Graduation Advice
From Adviceopedia
Graduation advice can be helpful in the short term or the long run. If you need to know what to do about thank you notes or you would just like to read some inspirational quotes because you're nervous about what the future holds, seeking out advice can quell your anxieties.
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Graduation Advice and Questions
Should You Write Thank You Notes?
In a word, yes. This is graduation advice that applies to the rest of your life. Always write thank you notes. Save a list of all the addresses you gather in order to send out graduation announcements. Also keep a list of all of the gifts you receive as you near graduation (you may also receive some well after graduation). When you receive a gift, consult the list of addresses and send a thank you card within a few days.
Simply express your appreciation for the gift you've received and how useful it will be. For example, if someone sends money, you can tell him or her how it will be used to further your education or be invested wisely. You can also review samples of thank you note wording for ideas.
What Goes Into a Commencement Speech?
If you're about to graduate from high school, you don't have to worry about writing one of these. This is different from a valedictorian speech, written by the student with the top academic record. These are speeches filled with graduation advice and often given by politicians, important citizens, authors, and so on, to give students inspiration and perspective. Graduating students should listen carefully to these words of wisdom. They're meant to inspire and motivate students to embark on the next stage of their lives with gusto and passion. The speeches teach young people to remain hopeful, stay true to their dreams, and give a sense of purpose to those who are about to set out on the journey past college.
If you're in need of more inspirational graduation advice in the form of poetry, quotes from other people's commencement speeches, or just words of wisdom, visit the following sites:
How to Write a Valedictorian Speech?
If you have to write a valedictorian speech, congratulations are in order! While you do want to inspire your peers, you don't have to do the exact job as the commencement speaker. What you should do with your speech is bring up shared memories throughout the years, such as the time something hilarious happened at a pep rally or events demonstrating how close you have all grown as you've made your way through the new experiences of high school. Don't forget that your audience is your graduating class—speak to them more than to the guests in attendance. You only need to talk for five or six minutes.
After you open your speech with an attention-grabbing statement, joke, or quote, you can also thank the people along the way who have helped support you in your education. Mention favorite teachers, friends, or parents, for example. Mention shared successes. Then go into the aforementioned memories, helping your friends and classmates reflect on the times they've spent together and appreciate the monumental day when they each begin a new chapter. You can even quote some of your classmates to share insights in addition to your own.
Don't forget to talk about how your own journey was sculpted by the staff and students at your high school and how those memories and experiences will continue to influence your life. Make suggestions for things the graduates should remember from their graduation day. Reiterate your main points, thank everyone for attending the graduation ceremony, and then ask people to applaud the graduating class.
If you need help (or even if you think you don't), turn to a favorite teacher and a handful of classmates for feedback on what you'd like to add in your speech. Consider the content and the order of the delivery. Don't be afraid to make the changes they suggest.
Where Do You Go After Graduation?
Take the graduation advice you receive from multiple sources and reflect on it. Gain new perspective and bring up memories from your high school days that you want to be able to remember forever. Reminisce with your friends before you go your separate ways. In the short term, write those thank you notes, write down some of your favorite memories (add pictures if you have them!) and treasure the years spent getting to know your peers, your teachers, and your mentors. Determine how to make the lessons learned a part of your core being and carry them with you into the future.
If you plan to go to college right away, you probably already have a school in mind. If not, contact the schools you're interested in and ask for information packets. Apply to your favorites and go on tours of the campuses to get a better feel for where you think you'll fit in best. You don't have to have your whole future mapped out yet; you may not even have a major at the beginning of your college career.
If you don’t want to go to college at all or at least not right away, you'll most likely be entering the work force. Use samples of resumes to create your own, and study up on how to interview well so that you get the job you want. If you need help finding jobs for which you're qualified, consider working with an employment agency. They will have access to job postings you may never see on your own and they can offer interview tips and insider advice.
