I’ve sat through many commencement speeches—some as a speaker, most as an audience member. I’ve seen what works. I’ve also seen what makes graduates glance at their watches and parents whisper, “Kailan ba matatapos ito?”
The best speeches are never about the speaker. They are about the graduates and the people who carried them to that stage.
And yet, too often, I’ve watched the spotlight stolen. Politicians use the occasion for what we Filipinos call epalitics—turning graduations into campaign rallies. Or speakers who spend 45 minutes retelling their own life story, as if the ceremony were a tribute to themselves. The result? Graduates tune out. Teachers sigh. Parents feel robbed of the moment.
I’ve been invited to give commencement speeches a few times. Each time, I reminded myself: this is not my day. This is theirs. My role is to celebrate the uncelebrated, to tell the stories that deserve to be heard, and to make the graduates see themselves with pride.
I first learned this lesson in a place far from any auditorium. In Smokey Mountain, I came only to serve lugaw. There was no microphone, no program. But when I was asked to speak, I told a story about my lolo—simple, unpolished, but true. And I watched children in slippers, parents by the doorway, lean in and listen. That day, I realized: the stage is never about me. It’s about the people in front of me.
That’s what this article is about.
If you are ever invited to give a commencement address, this is your guide to doing it well. You’ll learn how to avoid the traps that make speeches forgettable, how to honor the people who deserve the spotlight, and how to deliver a message in 17 minutes or less that graduates will carry with them long after the tassels are turned.
Because commencement isn’t your lifetime achievement award. It’s their moment. And your job is to make it shine.
The True Purpose of a Commencement Speech
So, what exactly is a commencement speech?
A commencement speech is a short address delivered during graduation ceremonies. Its purpose is not to showcase the speaker, but to mark a turning point in the graduates’ lives—to honor their journey, to thank those who helped them, and to inspire them as they take their next steps. It is called “commencement” because it signals the beginning, not the end.
That’s the part many speakers forget.
Commencement isn’t about the distinguished guest on stage. Everyone already knows you’re successful. Everyone already knows you were chosen because of your title, your expertise, or your achievements. If you spend most of your time talking about yourself, you waste the moment.
I’ve learned this both as a speaker and as an audience member. I remember sitting in the crowd as one politician droned on about his programs and achievements. The graduates sat in their gowns, waiting to march, but the speech dragged past 40 minutes. Nobody remembered his message—only the misery of waiting. Contrast that with another speech I heard: it was only ten minutes, full of student stories, and it ended with a charge that made the graduates cheer. That’s the one people remembered.
A commencement speech works best when you step aside and make others the center of the story.
It’s tempting to use the stage as a platform for your own narrative. But commencement is not your TED Talk. It is not your campaign launch. It is a sacred celebration of effort and sacrifice—of sleepless nights, teachers who never gave up, parents who sold food in the market to pay tuition, and working students who balanced shifts with exams.
When you give a commencement address, you stand there not to be honored, but to give honor.
If you’re looking for a speaker who understands how to honor people and move audiences, I share more about my approach here: Motivational Speaker Philippines.
Common Traps Graduation Speakers Fall Into
Over the years, I’ve noticed that most commencement speeches fail for the same reasons. The mistakes aren’t new. They repeat year after year, in school after school. Here are the traps you need to avoid if you want to give a speech that honors the graduates instead of exhausting them.
1. The Life Story Dump
Some speakers treat the stage like their autobiography launch. They narrate their life from childhood to career success, complete with every hardship and every award. The problem? The audience didn’t come for your journey. They came to celebrate theirs.
Yes, share a story or two from your life—but only if it builds a bridge to the graduates’ story. Anything more is self-indulgence.
2. The Endless Lecture
One of the longest commencement speeches I sat through lasted almost an hour. By minute thirty, the graduates were restless. Parents whispered. Teachers kept glancing at their watches. The only thing people remembered was how long it was.
Keep this in mind: Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—one of the most powerful speeches in history—lasted just over two minutes. You don’t need more than 17 minutes to change lives.
3. The Campaign Rally
In the Philippines, we even have a word for it: epalitics. Politicians often show up at graduations, not to honor students, but to promote themselves. They use the stage for slogans, promises, and applause lines designed for voters.
But commencement is not the place to seek votes. It’s a place to honor graduates. If you were invited as a politician, resist the temptation. Use the stage for gratitude, not grandstanding.
4. The Generic Template
I’ve heard speeches that could be delivered at any event—anniversaries, weddings, even barangay fiestas. Filled with clichés like “Follow your dreams,” “The future is in your hands,” or “Reach for the stars.”
These lines are safe, but they don’t stick. They sound like recycled greeting cards. What graduates remember are specific, concrete stories—like the classmate who worked nights to finish school, or the teacher who walked miles just to show up for class.
I’ve seen these mistakes up close—both as a speaker and as an audience member. That’s why my mission as a motivational speaker in the Philippines is to create talks that truly serve the audience, not the speaker’s ego.
Principles for a Speech That Honors People
If you want your commencement speech to matter—not just in the moment, but in memory—follow these principles. They’re simple, but powerful.
