Graduation day already smells like ironed gowns, nervous smiles, and phones held up way too high. A graduation ceremony isn’t just a calendar event, it’s a pause-button moment where time blinks twice and everyone pretends they’re not emotional. That’s where a graduation speech or commencement speech steps in, wobbling slightly on the podium, trying not to mess things up.
And oh yes, many do mess it up. Loudly. Accidentally. Forever-on-YouTube kind of mess.
This isn’t about what to say. This is about what to not say, not do, not drag along like an overpacked suitcase. Below are the things to avoid if you want a memorable graduation speech, not a polite clap followed by instant forgetting.
Avoid Turning the Speech Into a Personal Memoir
Punch line first: If your life story needs chapters, it needs a book deal, not a microphone.
- Making the speaker the main character instead of the graduates, because this moment isn’t your LinkedIn summary
- Sharing childhood trauma, glow-ups, or oddly detailed failures that hijack the graduation experience
- Using phrases like “when I was your age” more than once, it starts sounding dusty fast
- Forgetting that the audience includes sleepy parents and proud faculty, not just your inner circle
- Turning reflection into rambling, which kills audience engagement quietly but efficiently
A commencement speech should feel like a mirror held up to the class, not a scrapbook you refuse to close.
Avoid Clichés That Have Already Graduated Before Everyone Else
Punch line: If the line lives on a throw pillow, let it rest.
- Using overcooked phrases like “reach for the stars” or “the sky’s the limit” in a celebratory occasion
- Recycling graduation speech clichés that listeners can finish for you, eyes closed
- Leaning on generic inspirational quotes without adding a pulse of originality
- Sounding like every other graduation speech example floating around the internet
- Forgetting that originality is louder than volume and shinier than buzzwords
An unforgettable speech surprises gently, not predictably. Surprise is the sparkle people remember.
Avoid Ignoring the Graduates Entirely
Punch line: It’s their day, not your open mic night.
- Forgetting to actually congratulate the graduates, which is a wild oversight honestly
- Addressing only alumni or donors while the class sits there blinking
- Skipping acknowledgment of effort, struggle, and reflection on accomplishments
- Talking about the future without speaking to the people walking into it
- Losing the emotional impact by sounding detached, like you just met them
A good graduation speech speaks directly, even if your voice shakes a tiny bit.
Avoid Heavy Political or Religious Detours
Punch line: This is a graduation stage, not a debate floor.
- Introducing political topics that divide faster than they inspire
- Pushing religious topics that assume shared beliefs in a diverse educational institution
- Making divisive comments that fracture the room’s energy
- Forgetting cultural and linguistic diversity when choosing examples
- Turning a celebratory occasion into a tense silence nobody ordered
The goal is unity, not winning an argument that nobody came to have.
Avoid Inside Jokes That Leave Most People Outside
Punch line: If only three people laugh, something’s off.
- Referencing private moments that confuse the listeners
- Using nicknames or stories only one department understands
- Letting inside jokes replace universal humor
- Losing speech effectiveness because half the room checks out
- Mistaking confusion for cleverness, they are not cousins
A memorable graduation speech invites everyone in, no secret password needed.
Avoid Overloading With Life Advice
Punch line: Wisdom lands better in sips, not floods.
- Listing too many rules for life like it’s a survival manual
- Offering life advice that feels unrealistic or preachy
- Sounding like a motivational poster gained consciousness
- Ignoring that graduates already have opinions, plans, and doubts
- Forgetting that words of wisdom work best when they breathe
Graduates want guidance, not a 12-step program delivered at full speed.
Avoid Reading Word-for-Word From a Script
Punch line: Paper shouldn’t do all the talking.
- Reading flatly with zero voice modulation
- Losing eye contact because your notes feel safer than humans
- Sounding robotic, which kills emotional balance instantly
- Forgetting that public speaking at graduation is a shared moment
- Ignoring natural pauses that let meaning sink in
Notes are fine. A script glued to your face, not so much.
Avoid Monotone Delivery and Rushed Pacing
Punch line: Speed-reading emotions doesn’t work.
- Speaking too fast because nerves grabbed the wheel
- Keeping one tone the entire time, like a long voicemail
- Ignoring speech pace, which controls attention more than content
- Failing to use silence as a tool
- Turning a heartfelt message into a blur
A calm and composed delivery lets your message land where it should.
Avoid Complex Language and Jargon Overload
Punch line: This isn’t a thesis defense.
- Using industry jargon that alienates half the audience
- Choosing complex language when simple words hit harder
- Forgetting English language norms for clarity
- Sounding smart instead of sounding sincere
- Losing clarity of message under fancy phrasing
The best lines feel easy, even when they’re deep.
Avoid Forgetting Parents, Families, and Faculty
Punch line: They didn’t just show up for the snacks.
- Skipping acknowledgment of parents and families who carried the load
- Ignoring the faculty who shaped the journey
- Missing a chance to honor support systems
- Narrowing the moment instead of widening it
- Reducing the sense of shared achievement
Recognition multiplies emotion. It always does.
Avoid Ending Without Inspiration or Direction
Punch line: Don’t fade out, lift off.
- Ending abruptly with no call to action
- Skipping future aspirations entirely
- Forgetting to circle back to hope and optimism
- Leaving the audience unsure what to feel next
- Missing the final chance to create a lasting impression
A strong ending doesn’t shout, it stays.
Avoid Disorganization That Wanders Aimlessly
Punch line: Wandering speeches lose listeners quietly.
- Jumping between ideas with no speech structure
- Forgetting a clear speech introduction, body, and conclusion
- Rambling anecdotes that lead nowhere
- Ignoring transitions that guide attention
- Creating a disorganized speech that feels longer than it is
Structure is invisible when done right, painful when ignored.
Avoid Overdoing Emotion Until It Spills Everywhere
Punch line: Tears are powerful, puddles are distracting.
- Turning the moment into an overly emotional speech
- Letting emotion drown the message
- Forgetting balance between heart and head
- Making the audience uncomfortable instead of moved
- Losing professionalism while chasing authenticity
Emotion works best when it’s honest, not forced.
Avoid Making It Forgettable by Playing It Too Safe
Punch line: Safe speeches vanish by dinner.
- Avoiding personal truth in favor of blandness
- Refusing to take creative risks
- Sounding like every other commencement speech advice article
- Forgetting that memorability comes from courage
- Choosing neutrality over meaning
A memorable graduation speech dares a little, even if the voice shakes.
Avoid Skipping Practice and Rehearsal
Punch line: Great speeches aren’t accidents.
- Assuming talent replaces practice and rehearsal
- Ignoring timing until it’s too late
- Forgetting to test pacing and pauses
- Letting nerves run unchecked
- Undermining confidence by winging it
Preparation doesn’t stiffen a speech, it frees it.
A graduation speech isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about standing in a room full of endings and beginnings and saying something that sticks, even slightly crooked, even with a tiny grammatical wobble here and there.
If one line lands in someone’s chest and stays there awhile, you did it right.
Now your turn. Which line from a graduation speech has stayed with you all these years? Or tag someone who’s about to step on that stage and really needs to read this before the microphone turns on.
Mark Manson is an expert blogger passionate about crafting witty responses, heartfelt wishes, and clever content that connects. He turns everyday moments into shareable words with charm and clarity.
