I watched several news broadcasts tonight and they showed clips of various commencement speeches around the country. Some were done by celebrities, Justin Timberlake for example, and others by known people, but I had not heard of some. Do these speeches benefit anyone, or inspire anyone? Mine did not, way back then, but maybe that is me?
Thoughts or your experiences?

They probably inspire the audience for a short time, but I suspect the overwhelming majority give up on the grand ideas about as quickly as a New Year's resolution.

Nope.

I've seen at least one commencement speech per year, give or take a few years, since 1998.

It's all the same drivel, especially at college graduations.

The first one I was ever exposed to was Tip O'Neil speaking at my sister's Gonzaga Law School graduation. Surprisingly it was a non-political address and quite well done as I recall.

The only one of mine that I attended was my Bachelor's degree when we had our former Governor Racicot speak. I was too hungover to hear or remember anything.

No, but the trend now seems to be that if the speaker is wealthy, he or she is now expected to pay every fucking penny of the student loans or college tuition the precious, precious little sbnowflakes have or will incur.

In general they are a waste of time, and sadly many have become pre campaign speeches for politicians. It would be much better if they had professional speakers give the address or talented comedians.

Graduated in ‘84. Speaker was the President of the American Medical Association. His son was a classmate and close friend.

I thought the speech was the best I had ever heard, thought provoking and inspirational.

Hadn’t heard anything as good until Jordan Peterson came along.

I only speak for myself, but I couldn't wait for everything to be over so I could GTFO.

We had an academy graduation speaker (Congressman) who introduced himself before his speech by saying:

"I am the the keymote speaker, I am sort of like the body at a funeral: You can't have the event without me, but everyone hopes I don't say much"

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I only speak for myself, but I couldn't wait for everything to be over so I could GTFO.

^^^^
What he said.

Don't remember a thing they said at mine.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Don't remember a thing they said at mine.

Ditto.

Since I didn't graduate from High School, I never heard the speaker at my HS Graduation.

College? Can't remember who it was or what they said.

Same for Graduate School-not even sure they had one.

Law School? We had one, but I was so overjoyed that I was getting out of the place that I remember kind of zoning out as whoever it was started to talk.

I looked back and saw my Mom and Grandmother in the audience, saw my girlfriend (also graduating with me) in the row ahead of me and then...it was OVER!!!!!

Never thought about it again till I saw this thread.

Bob

I don't even remember who my commencement speaker was.

Gradation ceremonies are for parents, not students. I would have been just as happy to skip the ceremony and have them send me my diploma in the mail (which is what they actually did, the one they handed out at the ceremony was a prop - just a xeroxed letter of congratulations). My parents, on the other hand, would not have missed it for anything in the world.

quote:

Originally posted by DougE:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I only speak for myself, but I couldn't wait for everything to be over so I could GTFO.

^^^^
What he said.

Agreed. I would have rather picked up my diploma from the office than gone through the BS.

991 inspired graduates but yes, it's for the parents and grandparents

No, don't think so. The only thing I remember of mine is it was hot as hell in the venue.

However, I went to my Grandsons recently and the Class Valedictorian gave a really good, and fairly short speech. I remember one line from it that I thought very appropriate, a Dr Seuss quote.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose".

All I remember of my high school graduation speech was “This is the last time you will all be together.”
College speech? Nada, zilch.
Military schools? Nope.
The 16 high school graduations I worked. Other then the Dr. Seuss “Oh the places you’ll go...” Nothing.

So, no they don’t inspire.

When my son graduated IBOLC at Fort Benning, the speaker was the leader of the red wine element of the Son Tay Raid. Wow! Inspiring and motivational!

I do not recall a single word from my high school graduation. But I do remember a lesson from my college graduation in '94.

(heavy paraphrasing) " . . . getting that trophy in tennis meant the world to me, it consumed me etc."

Years later
"Hey James, I found this trophy in a dumpster and I saw your name on it" -Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family