my life as a student speech

Speech on Life of a Student

Life as a student is a unique journey, full of learning and growth. You tackle new challenges, make lifelong friends, and discover your passions.

Yet, it’s not always easy. Balancing studies, hobbies, and personal life can be tricky. This phase is a stepping stone to your future, shaping you into the person you’ll become.

1-minute Speech on Life of a Student

Good day to one and all present here. I consider it a great privilege to deliver a speech on the topic ‘Life of a Student’. Student life is the most essential part of our life. It is the foundation on which we build our future.

A student’s life is filled with both challenges and opportunities. Challenges come in the form of academic pressures, the struggle in balancing social and personal life, managing time effectively, and making critical decisions about career. The opportunities, on the other hand, are countless. Students have the chance to acquire knowledge, develop skills, build relationships, and also shape their personality.

The role of a student is not just limited to academics. They are the ambassadors of their respective cultures, carriers of knowledge, and the torchbearers of change. It is during student life that we learn the most important lessons of punctuality, discipline, and hard work.

In the midst of all these responsibilities and roles, it is important for students to also enjoy the journey. Participating in extracurricular activities, exploring new interests, and making lifelong friends form an integral part of student life. It is these experiences that broaden our perspective and allow us to grow beyond the confines of textbooks.

In conclusion, student life is a tough yet rewarding journey. It is a phase that shapes our character and lays the foundation for our future. I urge every student to make the most of this time, for it is the experiences and learnings of this phase that will guide you in your future endeavors. Thank you for your attention.

2-minute Speech on Life of a Student

Good day everyone. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to speak about the life of a student, a journey that is exciting, challenging, and transformative.

The life of a student is not just about textbooks and examinations. It is a journey that molds us into individuals who can think critically, reason logically, and communicate effectively. The life of a student begins when a child steps into a school for the first time, wide-eyed and anxious, not knowing what to expect. From that moment, a student embarks on a journey of learning and discovery.

In the early years, students learn to read and write, to understand numbers and basic concepts. Every day is a new adventure, every new word learned is a small victory. The student’s world starts expanding as they discover the wonders of science, the charm of literature, and the magic of mathematics. These years lay the foundation for the student life that lies ahead.

As students progress to middle school, they experience the joy of gaining knowledge and the satisfaction of understanding complex concepts. This period is critical as students start exploring their interests and abilities. They begin to identify the subjects they love and the ones they struggle with. This is also the time when students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, which play an essential role in shaping their personality and character. They learn the importance of teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.

High school is a significant phase in a student’s life. It’s a time where they are on the brink of adulthood while still being kids. It is a period of self-discovery where one learns to balance the rigors of academics with the pressures of social life. Students face the challenge of maintaining good grades while also nurturing their hobbies and interests. High school is a time of growth, where students learn the importance of hard work, responsibility, and time management.

As a student steps into college, they are welcomed into a world of independence and freedom. College life is often considered the best phase of a student’s life, where they form lifelong friendships, explore new fields of study, and develop a broader worldview. It is a time when students take their first steps towards their career, choosing a field that interests them, and working hard to excel in it.

In conclusion, the life of a student is a journey filled with learning, challenges, and growth. It is an exciting roller coaster ride that shapes us into who we are. As students, we must embrace this journey with positivity and enthusiasm, making the most of the opportunities we are given to learn and grow. The lessons we learn during our student life are the building blocks for our future. So, let us cherish these moments, for they are instrumental in shaping our lives.

Thank you all for your attention. I hope my insights into the life of a student have resonated with you.

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Speech About Life of A Student

Student life is all about studying and learning different subjects and skills that ensure a good future. From morning to night, a student’s life has a busy schedule but this schedule is quite interesting as it also comprises sports, games, hobbies, fun and joy.

Speech About Life of A Student | 4 Minutes

Good Morning Everyone, First of all, I want to wish you all the best for the day. I am here to say a few words about Student Life . I am very glad to have this tremendous opportunity.

A student’s life includes the preparation to reach school or college, studying, completing assignments, enjoying sports, having fun with friends and many more things. Doing so many things broaden our thinking. We learn the skill of time management and efficient performance. We also get to know the importance of discipline, devotion, motivation, fear, friendship etc.

