Lucky you! You’ve been asked to get up in front of every person you’ve gone to school with, their parents, your parents and your family to deliver a heartfelt and entertaining graduation speech.
But don’t fret, with proper preparation, our tips for Overcoming Public Specking Anxiety coupled with an effective natural supplement application, you will execute your graduation speech in style.
Prepare for your graduation speech far in advance (a minimum of two to three weeks). Jotting something down on a napkin immediately before your presentation will only make you look unprepared and this approach will likely result in considerable public speaking anxiety (fear of public speaking, stage fright).
Presumably you are not a professional public speaker; no one is expecting to see Barack Obama. Prepare notes that state your graduation speech introduction and transition sentences verbatim (but don’t read them verbatim) and outlines your key topics. If possible, do not read anything directly from your notes.
Ask who will be introducing you and what they’re planning on saying. Be prepared to introduce yourself and the reason you are giving a graduation speech in case the person introducing you fails to do so.
You may want to collaborate with the other people giving a graduation speech the same day you are. Can you develop some common themes that could be thread throughout all the speeches? Make sure that another speaker is not planning on telling the same story that you are in your graduation speech.
What makes your school, students and teachers unique? Tell the audience the story of your graduating class: what funny stories have occurred? What accomplishments or milestones have been achieved? Don’t just focus on the last four years: digging into the past can provide added framework to support your speech, i.e. did a classmate win the national spelling bee contest in middle school? Did your class win the state debate match as 8th graders?
Telling a joke or a funny story will endear you to the audience. This is the greatest risk you can take giving a graduation speech. Timing is everything when you’re telling a joke. As a result, your public speaking anxiety/ fear of public speaking may throw off your timing (Overcoming Public Specking Anxiety). Also, remember your audience: Grandma Hazel and your three year old cousin may be attendance; keep it clean.
Your graduation speech is about your class; not you and your immediate group of friends. Your diverse audience will have a difficult time relating to stories that are privy only to you and your friends. Make sure you talk about the various groups that make up your class (jocks,. ‘nerds,’ etc.) Try interviewing someone from each of these groups. What has been memorable and/or important to them? These interviews may also provide some great fodder for a little comic relief.
Remember that your graduation speech is meant to recognize how far you’ve all come, as well as inspire the new paths that lie ahead. Finding a theme or phrase that sums these sentiments will provide a foundation for a speech that will be remembered.
Do NOT recite a graduation speech that you got of the internet. It will be obvious and most of these graduation speeches are some of the worst ever written.
Parents and teachers truly deserve recognition during your graduation speech. Considering asking your class to give them a standing “O”.
How do you want your audience to remember your graduation speech? Do you want to leave them with a laugh or a tear? A truly great speech succeeds in creating both.
Joanne Wilgren, Staff Writer ( wilgren.Joanne@bravina.com)
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration
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Graduation
I have to give the final commencement. Any tips?
Posted by Connor Phillips
Final Presentor
Anytime you are presenting in a series of speakers make sure that you share notes with the other speakers one to two weeks prior to your graduation speech - especially if your speaking last. Ensure that you are not focusing on the same event, person etc.
Posted by Joanne Wilgren - Staff Writer
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