Good Graduation Speeches

by **OAKS** on Thu May 25, 2006 7:01 pm

Anyone hear of any decent ones from this round of graduations? Saw this and thought it was pretty good regardless of political views.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0522-35.htm

**Sponsor**

by **dubbs11** on Thu May 25, 2006 9:17 pm

This speech was so good it caused people to stand up and shout...

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article ... yid=125398

by **cjwilhelmi** on Fri May 26, 2006 7:30 am

This happened a while ago (10 years to be exact)

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=968244

I heard that he made another appearence this year.

by **StrykerFSU** on Fri May 26, 2006 9:18 am

I was looking for a conservative commencement address but it appears all of them have been disrupted by faculty and/or students...good times in America.

The New School makes me sick, doubly sick since my brother went there.

by **cjwilhelmi** on Fri May 26, 2006 9:30 am

StrykerFSU wrote:I was looking for a conservative commencement address but it appears all of them have been disrupted by faculty and/or students...good times in America.

The New School makes me sick, doubly sick since my brother went there.

The New School??

by **DanGenck** on Fri May 26, 2006 9:34 am

I saw Bill Cosby speak when my brother graduated from Berklee School of Music in Boston. Say what you want about Bill, but he is a dynamic speaker and told a great story and had a great message about "showing up" for life.

We actually have a picture of my brother getting his diploma from Bill Cosby... pretty cool stuff.

by **bste_lax** on Fri May 26, 2006 9:46 am

This one cracks me up, Will Ferrell at Harvard from 2003:

http://www.commencement.harvard.edu/2003/ferrell.html

by **StrykerFSU** on Fri May 26, 2006 9:47 am

The New School University is located in Manhattan and includes the Parsons School of Design and the Mannes School of Music (my bro's alma mater). Their commencement speaker was Future President John McCain but his speech was disrupted by by students, including one who actually climbed onto the stage. The school's president, Bob Kerrey, likened the students to the student at Tienemman Square. Never mind that Sen. McCain is a decorated war hero and former POW...no reason that anyone should show him any respect.

Similar disrespect was shown to the Secretary of State at Boston College.

Personally, when I graduated I chose to show my disrespect to Gov. Tom Ridge by falling asleep during his speech.

by **DanGenck** on Fri May 26, 2006 11:22 am

I would only get huffy if someone's graduation speech involved politics... but if the speech is about doing well in life, enjoying the future, blah blah blah... then who cares if it's Will Ferrell giving the speech or Tom Ridge? It's all the same.

by **Campbell** on Tue May 30, 2006 2:39 pm

This is from a couple of years ago, but I thought it was a good speech:

http://www.wm.edu/news/?id=3650

Jon Stewart's address to William & Mary 2004

by **UofMLaxGoalie11** on Tue May 30, 2006 8:18 pm

Here's Bill Watterson's to Kenyon. By far my favorite cartoonist. If you don't know, he's the one who drew Calvin and Hobbes. My senior quote was from Calvin and Hobbes, "Theres never enough time to do all the nothing you want."

http://home3.inet.tele.dk/stadil/spe_kc.htm

by **Zeuslax** on Wed May 31, 2006 11:23 am

This speech by Steve Jobs is one of the best that I've read or seen. It's actually pretty inspirational. The first time I read this was after a Ferris State graduation where I wanted to shot my self. The speaker was really bad and someone sent me this. I decided to send it to the Ferris graduation committee and some of the administration.

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2 ... 61505.html
(Steve Jobs at Stanford)

by **Sonny** on Wed May 31, 2006 11:59 am

(Not safe for the West Coast)

I am honored by the invitation to address you on this august occasion. It's about time. Be warned, however, that I am not here to impress you; you'll have enough smoke blown your way today. And you can bet your tassels I'm not here to impress the faculty and administration.

You may not like much of what I have to say, and that's fine. You will remember it though. Especially after about 10 years out there in the real world. This, it goes without saying, does not apply to those of you who will seek your careers and your fortunes as government employees.

This gowned gaggle behind me is your faculty. You've heard the old saying that those who can - do. Those who can't - teach. That sounds deliciously insensitive. But there is often raw truth in insensitivity, just as you often find feel-good falsehoods and lies in compassion. Say good-bye to your faculty because now you are getting ready to go out there and do. These folks behind me are going to stay right here and teach.

By the way, just because you are leaving this place with a diploma doesn't mean the learning is over. When an FAA flight examiner handed me my private pilot's license many years ago, he said, 'Here, this is your ticket to learn.' The same can be said for your diploma. Believe me, the learning has just begun.

Now, I realize that most of you consider yourselves Liberals. In fact, you are probably very proud of your liberal views. You care so much. You feel so much. You want to help so much. After all, you're a compassionate and caring person, aren't you now? Well, isn't that just so extraordinarily special. Now, at this age, is as good a time as any to be a Liberal; as good a time as any to know absolutely everything. You have plenty of time, starting tomorrow, for the truth to set in. Over the next few years, as you begin to feel the cold breath of reality down your neck, things are going to start changing pretty fast .. including your own assessment of just how much you really know.

The complete Neal Boortz Commencement Speech:
http://boortz.com/more/commencement.html

by **GrayBear** on Wed May 31, 2006 12:03 pm

This speech by Steve Jobs is one of the best that I've read or seen.

That is not just good. It's phenomenal.

by **Hackalicious** on Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:04 am

I like this line from Ray Bradbury's speech at Caltech:
"Now, right after graduation today, make a list of the people who don't believe in you. And you have a few, don't you? I had plenty of people who told me not to do what I was going to do. You make a list this afternoon, of the people who don't believe in you, and you call them tonight, and tell them to go to hell!"

http://pr.caltech.edu/commencement/00/b ... peech.html

The best advice I've heard was Ali G's commencement speech at Harvard:
"U has all got de potential to become great americans. And remember America is de greatest country in de whole world ...apart from Jamaica...and Holland.. oh yeah and Thailand coz u got dose girls who do all de ye know and probly some others - but u iz definitely in de top 20. U people iz de future, u has de chance to change de world, to hactually improve de life of de poor, OR U could goto Wall Street and earn millionz - get plasma screen, chinchilla coat, a series of relationships wiv gold-digging hoes happy to de de most disgusting sexual favours for some bling. Don't waste de opportunity dat g-d has given you - see u in Wall Street."

http://www.hbo.com/alig/harvard.html