The Valedictorian Speech that will change your life

Summary

In this graduation speech, the speaker thanks family, friends, and educators for their support throughout high school. Using the metaphor of a Rubik's Cube, they describe the freshman year as a puzzle to be solved, sophomore year as a blur, and junior year as a time of increased responsibility. Senior year is likened to a marriage proposal, filled with anxiety and anticipation. The speech concludes with a look forward to the future, reminiscing about high school and the enduring friendships formed.

Takeaways

• 🙌 The speaker expresses gratitude to family, friends, and academic adjudicators for their support throughout their high school journey.
• 🎓 The commencement speech is a reflection on the high school experience, using personal anecdotes to connect with the audience.
• 🔄 The freshman year is likened to a Rubik's Cube, symbolizing the challenges of fitting in and navigating new social dynamics.
• 🌫 The sophomore year is described as a blur, with time passing quickly and memories being fragmented due to the overshadowing presence of the freshman and upperclassmen.
• 🚀 The junior year marks the transition to an upperclassman, with increased responsibilities and recognition as a leader within the school community.
• 🤔 The speaker highlights the pressure of AP classes, the IB program, and the expectations placed on juniors, emphasizing the importance of making the right moves.
• 💍 The college application process is compared to a marriage proposal, illustrating the anxiety and anticipation associated with the life-changing decision.
• 🎉 Despite the uncertainty of college acceptance, the speaker humorously suggests that having backup options can lead to unexpected positive outcomes.
• 🔄 The senior year is presented as a time to simplify and prepare for the transition to college, with the Rubik's Cube analogy concluding with the final pieces falling into place.
• 👋 The speech concludes with a farewell to high school and an optimistic look towards the future, encouraging the class to remember their shared experiences and friendships.
• 🎉 A final congratulatory message is extended to the class of 2010 and to those who supported them, emphasizing unity and collective achievement.

Q & A

What is the speaker's opening acknowledgment in the speech?

The speaker begins by thanking their family, especially their aunt and uncle who came from California, and their grandparents who traveled a long distance to be there. They also thank their friends and academic adjudicators.

Why does the speaker mention a Rubik's Cube in the context of freshman year?

The speaker uses the Rubik's Cube as a metaphor for the freshman year, suggesting that it was a puzzle with many pieces to fit together, such as understanding the high school environment and social dynamics.

How does the speaker describe the sophomore year of high school?

The speaker describes the sophomore year as a blur, with time passing quickly and being overshadowed by the activities of the freshmen and the authority of the upperclassmen, resulting in fragmented memories.

What changes does the speaker notice in the junior year?

In the junior year, the speaker notes an increase in responsibilities and leadership roles, such as being relied upon by coaches, influencing the school, and being seen as leaders rather than followers.

What is the significance of the 'proposing' analogy used by the speaker for the college application process?

The analogy of proposing is used to illustrate the high stakes and nervousness associated with college applications, where students have to make careful decisions and face the uncertainty of acceptance or rejection.

How does the speaker describe the senior year in relation to the Rubik's Cube metaphor?

The speaker suggests that if the previous years were managed well, the senior year would be simpler, like having almost solved the Rubik's Cube, with the main task being to complete the final moves before graduation.

What is the role of Nathan Turner in the speech?

Nathan Turner is invited to play mood-setting music during the speech to enhance the experience and keep the audience engaged, especially when they might get bored.

What does the speaker imply about the college application process being like a proposal?

The speaker implies that the college application process is nerve-wracking and requires careful planning, similar to planning a marriage proposal, with the added pressure of waiting for a response that could take months.

How does the speaker use humor in the speech?

The speaker uses humor in various parts of the speech, such as the anecdote about the wet pants and the extended analogy of finding the perfect partner for marriage to describe the college application process.

What is the final message the speaker conveys to the class of 2010?

The speaker's final message is one of congratulations to the class of 2010 and a reminder to cherish the memories and friendships formed during high school, emphasizing that they will remain friends forever.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Commencement Speech Kickoff and Freshman Year Reflection

The speaker begins their commencement speech by expressing gratitude to family, friends, and academic adjudicators for their support throughout high school. They acknowledge that without this support, the opportunity to represent the class in a speech filled with personal anecdotes would not have been possible. The speaker uses a Rubik's Cube as a metaphor for the freshman year, describing it as a puzzle that required careful navigation to fit in and understand the dynamics of high school life. They humorously mention the trivial concerns of freshmen, such as fitting in and the popularity of Pokémon cards, to illustrate the initial confusion and the gradual process of solving the 'puzzle' of high school integration.

