in making graduation speeches....

Make it as sincere as possible. Never waste your energy writing out a lengthy but boring and insincere valedictory or welcome or inspirational speech. Be there with the audience and say what you want to say in crisp language, minus the usual archaic adornments that make graduation exercises so deadly shallow and boring. We know what graduation exercises are all about. It is very long and tedious, it takes hours, and togas are not necessarily the best outfit to wear especially when the place is not air-conditioned. We know that the programme is tedious enough, so please, spare the audience and your fellow graduates, make your speeches alive and direct to the point.