an example for collaboration for its graduates to emulate as they go on to write international law, direct global institutions, shape economic and climate policies, lead militaries, and much more.

So, as the school produces leaders who will tackle global challenges with the wisdom they’ve gained and the courage to learn from others in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, Yale’s newest school exemplifies some of our most enduring ideals.

And I suspect it will, therefore, swiftly prove to be as critical to the world as it already is to Yale today.

I would like to conclude by offering my deepest appreciation to the faculty and staff who contributed their time, energy, and expertise to establishing Yale’s first new professional school since 1976— and to the alumni and friends who made it possible for us to launch it with their generous support.

Thank you for your commitment to this school and to Yale.

[1] Against all Odds: Jackson Alum Aims to Reform Politics in Brazil

Use the End of the School Year to Express Specific Gratitude

Thanking your child's teacher benefits both you and your child in multiple ways..

Posted June 17, 2024 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

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• When giving positive feedback, be specific about what a teacher did that positively impacted your child.
• Don’t assume your child’s teacher knows how you appreciate their efforts with your child.
• Thanking teachers in writing and copying administrators can get you and your child goodwill.

A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog post about generosity . This month, I'd like to focus on the important quality that acknowledges generosity: gratitude . Gratitude demonstrates appreciation and offers thanks for others' gifts, help, or kindness. Both generosity and gratitude are qualities that draw others to us, and both can be cultivated and nurtured in even very young children. To do that, though, we may want to start with ourselves.

While most of my posts have explored ways parents can positively affect their children's well-being in school, I am going to take a more indirect approach in this post by encouraging parents to show gratitude toward their children's teachers. Shifting focus from your children to those who teach them gives you an opportunity to boost the morale of teachers you appreciate and, if your kids are older, to model showing your appreciation. It can also have long-term benefits for your children and to your reputation among their teachers, and it can even positively affect the children those teachers teach in the future.

You may be surprised to learn how rarely parents or students thank teachers for the time and effort they take to guide and instruct their students. The reality is that teachers are leaving their classroom careers at higher rates than ever. They are increasingly burdened by enormous workloads and demanding administrators and often feel underappreciated by parents and students. COVID exacerbated this situation, and it was the last straw for many exhausted and underpaid teachers.

The end of the school year is a perfect time to let the teachers for whom you have been grateful know about the differences they made in your children's lives. If your children's teachers encouraged them, inspired them to believe in themselves, gently pushed them to be their best selves, or even saved them from themselves at times, letting those teachers know that you are aware of and appreciative of the special care they gave your kids will make them feel seen and valued.

Parents of especially challenging children—perhaps those with a learning or behavioral issue—may feel grateful that a teacher kept them from being marginalized in the classroom, building bridges that helped the other kids work with theirs. Parents of high-achieving children may feel fortunate that a teacher went out of their way to suggest extra reading or enrichment opportunities to encourage their kids' enthusiasm for a subject. If you know that your children are easily triggered, but they have a teacher who thinks they are fabulous, acknowledge the teacher's skill at anticipating triggers and avoiding the kinds of tricky outcomes you have seen in past years. These kinds of teachers are exceptional and need to hear it.

Expressing your gratitude in writing is best because it can be looked at for years. I know teachers who have a folder in their desks called their "rainy day file" containing messages that remind them on challenging school days why they get up every morning to do what they do. If you send an email, consider cc-ing the teacher's supervisor. School administrators rarely get to watch their faculty in action, so giving them glimpses into talented teachers' classrooms will make them feel proud, too. Administrators may even share your words about the teacher with the rest of the faculty as an example of the kind of teaching valued in their school. It also keeps special teachers in mind for teaching awards and other opportunities to showcase what they do well.