05:01

🏫 Navigating the Blur of Sophomore Year and the Challenges of Upperclassmen

The speaker humorously describes the sophomore year as a 'blur,' a time when students are still adjusting to high school life but are not yet fully immersed in the responsibilities of being upperclassmen. They mention the overshadowing presence of freshmen and the authority of upperclassmen, which creates a fragmented and somewhat confused memory of the year. The speaker also touches on personal anecdotes, such as a late and wet pants incident, to illustrate the creative solutions students come up with to navigate through the challenges of high school. As the junior year approaches, the speaker notes the increased responsibilities and expectations placed on students as they become leaders and role models, emphasizing the importance of making the right moves to ensure a smooth transition into the final year of high school.

💍 The College Application Process: A Metaphorical Marriage Proposal

In this paragraph, the speaker compares the college application process to a young man's quest to find and propose to the perfect partner. They describe the anxiety and careful planning that goes into selecting the right college, similar to finding the right spouse. The speaker uses humor to depict the nervousness and anticipation leading up to the submission of college applications, likening it to a marriage proposal with a long waiting period for an answer. They also humorously suggest that having backup options (other colleges) can be beneficial if the first choice does not work out, ending with the optimistic view that despite the uncertainty, the future holds new opportunities and experiences.

Keywords

💡Commencement

Commencement refers to the act of formally starting something, often used in the context of ceremonies such as graduations. In the script, the commencement of the speaker's speech is mentioned, indicating the beginning of their address to the graduating class.

💡Rubik's Cube

A Rubik's Cube is a 3D puzzle toy that requires solving by aligning the colors on each side. In the script, it is used as a metaphor for the freshman year of high school, symbolizing the challenges and the process of figuring out how to fit in and navigate the new environment.

💡Anecdotes

Anecdotes are short, interesting stories about personal experiences. The speaker mentions that their speech is comprised of personal anecdotes, indicating that they will be sharing personal stories to connect with the audience and illustrate their points.

💡Mood Setting Music

Mood setting music refers to the use of melodies or tunes to create a particular atmosphere or feeling. In the script, Nathan Turner is invited to play guitar to enhance the experience of the speech, aiming to keep the audience engaged through the soothing sound of music.

💡Sophomore Year

Sophomore year typically refers to the second year of high school or college. In the script, it is described as a 'blur,' suggesting that it was a period of rapid change and less memorable events compared to other years.

💡Underclassmen

Underclassmen are students in lower grade levels, such as freshmen or sophomores, in contrast to upperclassmen who are in higher grades like juniors or seniors. The script mentions underclassmen to highlight the progression from being new to the school to becoming leaders and role models.

💡AP Classes

AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are college-level courses offered in high school. The script mentions AP classes to emphasize the increased academic challenges and responsibilities that come with being an upperclassman.

💡IB Program

The IB Program, or International Baccalaureate, is a rigorous educational program that offers a higher level of education for students. In the script, the mention of the IB program signifies the academic rigor and commitment expected of juniors and seniors.

💡Prom

Prom is a formal dance event typically held for high school students. The script refers to prom as a rite of passage and a fun event that upperclassmen are allowed to attend, marking a milestone in their high school experience.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility refers to the state or fact of being accountable for something, often one's actions. In the context of the script, responsibility is highlighted as a key aspect of being an upperclassman, where every move has consequences and must be carefully considered.

💡College Application

The college application process involves submitting materials to universities for consideration for admission. The script uses the analogy of proposing to describe the college application process, emphasizing the anxiety, effort, and anticipation involved in waiting for responses from colleges.

💡Class of 2010

The term 'Class of 2010' refers to the group of students who graduated in the year 2010. In the script, it is used to address and congratulate the specific graduating class, marking the end of their high school journey and the beginning of new chapters in their lives.

Highlights

The speaker thanks family, friends, and academic adjudicators for their support.

The speaker acknowledges that without the help of the audience, they would not be giving this speech.

A Rubik's Cube is used as a metaphor for the freshman year, representing the challenges of fitting in and navigating high school.

Sophomore year is described as a blur, with time passing quickly and memories being fragmented.

Junior year is characterized by increased responsibility and influence as an upperclassman, with the realization of the impact of one's actions.

The speaker humorously compares applying to college to proposing to the perfect girl, emphasizing the anxiety and importance of the decision.

The analogy of proposing to multiple 'backup chicks' after rejection reflects the strategy of applying to multiple colleges.

The speaker envisions the future where the class will look back and laugh at their high school experiences.

The importance of remembering the times spent together and maintaining friendships is highlighted.

The speaker uses music to enhance the mood of the speech and keep the audience engaged.

The analogy of the Rubik's Cube is further developed to describe the progression through high school and the challenges faced each year.

The speaker reflects on the growth from being a follower to a leader during the junior year.

The pressure of senior year is conveyed through the college application process, likening it to a high-stakes proposal.

