<p>You'd think that being salutatorian, I'd be able to write a flawless graduation speech in just minutes. Well, it's been weeks and my writer's block hasn't gone away. I've already written a couple drafts and made changes to them here and there, but I feel like nothing is memorable or worth listening to. Any advice, ideas, etc.? I'm not looking for someone to write the speech; I just need some inspiration, some jumping off point...</p>
<p>my motivation was doing it the night before it had to be turned into my principal to be approved, so i didnt have time to over-analyze it lol. thats always been my best strategy for speech writing though. everything i say is straight from the heart because i dont have time to keep going back over it. </p>
<p>haha im not sure if that really counts as advice, but its how i managed to get mine done, and it actually turned out to say everything i wanted it to. good luck!</p>
<p>Okay, now I’m just scared…</p>
<p>you can do what i did and look arround the room and choose an object to write about and just connect it back to high school eventually</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, some guy used Pokemon for his speech. [YouTube</a> - Zach’s Valedictorian Speech](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PStnFMK4yPQ]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PStnFMK4yPQ)
Use the fear blackhype gave you, an inanimate object, personal experience etc.
Many people just choose to do the boring cliche ones “I want to thank my wonderful friends and teachers. We, the class of 20**, will now open our wings and soar for the sky…etc”
I personally think I would rather listen to a Pokemon speech than another cliche speech if given the choice. Check his speech out, it might give you some inspiration…or not…</p>
<p>Who’s going to remember a student speech from high school 20 years down the line? No one, so don’t sweat it!</p>
<p>^^ Yup. It’s all about perspective.</p>
<p>
I was salutatorian of my graduating class too, and I wrote like 3/4 of my speech (ABOUT POKEMON.) and then found this youtube video. Our speeches are fairly different, but yeah… both about pokemon so I was very disappointed to see that someone else had already done it.
Either way, my pokemon speech was awesome and got rave reviews from everyone. The other speeches were… good… for being serious speeches. People did fall asleep during them, so… I dunno, mine was at least entertaining and very unexpected, coming from me. Lol. But Pokemon is what I’m all about, so that’s why I did it.
Write about something that all of the graduates can relate to (another reason I did pokemon. I am in all AP classes and only like 1% of the class is as well, so it’s not like I … even know most of my fellow graduates. But everyone loves pokemon!).</p>
<p>I’m surprised we can type “masturbate” on here.</p>
<p>^HAHA. Actually I was surprised too. I guess as long as it isn’t slang??
Anyways…I wish I was at your graduation speech. That would have been cool.</p>
<p>CoffeeAddict9716: No, I wouldn’t think that. Being val or sal is about playing the game right – taking certain courses and finding ways to boost rank. I’m sal too, haha</p>
<p>^haha yea. It’s all about manipulation 
You’d be surprised at how many teachers hide extra credit away from the masses…Which is ironic, since most of the time, the only people who care enough to pester it out of them are the ones who need it the least.</p>
<p>CS you know you do too.</p>
<p>CS I know. And your white cracker fanny pack is hot too.</p>
<p>I think the real question is, what does CS stand for anyway? Costa Rica?
If so, the answer to your question is yes.</p>
<p>Yeah, fairy_dreams, I’m finagled some points from teachers. Plus, our school allows us to take an online course for an elective, instead of taking one in school. So for $500, I bought myself the knowledge from that course, the ability to take an extra AP class, and two spots in class rank (4 –> 2). Not too shabby.</p>
<p>For serious, write your speech about that boom boom pow song. One of our (four) vals did this year and it was awesome.</p>
<p>You guys are right; class rank is all about manipulating the system.</p>
<p>OP, did anyone give you any parameters for your speech? At my school, the val was supposed to write one that “looked forward” and I was supposed to write one that was “reflective of the past.” I guess mine was very conventional; I basically talked about how our high school changed us over the years without our even realizing it.</p>
<p>ugh i need help with mine.</p>
<p>how important is name-dropping? i really can’t think of good enough anecdotes to include that won’t put the majority of students to sleep.</p>
<p>i wrote mine the day before auditions, added random people i thanked, mentioned my masochism in all the sleep i sacrificed and then quoted some sweet thoreau, love him! it was good though cuz my speech had jewels and castles in it, thats what im all about
^-^
Im sal too btw</p>
<p>add your quirky self in =]</p>