Student life involves fewer struggles and more joy. Students do a lot of naughty activities during their student life. But they also learn moral values that make them a gentleman by providing them with a distinct identity in society. Your future totally depends on how has your student life been.

student life & Your Future

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it”. Yes, you can create your future that is decided by your actions. But actions need to be performed in the right direction. Then a question arises how will we know whether a direction is right or wrong?

Education is the medium that helps us differentiate between the two. That is why education holds a very crucial value in human life. We begin gaining education in schools which are the first place where our student life takes off from.

Importance of student life

Student life is considered very important. Why? There are various reasons. Student life influences a person’s character very deeply. Their character and personality are designed for their student life. Apart from this, student life offers guidance which is very important to achieving goals.

Student life is also vital for a country because students are the future generations of a nation. So, they are regarded as the foundation of the future of a country. If you need to make a building stand, you must make a strong foundation otherwise it will collapse.

Teachers’ Role in student life

Have you ever think how a teacher is important in student life? Have you ever listened to Ekalavya’s Story? Eklavya learned extraordinary archery by just standing in front of an idol of his teacher. That’s how stories and cultures explain to us the importance of a teacher.

This story tells us that It is not necessary that a teacher always belongs to schools or colleges or a teacher is always a person. Everyone and everything that guides you are a teacher. Student life is incomplete without teachers. Teachers are like lamps in the darkness. They clear our doubts and show us the right path.

The Importance of Sport in student life

Health is an important part of life. Without good health, everything goes in vain. That is why it is also not advised for a student to be a bookworm who always indulges himself in his studies rather he should also pay attention to health and spend some time daily in some sports and games.

Sports and games can improve your physical and mental health. You feel energetic and active all the time which makes you more productive in your academic performance too.

At last, I want to say that one must make the best use of one’s student’s life because it never comes back once gone.

Thank you all for your valuable attention.

Short Speech Example

Good morning and welcome to all the people present here. I am here to present a speech on student life. Before starting my speech I want to thank you all for your precious presence.

Education carries an important role in human life. One needs to go to schools and colleges to get an education. As a learner or scholar, one’s student life takes off. As a student, we study a lot of books, explore numerous subjects, play different sports and games, and do other extracurricular activities.

A student’s life includes the preparation to reach school or college, studying, completing assignments, enjoying sports, having fun with friends etc. Doing so many things broaden our thinking. We learn the skill of time management and efficient performance. We also get to know the importance of discipline, devotion, motivation, fear, friendship etc.

This is what I wanted to say. Thank you for listening to my words. I hope you liked my speech.

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• Speech About Life of a Student

One of the most memorable times in a person's life is when they are a student. The student years lay the groundwork for the rest of our lives. In school, we don't just read books; we acquire the ability to develop socially, physically, philosophically, and emotionally. Here are a few speeches on the topic of “life of a student”. Here is a 10-line speech, a short speech, and a long speech about “life of a student."

10 Lines On Student Life

Short speech on student life, long speech on student life.

Everybody cherishes their memories as a student.

One's student life begins in the classroom, where we receive a quality education and are guided out of the shadows.

A student's busy schedule is quite interesting because it also includes sports, games, hobbies, joy, and fun.

Being a student we get a lot to learn through our experiences.

Nearly every day at school, we tend to experience something new.

We become aware of our capabilities during this phase, like how good we are at focusing on subjects, our ability to capture things that we get taught, and patience.

We encounter difficulties daily while we are students, like nervousness, pressure, and also handling a lot of work at once.

A student appreciates the value of education and views their time in school as their most cherished period.

The challenges of student life teach us valuable lessons and equip us to handle them.

Throughout our time in school, we improve our physical and social skills.

Being able to learn is the most valuable quality anyone can possess. And student life provides us with this opportunity. Through it, we get the chance to learn and grow when like-minded people are nearby. We can make mistakes, learn from them, and become better people. We learn much more than just what is written in the books we read as students. We can interact with people from diverse backgrounds, discover our likes and dislikes, and follow our hearts.

Student Life And Learnings

Preparing for high school or college, studying, completing assignments, participating in extracurricular activities, having fun with friends, and many other activities are all part of a student's life. When we engage in so many activities, our thinking expands. We acquire time-management and performance efficiency skills. We also discover the importance of self-control, fidelity, inspiration, fear, friendship, etc.