The speaker encourages the audience to look forward to the future with optimism and to embrace the changes that come with it.

The speech concludes with congratulations to the class of 2010 and acknowledgment of those who helped them reach this point.

Transcripts

good evening class of 2010 before I

commenced my speech I would first like

to thank my family especially my aunt

and uncle who came down from California

and my grandparents who flew from

halfway around the world I also like to

thank my friends and my academic

adjudicators without any of you I would

not be where I am today thank you

because without your help I would not

have been given this chance to represent

the class with a lengthy speech

comprised of highly personal anecdotes a

chance I now plan to take full advantage

of now I realize that some of you do not

care if I'm what I'm about to say so

I invited Nathan Turner up here to

enhance this experience with some mood

setting music some mood setting music

they should accommodate your ears so

that as you get bored and so on in and

out of listening to my speech all you'll

be able to hear is the soothing sound of

the guitar okay so to start I show you

the beginning of freshman year I believe

this Rubik's Cube is represents our

freshman year very well because our

freshman year was a puzzle it wasn't too

long ago when the puzzle of entering

high school course presented before you

and most of us were nervous anxious or

scared and questions like how am I going

to fit in filled our heads and we became

more concerned with what we wore and he

we hung out with and less concerned

about who has more pokemon cards I don't

know about that one it was a puzzle

because just like the Rubik's Cube you

can turn it around you just can't turn

it around in any unplanned direction

otherwise it's just gonna get more mixed

up so you have to start matching colors

you have to know what's going on where

who's dating who and by the time

freshman year is almost over

you almost you've solved part of your

Rubik's Cube you still have a long way

to go now

sophomore year was kind of a blur hold

on one second

okay that works now sophomore year was

kind of a blur you not know what's going

on in high school but you're still in

underclassmen so you there's not nothing

much going on time pass quickly and

everything was drowned out by the

freshman swine and the upperclassmen

Authority so when we piece all the parts

of sophomore year together creates a

rather hazy fragmented memory that kind

of feels like

then he just tried to trying all over

the place so I did what anyone else

would do it

and I was already late and my pants were

still not dry so I decided to get

creative

and thus we coast through sophomore year

leaving ourselves to wonder what really

happened yet we managed to saw more of

the Rubik's Cube and then junior year

there finally an upperclassman home you

are now entitled to a lot more power to

influence the school you are becoming

more of a leader than a follower but you

soon realize that you just get too much

harder from here more AP classes are

available the IB program begins coaches

rely on you more underclassmen begin to

look up to you

and you're finally allowed to go to prom

it's all fun until you begin to realize

what the responsible the responsibility

that's been given to you you have to be

careful what you do because any wrong

move can send you back to square one

every move you make has to be just right

so that the last year in high school

will be simple now if you've set it up

right senior year wouldn't be as

complicated as your previous three

because most of you don't even have a

fourth period but there is one thing one

important thing that you need to get out

of the way before you leave and I think

I can best describe this through the

words of Blanche jabber so imagine that

you're a single guy and you decide that

it's time to start thinking about

getting married but you're still young

you don't want to rush into anything

so I spent years trying to find the

perfect girl every chance you get you

travel all over the country just to try

and meet new people some you like more

than others some are too nerdy while

others party too much but finally

after all your searching you think you

find the perfect one

oh she's incredible she's fun smart sexy

everything you wanted on a woman and you

decide to propose but you only get one

shot and you can't screw it up so you

spend months agonizing on how you're

gonna do it what you're gonna say to her

you set a deadline for yourself so that

you can't put it off forever and that's

the deadline of boat approaches you

begin to get nervous are you good enough

oh it feels as though everything you've

been doing your life has been leading up

to this moment

finally the deadline is here yo your sir

nervous she's way out of your league

mister ring big enough how many mistakes

have you made so far is it too late to

go back then it's over you've submitted

your proposal and there's nothing more

you can do she looks at you and she says

mmm let me get let me get back to you in

like four months that's pretty much what

applying to college is like and you know

what she'll probably say no but guess

what you didn't tell her you proposed to

a bunch of backup chicks just in taste

rejected

they're all begging to come marry you

instead well now that college is just

around the corner all you have to do is

just turn those few sides one second and

you finally saw your Excuse so now it's

time to say goodbye to high school and

say hello to college

so now that we're done with high school

it's time to look ahead into the future

a few years from now we're going to look

back at these high school years and talk

about our accomplishments and all the

ridiculous things we've had to do we'll

all probably laugh about all the stuff

we've done and said while we were still

in high school and then just remember

you gotta just remember as we go on we

remember all the times we had together

and as our lives change from whatever we

will still be friends forever yeah

the only thing left to say now is

congratulations to the West Hall High

School class up to 2010 and to those who

helped us get here