College or Univeristy Graduation Speech
802 Words4 Pages
I’ve spent weeks trying to think of what it is I’d like to share with you on this special morning… what words of wisdom I could possibly impart, what bits of knowledge I have obtained during these past five years that I could share. And after careful deliberation and consideration, I came to the conclusion that I have absolutely nothing to say. I’ve asked several people, "So, like, if you were listening to a speech, and, like, you wanted to enjoy it… what would you want to hear?" And these several people all had the same reply, "Don’t be boring." So, that was a really big help.
I refuse to start out with some sort of typical, "My fellow graduates…" introduction, and I’ll be gosh-darned if I start with a quote, like, "As Shakespeare once said…".. Basically, I realized that I’m walking away with a degree in Physics, and I cannot compose a simple graduation speech. Someone needs to explain to me how I can complete five years of college and leave here incapable of delivering a simple speech. I’m a little bitter.
The problem is that I’m not sure whether the lessons I’ve learned are the types of things you talk about in a speech like this. Most of the graduation speeches I’ve heard seem to be along the lines of, "You are the future! You are the promise of tomorrow! Dream and you will succeed!" And that’s really great; those are nice things to hear. But I can honestly say that I have never reached a difficult moment in my life and then thought, "I didn’t know what to do, but then I remembered something my graduation speaker once said, and everything fell into place!" So, I’m not here to give advice, and I’m not here to impart words of wisdom, and I’m not here to inspire you to succeed. I would just like to wish you all the good and...
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...ied to. Waking up five minutes before the alarm is supposed to go off. Missing your flight. Spilling your drink. Breaking a dish. Arguments over stupid things. Sunburns. Saying goodbye…
You may never be a CEO. You may never win an Oscar. You may never sing at the Met. You may never get married and have a family. But this is your story. That’s it. One shot.
Feel it all.
I don’t have the faintest idea what’s going to happen, and I think it’s great. I’ve spent five years trying to figure out what I should be doing the moment this ceremony is over, and I still don’t have an answer. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s perfect. If we knew life’s outcome, what would be the point of going through it? It’s a story, and it’s yours, and whatever happens just make sure you feel your life.
One shot.
My fellow graduates, as Shakespeare once said, "The readiness is all."