Many parents send their kids to school with token gifts for teachers on the last day of the year. The kind of note I am talking about is more personal and specifically directed at expressing how teachers made a difference in your kids' lives. The more specific you are in describing what you have appreciated, the more likely these teachers will be inspired to continue teaching with the attentiveness and passion they brought to your children's classrooms. It is incredibly energizing for teachers to realize that what they have strived to accomplish has hit the mark. Although your primary purpose is not getting teachers to say nice things about you, it will likely be a side benefit of your expression of gratitude. We tend to like people who value us; when the words are genuine and specific, they carry more weight.

If your children are older, you can tell them you are writing a thank-you letter to their teacher, teaching them to do the same. While there's certainly an expectation that all teachers provide support to their students, the degree of that support and the willingness and effort they take to provide it are all qualities your older child should be aware of. There's no teacher who won't appreciate being appreciated.

Pamela D. Brown, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of professional experience.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Nursing Practice — Nursing Graduation Speech: A Celebration of Dedication and Compassion

Nursing Graduation Speech: a Celebration of Dedication and Compassion

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 771 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The power of dedication: a pillar of nursing, the essence of compassion: a heartfelt connection, the responsibilities and opportunities that lie ahead, a bright future ahead.

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Election latest: Labour to win landslide and Farage to become MP for first time, poll projects

The Conservative Party is heading for its worst electoral defeat in history, falling victim to a Labour landslide, and Reform's Nigel Farage is set to become an MP for the first time, according to a major new poll of almost 20,000 people.

Tuesday 18 June 2024 22:59, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Catch up  on our rundown of the day's political news
• Tories heading for worst-ever defeat - poll
• The senior Conservatives who could lose their seats
• One of Tories' biggest 2019 donors endorses Labour
• Sky News Daily: 'We need an adult conversation about migration'

Expert analysis

• Jon Craig: Poll and defection are double trouble for Tories
• Tom Cheshire : The data behind the public's view of immigration
• Darren McCaffrey: PM's trip to luxury village shows no seat is safe

Election essentials

• Check parties' manifesto pledges:  Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage:  Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts:  Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

It's 10pm and here is your rundown for today's political news...

• The Conservative Party is heading for its worst electoral defeat in history , according to a poll of almost 20,000 people;
• The Ipsos poll also suggested  Nigel Farage will win Clacton from the Tories, overturning the incumbent party's huge majority there;
• It estimated  Labour could win 453 seats, while the Conservatives would take just 115, giving Sir Keir Starmer's party a 256-seat majority ;
• The result would mean  senior Tory figures such as Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, Gillian Keegan, Johnny Mercer and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg losing their seats ;
• Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig   said the poll is "terrible news" for the Tories;
• Meanwhile former Conservative Party donor John Caudwell has announced he is endorsing and voting for Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
• Our weeknight politics show Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  focused on the issue of immigration, with Labour's shadow equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds saying the country needs a "clear plan" to tackle migration;
• During the panel discussion Jim Murphy, former leader of Scottish Labour, said a Labour policy that may work to reduce immigration is "dealing with the gangs in the same way you would deal with terrorists";
• And former Conservative MP Philip Dunne said the government's Rwanda scheme is a "deterrent" for illegal immigration, but said the UK and France need to cooperate more.
• In Scotland, Anas Sarwar has today launched Scottish Labour 's manifesto, with a focus on improving the future for young people in the country;
• He also confirmed that Scottish Labour is against the two-child benefit cap , despite there being no plans to scrap the measure if Labour wins the keys to Downing Street.
• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey was in Eastleigh, where he discussed sewage - and claimed the Tories would "fail in opposition" just as he says they have in government;
• And on a day of special coverage of the migration crisis here on Sky News, an exclusive poll suggested more Britons think immigration has had a negative impact on society than positive.

Here are some other stories you might find interesting: 

On the Sky News Daily podcast,  Niall Paterson is joined by community correspondent Becky Johnson   to discuss what voters think about elections, while economics and data editor Ed Conway digs into the statistics to reveal exactly how big an impact migration, both legal and illegal, has on the UK.

Thank you for following our live political coverage as the general election campaign continues.

Please see our 10pm bulletin for the key points of the day's news.

