The prospect of delivering graduation speeches can fill anyone with fear. Speech making is generally thought of as being very difficult. Many people fear it more than anything else. I feel too that the fear element is high for any speaker. However if you follow some simple rules you will surely be able to deliver, and write, a very good speech. Firstly you do not need to write a speech which appeals to the audience and leaves them with the message you wish. Once you have a great speech you then need to do it justice and deliver it with some style.

I have studied graduation speakers a number of times. That includes people who are known to be good speakers. Some of those famous speakers like Winston Churchill and President Obama. Perhaps more relevant are those who are great speakers in our local area. They all seem to have a passion for the topic. Their speeches are well written, polished and they do flow well. They seem to deliver the speech as if they are passionate about their subject and that hooks the audience in. I think even a technically bad speaker can captivate an audience wit their passion for their subjects.

If passion is the key then no matter what your background is the topics for your graduation speeches should be ones that excite you and give you the opportunity to express yourself in a positive way. Of course the school have a set programme and may have to ask you to speak from a set of topics. However you should be talking to them to come to a compromise which gives you what you need too. Graduation speeches traditionally have certain topic types. That could be the benefits of goal setting, perseverance, the benefits of continuing education, opportunities in the future and saying goodbye. There are lots of other topics, however these ones are fairly typical. The idea then is to look into each topic and see if you can find something to be passionate about. For example you may have really struggled to make it through school but as graduation approached the benefits of perseverance really paid off. Your own story could be inspirational. You may be a guest speaker and have benefited by setting big goals in your life. You may now be enjoying the fruits of your labours. Also as a guest speaker your expertise and passion may be business. Your entrepreneurial spirit may give you amazing insight into the opportunities that exist. You may even be a student wishing to celebrate graduation but with an underlying theme that this is goodbye for many of you. You can passionately say what everyone has meant to you. You can contribute great ideas about keeping in touch. You can also inspire everyone to live their life in the best way possible.

Graduation speeches may fill you with fear that they can be a great opportunity to inspire people with your passion.