1. Keep It Under 17 Minutes
The sweet spot for a commencement speech is short. Why 17 minutes? Because after that, attention drops fast. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address took just over two minutes, yet it’s remembered more than 150 years later.
The point is not to say more. The point is to say what matters—and leave space for the graduates to own the moment.
2. Do Your Homework
To honor people is to know them. Talk to teachers. Ask parents. Listen to student stories. You’ll find sacrifices and triumphs hidden in plain sight.
I once prepared for a speech by interviewing a graduating class president. She told me about a classmate who worked nights at a call center just to pay for school. That one detail changed my whole message. Instead of quoting global leaders, I quoted their classmate—and the graduates roared in recognition.
3. Be the Storyteller of Their Journey
Your job isn’t to impress. It’s to narrate. Tell the story of this batch—how they survived exams, coped during the pandemic, or helped each other when times were tough. When you put their struggle into words, you give them a mirror.
As I shared in Create Your Stage, the best stories aren’t performances. They’re moments of truth. Don’t just tell a story—create a moment that makes graduates look at each other and say, “That’s us.”
4. Share Your Life Only as a Bridge
Of course, you can share your own stories. But remember: your life is not the highway, it’s just the bridge. Use your experience to connect to their reality, not to spotlight yourself.
I often tell the story of Smokey Mountain, when I came only to serve lugaw and ended up speaking. That moment connects because it’s not about me—it’s about recognizing the stage in front of you.
5. Elevate the Overlooked
Don’t just mention the honor students. Celebrate the working students. The janitors who cleaned the classrooms. The cafeteria staff who fed them. The parents who sold vegetables, drove tricycles, or worked abroad just so their children could graduate.
Commencement is about the whole village it took to raise those graduates. Shine the light on them.
6. End with Pride, Not Pity
Graduates don’t need pity for their struggles. They need to see their struggles as proof of strength. End your speech by showing them what they’ve already accomplished—and why it’s worth being proud.
How to Find and Tell the Stories
To honor people is to know them. You cannot celebrate what you have not first seen. That’s why the best commencement speakers don’t just prepare their own words—they prepare by listening.
Start With Research
- Talk to the teachers. Ask them about the students who surprised them, the ones who pushed through against the odds. Teachers always know.
- Ask the graduates themselves. What did they sacrifice? What moments defined their journey? What nearly broke them—and what pulled them through?
- Listen to the parents. Some sold vegetables at the market, others worked abroad, many skipped meals just to save for tuition. Their stories carry the heartbeat of graduation day.
This isn’t “extra work.” This is the work.
Look for Ordinary Miracles
The most powerful stories are rarely the headline-makers. They’re the quiet ones.
- The working student who woke up at 4am to drive a tricycle before class.
- The teacher who bought books from her own salary so students could learn.
- The grandmother who walked miles just to see her apo in a toga for the first time.
When you bring these stories to the microphone, you become their storyteller. And the whole room leans in—because they see themselves honored in your words.
Turn Details Into Moments
In Create Your Stage, I wrote: Don’t just tell a story. Create a moment.
That’s the difference between saying, “Many of you worked hard,” and painting the picture:
“Some of you worked the night shift at a call center, then dragged yourself to class with barely any sleep. And yet here you are—cap, gown, diploma in hand. That is not just graduation. That is grit.”
One line turns effort into pride. One detail turns a generic message into a mirror.
Let Their Stories Move You First
If a story doesn’t move you, it won’t move them. When you find those ordinary miracles, let them sink into you. Feel the weight of the sacrifice. Only then can you carry it with authenticity onstage.
Because commencement isn’t about performance—it’s about presence. And presence begins with listening.
Storytelling That Moves
Every commencement speech is really a story. And every story that sticks follows a rhythm. I use a simple arc: Desire → Disaster → Decision → Direction.
It’s the same rhythm you’ll find in novels, movies, and even in the best 5-minute testimonies. Why? Because it mirrors real life.
1. Desire
Every graduate starts with a longing. The desire to finish school. To make their parents proud. To get a better life. Desire is what makes people lean in—because they recognize themselves in it.
2. Disaster
Then comes the struggle. Exams failed. Money ran out. A pandemic shut schools down. Disaster raises the stakes. It reminds the audience that the diploma wasn’t handed—it was fought for.
3. Decision
The turning point. The graduate decides to push forward. The parent takes a second job. The teacher refuses to give up. Decision is what transforms disaster into dignity.
4. Direction
And now—graduation day. The moment when all the desire, disaster, and decisions come together into a new direction. The tassel turns, and a new chapter begins.
How It Works in a Speech
Instead of saying:
“This year has been challenging, but you all overcame obstacles.”
Say it like this:
“I spoke to a student who dreamed of becoming an engineer. That was her desire. But halfway through college, her father lost his job—that was her disaster. She thought of dropping out. Then she decided to sell homemade snacks at school, waking at 3am every day to make it happen—that was her decision. And today, she walks across this stage with honors—that’s her new direction.”
See the difference? The audience doesn’t just hear encouragement. They see courage.