A true student strives to expand his mind and knowledge by taking in information from everyone and everything around him. He does not limit his learning to teachers and books. He is an attentive listener, a keen observer, and a systematic thinker. We should all value education and the opportunity to learn new skills from our environment as a result.

One of the most exciting and memorable periods of a person's life is when they are a student. We not only learn during this time, but we also begin to understand who we are. Being a student is an unforgettable experience filled with learning, growing, having fun, and trying new things.

Daily Life Of A Student

Life as a student is generally simple. One needs to get up early in the morning to prepare for school or college. The essence of student life can be found in the little things, such as being curious about your friends' grades or feeling envious if they perform better. We occasionally fail to turn in our assignments, and when the teacher asks for the notebook, we pretend to have it. Having the opportunity to go on picnics and trips with your friends is one of the most exciting aspects of being a student.

Responsibilities Of A Student

Students should prioritise their studies. The most apparent obligation of a student is to respect their parents and teacher. Students should work on developing their personality, character, and behaviour during this time. When they engage in various forms of social work, they build their teamwork skills. Additionally, they must be capable of handling challenging circumstances.

Most of our time as students is spent studying and making plans for a better future, aside from all the enjoyable activities we engage in with our friends and the pleasant times we share. Every student needs to work extremely hard during this crucial time because it is so important.

Contribution Of Student Life For Future

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” - Abraham Lincoln

The first places our students' lives begin are in the classrooms. Throughout our time as students, we pick up a lot of knowledge that improves our understanding of the world. We develop the ability to handle various situations. We structure our social lives. We have come to realise our limitations and capabilities. Student life prepares us for every possible position that the world holds for us in the future.

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• My School Speech

Speech For Students on My School

Schools are considered as the temple of knowledge for students. Schools prepare the students to be future leaders and help them to face problems without any fear. Schools help students in understanding the importance of discipline and time management. 

Similarly, my school played an important role in shaping my life. The values and the character I developed during my school days helped me in facing the world and understanding the problems. 

Below my school speeches are given, a long speech on my school and a short speech on my school. Students can refer to this speech and prepare for any debate or essay writing competitions. 

Long Speech on My School

Good morning everyone! I would like to give a small speech about my school. As we all know schools are the temples of learning that teach students many things. School provides a balanced education which helps in improving the student’s both physically and mentally growth. Besides academics, there is a wide range of skills learned at school which includes good behaviour, communication skills, responsibility, time management, and sports skills. 

Schools are the first place where we learn new things. It is the place where new friends are made and those friendships sometimes are carried on throughout life. Schools are considered as heaven on earth and it is very hard to imagine the world without schools. 

Schools are the first place where we learn about various new things which help in our growth. Schools help us to learn how to balance life properly. Similarly, my school played an important role in my life. The man I am today is all because of what I learned during my school days. 

I studied in an all-boys school which was established in 1979. It has a very old building which looks like a huge mansion. It is the oldest school in my town. It has a history of producing toppers to the country. It has a  building which stands tall and has a renowned name across the city and  I am sure it will be for many years to come. 

For the past 30 years, my school has a track record of producing the highest number of toppers in the board exams, and that’s the reason many students want to get into it. 

The unique quality of my school is that it not only focuses on only academics but also gives a lot of importance to sports. 

When it comes to sports my school has the biggest playgrounds in the city for various sports like badminton, cricket, volleyball, throwball and many more. Because of this reason every year, an inter-level sports competition is held in my school’s playground. Fortunately, I was also part of the badminton team that won 2nd place at the all-school badminton championship. The various competitions held at my school help me realize the importance of fitness in my life and I want to thank my school for that.

In addition to the sports competition, various science competitions were also held annually in my school. Different science projects were presented and the best one was awarded a cash price and a trophy. During these competitions, students’ presentation and public speaking skills were tested. Despite being shy I participated in the competition but lost it as I was not very good at presenting my science project. During that time my teachers helped me and pointed out the mistakes which I made. It helped me a lot in the future as I worked on those mistakes and now I am not afraid. I thank my teachers for that. 

To conclude this speech, all I want to say is that I loved attending my school. It was my second home. A home where my friends were like my family members who cared for and loved each other. I feel lucky to have such friends in my life. It was the place where I felt enthusiastic to learn new things. A place where I learned the skills which helped me in facing the challenges fearlessly. Last but not least I would like to thank my teaching and non-teaching staff who were always polite and helped me whenever I needed them. 

