Now that we have that out of the way: for reasons that are fairly obscure to me, I have ended up the person in my high school who reviews/coaches the valedictorian/salutatorian speeches. This is a struggle for me every year, because I myself don’t have a very strong conception of what a valedictorian speech ought to be (outside of short, and I do tell them this!) I struggle to decide whom a valedictorian is speaking to and whom a valedictorian is speaking for:
Are they the representative of their class speaking to the families and teachers?
Are they speaking as themselves to the families and teachers?
Are they speaking as themselves to the class and advising or commending their classmates?
Are they speaking for the class, to the class, shaping a sort of shared vision of what the last years have meant?
Are they speaking for the school, to either the class or to the parents/teachers?
You could say “all of this”, but, again, brevity! What do you all think? I am really looking for a wider perspective on this (I didn’t even go to any of my commencements!) What is a valedictorian supposed to do? Why have them speak? What, in your experience, has made a powerful speech? What speeches have been terrible?
And I think this is the fifth thread I have started in seven years.
The year I graduated, our Val was chosen based solely on grades. Bad decision. Not only did he study abroad for two years of high school, his entire speech was about his time away. It did not speak to a single other student’s experience, and did not go down well. As for advising other students, he was sort of a prick and in no position to do so – especially since, some years later, he’s far from the most successful person in his graduating class.
I’ve always thought you speaking for the students. Supposed to be inspirational and reflective of the experience that the majority of students could share.
Unfortunately, most Valedictorians seem to see it as a chance to attention whore.
Make it current. Your memories are not necessarily shared with the rest of the class (your main audience, in my opinion). Try to avoid the trite stuff. Keep it short. With any luck, your speaker will be able to inject a bit of humor in it, as well.
Humor is a must, whether they are naked under their robes or just diging on a favorite teacher, humor in my opinion loosens a crowd and shows that the speaker is not too full of themselves.
If someone goes to a private religious school, may it contain religious commentary?
I missed out on salutatorian to this kid who cheated (yeah, you, Nicky P.) but when I thought about what I would say had I the chance, it was a personal statement that reflected on how high school was not the be-all and end-all, conformity sucked, etc. All the usual angst which would have rung true with quite a few people. Unfortunately you had to practice in front of an administrator so they may have squashed it.
In my opinion (having given my HS’s Salutatory speach), it should be a way of thanking parents and educators for the work they’ve done in preparing us, and a look to the future as to what we hope to accomplish in the world.
I couldn’t say. The year I graduated, the Powers That Be decided it was a good idea if they didn’t allow the validictorian (your’s truly) to make a speech. I wonder why?
No stupid inside jokes, no making fun of other students or teachers. You’d be surprised at the number of inside jokes that have gone into the speeches I’ve heard, and they’re not funny even if you’re on the inside. And poking fun at someone makes the kid come off as mean-spirited. Most people don’t know the kid personally and won’t be able to tell if it’s all in good fun.
If you hae time, coach the kid a little on seeming natural (but not casual) in front of a crowd. Too many kids speak too fast, speak in a monotone, or come across as really stuck-up.