This is why commencement speeches should not be generic. They should be story-driven mirrors. When graduates hear their own journey reflected in Desire → Disaster → Decision → Direction, they don’t just clap politely. They rise to their feet, because they feel seen.
Designing the Rhythm of a 17-Minute Speech
One of the biggest fears of any graduation speaker is: “What if I run out of things to say?” The truth is the opposite: most run too long. The best commencement speeches are short, sharp, and deeply human.
Here’s a structure I call The 17-Minute Frame.
Minute 1: Gratitude and Context
Open by honoring the occasion. Thank the school, teachers, and parents. But don’t linger—this isn’t a roll call of names. Make it heartfelt, specific, and brief.
Minutes 2–4: The Big Idea
Introduce one central message. Not three, not five—just one. A line graduates can carry home.
Examples:
- “Don’t steal the stage. Shine the spotlight.”
- “Ordinary sacrifices create extraordinary futures.”
- “Your diploma is not just paper—it’s proof of resilience.”
Minutes 5–12: Stories That Embody the Idea
Tell two or three stories (from the graduates, parents, or teachers) that illustrate your message. Use the storytelling arc: Desire → Disaster → Decision → Direction. Keep each story under 3 minutes.
This is where the heart of the speech lives. Remember, as I wrote in Create Your Stage: Don’t just tell a story. Create a moment.
Minutes 13–15: Reflection + Bridge
Now you can briefly share your own story—but only as a bridge. Make it relevant. Show how your experience connects to theirs. Keep it personal, but not self-centered.
Example: “When I was asked to speak in Smokey Mountain after serving lugaw, I realized something: the stage is never about me. It’s about the people in front of me. That lesson is why I stand here today—to honor you.”
Minutes 16–17: The Final Charge
End strong. Bring your big idea back. Charge the graduates with pride and clarity. Make them stand taller in their gowns.
Examples of closing lines:
- “Don’t steal the spotlight. Shine it where it belongs—on the lives you will touch.”
- “Carry your story with courage. It is already enough.”
- “This is not the end of your journey. This is your commencement—your beginning.”
The beauty of this frame is that it works every time. It gives you structure without stiffness, clarity without caging your words. And most importantly, it honors the occasion by staying within 17 minutes.
The Filipino Context
Graduations in the Philippines are unlike anywhere else. They are not just academic ceremonies. They are family reunions, community gatherings, and acts of thanksgiving all at once.
I’ve seen entire families—grandparents, titos, titas, even neighbors—come to witness a single student march. For many, especially first-generation graduates, this day is historic. It means a family line has shifted. It means sacrifices have borne fruit. It means hope.
That’s why commencement day is sacred. And that’s why the speech matters.
But here’s the danger: in the Philippines, too many politicians see graduations as opportunities for epalitics. They step onto the stage not to honor, but to advertise. Instead of celebrating the students, they campaign for themselves. Instead of inspiring, they insert slogans.
This practice robs the graduates of their spotlight. It takes what should be a memory of joy and turns it into a platform for power. I do not discourage schools from inviting public officials. But I do encourage them to be very careful. Commencement is not a campaign stop. It is a sacred rite of passage.
The beauty of Filipino graduations is that they remind us of bayanihan. Behind every diploma is a village:
- Parents who sold vegetables in the palengke.
- Mothers who worked as domestic helpers abroad.
- Fathers who drove jeepneys or tricycles to keep the family afloat.
- Teachers who spent their own money for classroom supplies.
- Siblings who shared gadgets during online classes.
These are the stories worth telling. This is the heartbeat of Filipino graduations.
And here’s the irony: the most distinguished guest in the hall does not need to prove their distinction. Everyone already knows. True greatness shows itself in humility—in pointing the spotlight away from yourself and onto the lives of those who struggled, sacrificed, and succeeded.
Because in the Philippines, graduation is not just about individuals. It is about families, communities, and generations rising together.
This is the heart of my work as a motivational speaker in the Philippines: helping audiences feel seen, valued, and proud of their own stories.
Final Words
To honor people is to listen.
To honor people is to tell their stories.
To honor people is to make them see their own worth.
That’s the calling of a commencement speaker.
You are not there to audition for a lifetime achievement award. You are not there to rehearse your campaign speech. You are not there to prove you belong on stage. Everyone already knows who you are—that’s why you were invited.
Your real task is simpler, but harder: shine the spotlight where it belongs.
Research their stories. Celebrate the uncelebrated. Elevate the overlooked. And when you speak, make the graduates, parents, and teachers feel that this day was truly theirs.
If you must tell your own story, make it a bridge, not the highway. Let it connect them to their own courage. If you must give advice, keep it specific and real—something they can repeat years later. And above all, keep it short. Seventeen minutes or less.
Because commencement is not about performance. It is about presence. And presence means standing there with humility, courage, and clarity—speaking words that honor, not overshadow.
In the end, the best graduation speeches don’t make people clap for you. They make people proud of themselves. They make graduates walk taller in their gowns, parents tear up with gratitude, and teachers remember why they never gave up.
So when you are handed the microphone on that sacred day, remember this: don’t steal the spotlight. Shine it.