Join us again tomorrow from 7am for the latest political updates.

Earlier we brought you the breaking news that billionaire Tory donor John Caudwell had endorsed Labour (see 7.31pm post).

The Phones4U founder said the "failures" of the three prime ministers in government since then, alongside Labour's "transformation" under leader Sir Keir Starmer had led him to switch allegiance for the first time in his life.

You can read more about his decision  here ...

Covering a general election campaign as a journalist can largely be summed up in two words - battle bus.

Not too dissimilar to the coaches that rockstars use for their tours, battle buses are the vehicles each political party uses to transport their leaders, candidates, and advisers around the country during the election campaign.

Sky's political correspondents have each been following a different party - often joining them on the buses.

Here we take you behind the scenes on the campaign trail for the Conservatives, Labour, and the Liberal Democrats.

By Faye Brown , political reporter

Rishi Sunak's "soaring" personal wealth has come under fresh attack ahead of crucial inflation figures coming out tomorrow.

In what will be a key moment in the election campaign, the rate of inflation is expected to ease back to the Bank of England's target of 2% for the first time since spring 2021.

The figures could provide a much needed boost for the embattled prime minister, whose key offering to voters is that the economy has "turned a corner" under his leadership and they should not risk change with Labour.

But the Labour Party says this claim is "rubbished" by data showing more than half of Brits think the cost of living crisis has become worse in the last month.

The party says that Mr Sunak's wealth increased by £122m in the last year, while data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows millions of people continue to struggle.

Read more below:

More people in the UK think immigration has a negative impact on society than a positive one, according to a YouGov survey for Sky News.    

In the first general election since Brexit, all the major parties mention migration in their manifestos. 

Both the Conservatives and Labour are placing promises to tackle illegal boat crossings high on their list of promises if they get into Number 10.   

So what do voters think about immigration, and how could it affect these elections?  

Niall Paterson is joined by community correspondent Becky Johnson , who's been speaking to voters in Swindon about their views. 

Plus,  economics and data editor Ed Conway digs into the statistics to reveal exactly how big an impact migration, both legal and illegal, has on the UK.   

As we've been discussing this evening, both the Tories and Labour are promising to cut net migration levels - the number of people coming from overseas minus the number leaving.

Our political reporter Alix Culbertson has looked at their immigration policies - and those from the other main parties.

Read the full explainer here ...

The public has "probably seen through Boris Johnson" and he is no longer an asset to the Tory campaign, Jim Murphy, the former leader of Scottish Labour, says during  Sophy Ridge 's final panel discussion.

Mr Johnson has been appearing in campaign videos for a number of his Tory MP allies after reportedly being drafted in to help counter the growing threat from Reform UK.

Mr Murphy says the former prime minister was probably an asset during 2019 but now the public and Tory MPs have seen through him.

"I think the Conservatives are making the mistake that if you play the tune of 2019 it'll work for them in the same way," he adds.

"Involving Johnson at this stage suggests a campaign that has lost its sense of direction, because they're still trying to beat the Reform party rather than try to overcome Labour."

'There are MPs who like him'

Former government adviser Nimco Ali notes Mr Johnson "is popular in certain sectors of the country" and some MPs are leaning towards that.

"I would not think it's a Conservative plan to have him involved, I think it's individual MPs who like him, and he has kindly sent them those videos," she says.

That concludes our coverage of tonight's  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  - it'll return tomorrow from 7pm. In the meantime, stick with us here for the latest general election news and analysis.

A poll we reported on earlier is "terrible news" for the Conservatives, says our chief political correspondent Jon Craig .

It's predicting a 256-seat majority for Labour - up on 453 seats and the Tories down on 115 ( see 17.51 post )

Jon says this would be "much worse than 1997", when Tony Blair took Labour back into government, and their worst result since 1906.

But 117 seats are still too close to call in the Ipsos survey, he explains.

But while polls are only a "snapshot" of a campaign, there is a clear "trend" across the various surveys we're seeing.

