Who was the graduation speaker at your high school graduation? Were they famous? Funny? Memorable?

[SnowedIn]

My high school graduation speaker was Professor Ngügï wa Thiong'o who was, at the time, Author and Visiting Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Yale University. I confess I can remember nothing of Professor Thiong'o's address that day which, I believe, reflects more upon me than the address that morning 30 years ago.

David Brooks addresses the University of New Hampshire class of 2019

[TenderFantasy]

Woah... I was just so worried about looking pretty and professional (and proper) that I don't remember! What a weird thing to remember in my opinion lol. I'm thinking it was maybe the valedictorian (male and female?) or the Principal. Anyway, my high school graduation was 21 years ago (well 20 because I repeated the first grade when I came to the U. S. from a different country).

[SnowedIn]

What a fun story! :)

I had to look mine up; the program from graduation is still in my yearbook. :) But I still remember the year before Peter Jennings and his wife, Kati Martin, both spoke. THAT was memorable.

[TenderFantasy]

I feel bad because I didn't even go to my 10th reunion. I don't think I will go to my 20th either, if there is one. I wasn't popular, nor did I keep in touch with anyone truly. It's THAT sad (haha?). In fact, I was even bullied enough that I had to change schools. I don't know why some women were already being assholes back to me then (well it was just these two girls). But I wish that SHE (the girl that actually initiated the bullying and who had pushed me) was the one who got expelled instead of me having to change schools! She was the one who started it! ... Unfortunately, I still experienced that part of the school system that had racial discrimination. I mean the asistant principal or dean or whatever, she suspended us BOTH, but still, I shouldn't have been punished, I should have been PROTECTED as * I * was the victim! ... I'm just glad I was young enough to be strong and not let it get to me long-term! Anyway... apologies if I drabbled on about my unimportant past. 😞 Just sparked something sad in me. ... But I'll be okay haha. No worries. It was in the past.

[SnowedIn]

Wow... what a story. Thank you for sharing that experience and I'm really sorry you had to live that. That really does suck. :(

[TenderFantasy]

Thanks for MHO. Yeah.. I believe though that there are WORSE things in life than my experience in high school however. So it's all good.

[TenderFantasy]

Only in high school for a short amount of time compared to the rest of your life.

[SnowedIn]

I love your perspective on this; truly wonderful.

[SaoirseS]

I vividly recall what he looked like but I don't remember his name or any claim to fame. It was the usual "congratulations on this milestone in your life, the future is in your hands, get out there and do great things" gipper speech. Fortunately, it was pretty short.

[SnowedIn]

I love the vividness of your description! And, yeah, in this one area of life length matters.
Thank you!

[SaoirseS]

You're welcome! It seems like high school graduations are mostly variations on the same theme. I remember more funeral eulogies than graduation speeches, some are hilarious.

[SnowedIn]

I agree with you 100% -- they usually are all variations on the same ideas. I was a speechwriter for 18 years and you can still make them fun and interesting and hilarious.

[Chazmatazz269]

Our graduation commenced with an announcement by the skool superintendent, an elected student advisor and our valedictorians, one boy and one girl; in that order. We didn’t have anyone famous or otherwise notable.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, that was the experience my oldest son had too.

[NachtjaegerSS]

I was in boot camp and missed graduation.

[SnowedIn]

Very much appreciate your service. Thank you!

[NachtjaegerSS]

You bet 😉

[LaFerrari]

Never went to the graduation, I dropped out in 2015 due to severe medical issues then was welcomed back in 2017 at 20 years old I was originally in Individualized Education Program which allows students to be able to come back until you're 21 years old and graduated through online classes. and I was able to join the graduation but preferred not to for obvious reasons.

[SnowedIn]

Good for you for finishing school! That's an awesome achievement.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

My graduating class had 12 kids in it total. Very small school.

We couldn't afford a graduation speaker that didn't already work for the school, not that anyone would have cared who they were anyway.

[SnowedIn]

There's something kind of cool about only 12 kids, in a way! :)

Thanks for sharing!

[musicbrain5]

We didn't have any keynote speakers at my high school graduation. We didn't even have a good ceremony because the school was so cheap!

[SnowedIn]

Wow! That's really said. 😢 Everyone deserves a good graduation.
Thanks for sharing!

[dustybiker]

Same

[musicbrain5]

It was just the teachers and the administration walking us across the stage and then a valedictorian, and I can't remember who that was. It was someone I didn't know.

[musicbrain5]

We at least had a prom, but that didn't go too well for me personally. Did you go to any of your highschool dances and did you enjoy going? ↗

It was also in a brand new hotel party room that was still undergoing construction. There was literally tape holding up fake wood paneling LOL!

[dustybiker]

A lovely detail to hold dear.. for the rest of your life. 🤣

[SnowedIn]

@dustybiker... bummer! I'm sorry. You deserved at least a bike ride across stage.

[SnowedIn]

@musicbrain5 ... I love the imagery of the tape and the fake wood paneling lmao! :)

Here's a picture of my high school's dining room (or, part of it). Imagine it with the tables mostly gone, candles, etc., for prom. It was pretty swank. https://ibb.co/CbHBm1g

[dustybiker]

@snowedin 😂

[HaveNoName]

In our country, graduating from high school is no big deal. We do not consider our kids such morons that finishing high school is an achievement. It is not even called a "graduation". We only "graduate" from College.