Short Speech on My School

Good morning everyone! Today I would like to give a speech at my school. As we know schools are the temples of learning that teach students many things. Schools provide a balanced education that helps in improving a student both physically and mentally. 

Besides academics, different skills are taught at school that includes sports skill, communication skills, time management, and so on. Similarly, my school played an important role in my life. The man I am today is all because of what I learned during my school days. 

I studied in an all-boys school which was established in 1979. It is the oldest school in my town. It has a history of producing toppers to the country. It has a building that stands tall and has a renowned name across the city.

My school has a track record of producing the highest number of toppers in the board exams. The unique quality of my school is that it not only focuses on only academics but also gives a lot of importance to sports.

My school had the biggest playground in the city and because of that every year an inter-school competition is held in various sports like kabaddi, cricket, volleyball and so on. The winners are handed a trophy and a cash prize. 

Science competitions are also conducted in my school that test the ability of students’ presentation and public speaking skills. The winner of the competition was handed a trophy and a scholarship problem for further studies. 

To conclude this speech, all I want to say is that I loved attending my school. It was my second home. A home where my friends were like my family members who cared for and loved each other. A place where I learned the skills which helped me in facing the challenges fearlessly. Last but not least, I would like to thank my teaching and non-teaching staff who were always polite and helped me whenever I needed them. 

10 Lines on My School Speech In English

Schools are the first place where we learn new things. It is the place where new friends are made and those friendships sometimes are carried on throughout life.

Schools are considered as heaven on earth and it is very hard to imagine the world without schools. 

Schools help in learning new things which helps in the growth of a student.

For many years, my school had a record of producing the highest number of toppers and that’s the reason many students want to get into my school. 

My school was a complete package that taught me the importance of self-discipline in life. 

The teaching and the non-teaching staff at my school are very polite. They are always ready to help students.

My school has the largest playground in the city and that’s the reason every year inter-level sports competitions are held.  

Every year science competitions are held at my school that aims at improving the public speaking and the presentation skill of the students. 

The winner of the science competition is given a cash prize and a trophy. 

I love attending my school and it’s like my second home. A home where my friends are like my family members.

School Speech For Students

A school is one of the only places which act as a temple of education. The place is not only for teaching the students the many facts of life but also to have them develop their brains. With the schools playing an important role in a student’s life, many institutions require the students to write or give a speech on the topic “My School”. This might be introduced at any point of time in a student’s life. They may be asked to do this when they are in the 1st standard or when they are in the 10th standard. The marks, scores, or grading system may vary as per the students who are chosen to participate. 

Students can have a good preparation regarding such speeches which can make them realize their own potential for giving such speeches. These can also build their confidence. 

Teachers - A Helping Hand  

Students might be asked to give a long speech or a short speech. It all depends on the decision that the school has taken. Though it might be a competition among students, the teachers are encouraged to get involved as well. They can most certainly help the students in the whole process.

The duty actually falls onto the English teachers. They are the ones who can help the students more effectively. They can have the students take the step forward on their own and give the best speech without any grammatical or vocabulary errors. 

FAQs on My School Speech

1. Can the students mention the history of the school in their My School speech?

Yes, the students can definitely mention the history of the school in their My School speech. This is more of practice when they are giving a long speech that requires them to tell all about their school. One thing that they must keep in mind is to not make it boring, but interesting. The students are required to let the speech go in flow, from the very beginning and tell all about the changes and advancements that have happened over the years.

2. What is the best way to learn a My School speech?

Students, who are selected to give a My School speech can do so in an easy manner. They must first mention or take the pointers that must be included in their speech. They can then take the help of their teacher to structure the speech in such a way that it goes with a flow and they can easily remember it. They can also learn the speech in chronologically set lines which can remind them about the topics that were to be followed by another.

3. How can a student prepare for their best My School speech?

There are many approaches to prepare the best My School speech. A student may ask for somebody’s help. They can make a list of the things that must be included, all of which might be about achievements, academic success, the environment, or anything related. They can talk about the marvelous journey of their school as well. The students are, in fact, encouraged to talk about all they get to learn as well as about their teachers and how good they are.

