Nice job!  You should be really proud of yourself for accomplishing such an exciting goal. Now it is time to get to work on a speech that will leave your audience entertained and amazed. To a lot of people, the idea of writing and delivering a speech is terrifying, but with a bit of knowledge and some practice, it turns into an exciting project.

Here are 10 simple steps that will help you write and deliver a dazzling speech:

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My high school was very small and extremely casual.  We were like a family, so a formal speech would have felt strange. My cousin, on the other hand, graduated from a large, formal high school.  In his case, a formal speech was a better choice.

Step 2: Figure out your message.

Many graduates choose to offer advice for future success or let the graduating class know that each day is a treasure. I blended the two, mentioning my enthusiasm in looking towards our future, and the best ways that we could enjoy each day.

Step 3: Use a poem or a few short quotes.

A few famous quotes are a nice addition and add some sparkle to your speech.

Step 4: Don’t go overboard and use too many quotes.

No one wants to be held captive at graduation by someone who will not stop talking.  Adding too many quotes can make your speech seem too long. Aim for two or three quotes, one towards the beginning of the speech, and one during the closing.

Step 5: Use personal experiences and stories.

A great way of highlighting key points of your speech is to use a story or two. Anecdotes will entertain your audience and get your point across.

Step 6: Don’t ramble.

Remember what I said about boredom?  I meant it!  I remember being at my cousin’s graduation for nearly 3 hours due to all of the rambling speeches.  Make it brief – keep your audience interested and your speech fresh. Ask about how speech time you will have and stick to it!

Step 7: Proofread and review.

Double check your word choices, and make sure that your speech is easy to read. If you have any tongue-twisters, ditch them and find a new way to phrase your sentence.

Step 8: Read your speech aloud.

Read your speech aloud, preferably in front of friends, and get a good idea of how it sounds. If you have to speed read to stay within your alloted time, then it may be a good idea to pare the speech down a bit.

Step 9: Practice.

Practice your speech every day; get really comfortable reading it in front of people; and know the best places of your speech to pause for effect.  After practicing for a while, you will breeze through it when the big day finally arrives.

Step 10: Have fun!