[SnowedIn]

Are you willing to share what country (your profile says United States)? Interesting perspective and I appreciate you sharing.

[HaveNoName]

It can apply to any country in the mid to far "East" . "High school graduation" is an American construct.

[HaveNoName]

... and I will not be wrong in saying that YET AGAIN, there is also a commercial aspect built in behind it in this society.

[SnowedIn]

Understood. Thank you.

[HaveNoName]

👍 thanks for taking it as a subjective comment.

[SnowedIn]

I appreciate you taking the time to share. You have a valid point about the commercialization and I welcome any discussions.

The commercialization aside, graduations are important in the United States, and I respect their importance to young people.

[HaveNoName]

This is what I discovered coming here: American parents will never tell their kids that they did not do well. Even if the kid is horrible at what he does or just average in achievements, he/she will be told "great job". Yes it may sound "encouraging"... but many do not ever learn how to process rejection... perhaps till much later in life.

[SnowedIn]

There is great truth in what you say. :)

[WhitneySnow]

I haven’t graduated yet but the speaker at graduation last year was a famous real estate developer

[SnowedIn]

VERY cool! Thank you taking the time to respond!

[WhitneySnow]

You’re welcome!

[Curiosity2006]

I'm supposed to be 16, *cough*remember?*cough*

[SnowedIn]

I know! So please go back to your studies and let us know in two years.

[Curiosity2006]

XD Yup! Damn physics is quite perplexing in this age.

[AviatorTom]

Obviously not memorable... I don't remember who it was.

[SnowedIn]

That seems to be a very common response.
Appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[Msputiton]

He was some local guy who is big in picayune but y'all wouldn't know him if i said his name🤣

[SnowedIn]

That's pretty cool! (Clearly he was memorable, huh?)

Thank you!

[Msputiton]

He was.
He had some really good take aways

[SnowedIn]

That makes me so happy to hear you say that!

[Msputiton]

thanks 🥰

[exitseven]

The kid that was valedictorian made a speech. I cannot remember anyone else.

[SnowedIn]

Sounds about right! I remember being more impressed with our valedictorian's address than the guest speaker.

[call_me_scar]

No clue but I did fall asleep right before it and had a dream about smoking pot

[SnowedIn]

Something tells me you may not have been the only one. Thanks for replying!

[AimeeKyle]

Don’t really recall, it was quite a while ago. I am from a small rural are, so I’m certain it was just a teacher or principal.

[SnowedIn]

That's neat in a way! :) How many people graduated with you?

[AimeeKyle]

80 in my class.

[SnowedIn]

That's respectable size. Thanks for sharing!

[AimeeKyle]

You’re welcome

[TrillXHippy]

It was probably the principal and some other people. I don’t really remember who else it was that was speaking

[SnowedIn]

That's fair! :) I'm seeing that a lot. Thanks for sharing.

[TrillXHippy]

You’re welcome

[DizzyDesii]

Well one of them was me. I was salutatorian

[DizzyDesii]

I was nervous and talking fast like this girl
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mc3LGIqztXY

[SnowedIn]

Oh wow! That's very cool! Based on the way you write, that doesn't surprise me.

[DizzyDesii]

Im a confident public speaker but the Sal speech was one of my first times speaking in front of a large crowd so i spoke fast because i was nervous. I wouldn't do that now

[SnowedIn]

I completely believe that you are awesome!

[Pete671]

Steve Ovett, great guy!

[SnowedIn]

VERY cool! Thank you for sharing!

[LemiaOfThunder]

At my college gratuation yes.

[SnowedIn]

Interesting thought. I may have to do that as a question next! :) Thank you for sharing.

[LemiaOfThunder]

English Secondary schools dont have graduation, We dont graduate till College or Uni.

[SnowedIn]

Appreciate learning something new! Again, thanks much!

[WTFdivorce]

I can tell you they weren't famous lol

[SnowedIn]

One of the best answers yet! Well said and thank you!

[msc545]

No idea - I was not there for it.

[SnowedIn]

That's legit! Anything cool keep you from it if you don't mind me asking?

[msc545]

The school had made me crazy, and I had left. I was in college at that point.

[SnowedIn]

Very smart move on your part. Thanks for sharing!

[msc545]

my pleasure!

[NathanDavis]

I was... lol

[SnowedIn]

Seriously? For real?

[NathanDavis]

yes, not because I'm famous though...

[SnowedIn]

Didn't have to be famous. That's really cool.

[NathanDavis]

I was unofficially invited to go back as a graduate but I kindly declined, lol

maybe one day, when my niece graduates

[SnowedIn]

What an awesome story.

[NathanDavis]

they like good stories yes... even from college dropouts

[SnowedIn]

I'd enjoy speaking at my high school. They'd never invite me, but I'd enjoy it.

[BeMuse]

No idea.

[BeMuse]

Only thing I remember about my high school graduation is that I was drunk.

[SnowedIn]

lol -- that was several people at my graduation including at least one faculty member.