As I write this blog I am all-at-once happy and misty-eyed at the thought of the upcoming commencement. It brings happy memories of a hopeful time, full of promise. Much like a wedding, graduation symbolizes the beginning of the rest of your life. However, I must admit I did not realize this at the time. Back then the word \u201ccommencement\u201d was the equivalent to finished, done, don\u2019t have to go to class anymore, and I\u2019m outta here! Of course, I now clearly see that commencement is exactly what the word implies- a starting point for something new.<\/p>\n
Upon receiving my Bachelor\u2019s degree, I was fortunate enough to share my graduation day with my mother, who received her Master\u2019s on the same day. We both attended the same university. For my Master\u2019s, I was just glad to be done. The reality of teaching full time, raising a family, and studying was a bit too much. I now find myself at the tail end of my PhD journey. This time it is different. This time I chose to study because I wanted to learn for the sake of learning. I wanted to engage in conversations and experiences that my everyday life did not promise. This time when I have the privilege of graduating, I vow to savor the experience. I will sit in that moment and listen to the speeches. I will be present.<\/p>\n
I think about my past commencement ceremonies and struggle to recall any memorable words of wisdom. None come to mind. I do not envy those whose task it is to deliver these speeches; it is a formidable assignment. What would I say? What have others said when given the opportunity? I thought it would be interesting to research this a bit. In doing so, I discovered several websites featuring commencement speeches. Along with the links, I have also included some excerpts from humorous speeches here.<\/p>\n
Conan O\u2019Brien<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Dartmouth College, 2011 Commencement<\/b><\/p>\n Before I begin, I must point out that behind me sits a highly admired president of the United States and decorated war hero while I, a cable television talk show host, has been chosen to stand here and impart wisdom. I pray I never witness a more damning example of what is wrong with America today.<\/i><\/p>\n Amy Poehler <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Harvard University, 2011 Commencement<\/b><\/p>\n Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your beers. I am honored that you chose me to help you celebrate your graduation today. I can only assume I am here today because of my subtle and layered work in a timeless classic entitled \u2018Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.\u2019 And for that I say, you\u2019re welcome. <\/i><\/p>\n Ellen DeGeneres<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Tulane University, 2009 Commencement <\/b><\/p>\n When I was asked to make the commencement speech, I immediately said yes. Then I went to look up what commencement meant…. I thought that you had to be a famous alumnus, alumini, aluminum, alumnis \u2014 you had to graduate from this school. And I didn\u2019t go to college here, and I don\u2019t know if President Cowan knows, I didn\u2019t go to any college at all. Any college. And I\u2019m not saying you wasted your time, or money, but look at me, I\u2019m a huge celebrity….<\/i><\/p>\n I\u2019m here because of you. Because I can\u2019t think of a more tenacious, more courageous graduating class. I mean, look at you all, wearing your robes. Usually when you\u2019re wearing a robe at 10 in the morning, it means you\u2019ve given up.<\/i><\/p>\n So, as you prepare to walk at your commencement, soak in the experience and live in the moment\u2026 and remember to always wear sunscreen!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As I write this blog I am all-at-once happy and misty-eyed at the thought of the upcoming commencement. It brings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":6753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"custom_author_name":"","chapman_pin_hero_slider":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41,253],"tags":[375,2,376,377,378],"class_list":["post-1709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-student-voices","tag-2013-commencement","tag-college-of-educational-studies","tag-commencement-ceremony","tag-degree","tag-sunscreen"],"yoast_head":"\n