"They are all fairly similar," Jon says, and it's "terrible news for the Tories".

It's been "double trouble" for the Tories this evening, he adds, given their former donor John Caudwell's endorsement of the Labour Party ( see 19.31 post )

"We don't know if Mr Caudwell is actually going to give some money to the Labour Party, but he's not donating to the Tories, and he's switched his allegiance."

Sophy presses former Conservative MP Philip Dunne on whether the Conservatives think it's all over.

It comes after the prime minister spent the day campaigning in traditionally safe Tory seats in the South West.

Mr Dunne says Rishi Sunak has "been all over the place throughout this campaign".

He says the prime minister "hasn't given up" and has "made it very clear he's fighting, every waking moment, to try to retain the Conservative government and Conservative candidates all over the country".

'No huge surprise' Tory support is waning

Asked if he is worried about the future of the Conservative Party, Mr Dunne, who is not standing in this election, says all political parties in office for a prolonged period "go through sort of waves of enthusiasm and support and waning of support".

He adds: "So it's no huge surprise that the opinion polls are suggesting that our support is declining somewhat at the moment."

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Oratorical Speech for High School

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Good [morning/afternoon/evening] everyone,

High school is a transformative time in our lives. It’s a period of growth, self-discovery, and learning that shapes us into the individuals we will become. As we navigate this journey, we encounter numerous challenges and opportunities that teach us valuable lessons and prepare us for the future. Today, I would like to share some reflections on the high school experience and the importance of making the most of this pivotal time.

Embracing Challenges

High school is filled with challenges, from academic pressures to social dynamics. These challenges may seem overwhelming at times, but they are essential for our growth. Embrace them. Each obstacle you face is an opportunity to learn and develop resilience. Whether it’s struggling with a difficult subject, participating in a competitive sport, or dealing with peer pressure, remember that these experiences are shaping you into a stronger, more capable individual.

The Importance of Curiosity

Curiosity is the driving force behind learning and discovery. In high school, we are exposed to a wide range of subjects and ideas. This is the perfect time to explore your interests and passions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek out new experiences, and challenge your assumptions. Take advantage of the resources available to you—teachers, libraries, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Let your curiosity guide you to new knowledge and skills that will serve you well in the future.

Building Relationships

The relationships we build in high school can have a lasting impact on our lives. Your friends, teachers, and mentors play a significant role in your personal and academic growth. Surround yourself with positive influences—people who inspire you, challenge you, and support you. These connections can provide guidance, encouragement, and opportunities that will help you succeed. Remember, building strong relationships is a two-way street; be supportive, respectful, and open to others.

Finding Your Voice

High school is a time to discover and develop your voice. Your opinions, ideas, and perspectives matter. Participate in class discussions, join debate teams, write for the school newspaper, or get involved in student government. These activities will help you articulate your thoughts, build confidence, and become an effective communicator. Your voice has the power to inspire change and make a difference, both within your school and in the wider community.

Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars

While academic success is important, high school is also about exploring extracurricular activities. These activities provide a balance to your academic life, allowing you to develop new skills, pursue hobbies, and make lasting memories. Whether it’s sports, music, drama, art, or volunteer work, find something that excites you and commit to it. These experiences can teach you valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and time management.

Preparing for the Future

High school is a stepping stone to the future. It’s a time to set goals and work towards them. Take your education seriously, but also take the time to reflect on what you want to achieve in life. Explore different career paths, seek advice from counselors, and consider the steps you need to take to reach your aspirations. Remember, the habits and attitudes you develop now will shape your future success.

In conclusion, high school is a unique and invaluable chapter in our lives. It’s a time of challenges and opportunities, of learning and growth. Embrace the journey with curiosity, build meaningful relationships, find your voice, and balance your academics with extracurricular pursuits. Prepare for the future, but also cherish the present moments. High school is not just about getting to the next stage; it’s about making the most of the experience and becoming the best version of yourself.

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