4. Do the students only have to mention the academics of a school in their My School speech?

When it comes to giving a My School speech, it is not always necessary to mention only the academics. A student can also mention the many other things that help them get ahead in their school or just things that they simply like. Students may mention the attitude of the school staff in their My School speech along with the many amenities that they get to enjoy on a regular basis. They can also go forth with mentioning the type of platform that their school provides them.

5. How can one keep their My School speech short?

The students, in order to keep their My School speech short, ask for the help of their teachers. They can do this on their own as well, but it is always a good idea to take their teacher’s opinion. They must make sure that they are talking in the to the point manner that goes a long way in keeping their speech short. They must also ensure that their speech does not contain any unnecessary information that does not help the structure of the whole speech.

How to start a speech for students (Ultimate opening lines)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Topics , Speech Writing

Schools and their love for speeches is an affair we are all quite aware of. Now if you are looking to move beyond the mundane way of delivering speeches in school and are in search of some amazing speech openings for students, you are at the right place!

Speeches are the most common form of public speaking that is encouraged in schools . Be it for a competition, assignment, presentation, or even as a punishment (oops), speeches are everywhere in a student’s life.  

To get a quick idea on speech opening lines for students , don’t forget to check out our video on 3 speech opening lines for students!

But before we dive into understanding how to go about your speeches, it is important to first understand why educational institutes focus so much on speeches or public speaking in general that they begin introducing us to speeches as early as primary sections.

Why is speech encouraged in Primary school?

It is a common practice to give the students a little idea about giving speeches as early as primary school. Part of the reason is that these are the foundational years and form as a stepping stone for the students to get a little more used to public speaking as they move to higher classes .

A couple of ways students in primary schools may be asked to give speeches would be to introduce themselves or at competitions like fancy dress competitions.

What is the use of speech in high school?

In high school, as students gain more understanding about the world at large and develop their opinions, giving speeches is encouraged in school to help them navigate their thoughts to their peers. Further, speeches as a form of public speaking also help build the student’s soft skills .

A few ways giving speeches in high school can help in developing their soft skills are:

1. critical thinking.

Speeches aren’t about blurting out your ideas or opinions, rather it requires you to research and find evidence to back your point of view, or to think critically to deliver a speech that effectively reaches the other students.

2. Problem-solving

Speeches could be framed around a popular or controversial issue that the student wishes to provide their insight into. This would encourage them to come up with solutions. Apart from that, even coming up with a speech can be a task sometimes, and overcoming those challenges too can be counted in as a way of problem-solving

3. Time-management

With a huge number of students in high school, speeches are almost always time-bound. This also means that the students have to structure their speeches in a way that fits the time given, further inculcating time management skills in them.

4. Active listening

Speeches are not only about delivering or conveying your ideas or findings but also about listening carefully to what others have to say in terms of questions that may ask.

Why is speech required at college?

Speeches in college have an entirely different goal than the one that schools have.

In college, it isn’t always mandatory to give speeches or to participate in public speaking. However, a few reasons why giving speeches or public speaking is encouraged in colleges is because:

• It helps in developing communication and public speaking skills that can be very beneficial to their professional life later.
• Speeches may also be a way to meet new people and make new connections.
• It improves the student’s leadership skills. How? We have all heard how a good speaker carries with him or her the potential to influence and lead the crowd, and that is how practicing public speaking in college helps improve a student’s leadership skills.

When can students be asked to give a speech?

As we just discussed that the purpose of giving speeches changes as we progress in our school. However, there are a couple of situations where mostly all students are expected to present their speech. And they are:

Classroom/section speeches

Classroom or section speeches are the ones you give in front of your classmates or people from your age group. Generally, the presentation of assignments and competitions comes under this category.

Graduation Speech

Students may also be expected to present a graduation speech . However, the big difference here is that not everyone gets the opportunity to present a graduation speech or commencement address as it is known.

What type of speech is a graduation speech? Or what type of speech is a commencement speech?

Graduation speeches or commencement speeches are parting speeches wherein the focus is on reflecting on the good times in the institute and motivating others for their bright future ahead. Depending on the purpose as selected by the speaker, these speeches could be persuasive, informative, or entertaining in nature . 

How to start a speech as a student 

Giving speeches as a student, even if you have been doing it for the past few years can still end up being a little challenging.  But rather than giving you tons of tips on things you can focus on while coming up with your speech or speech openings for students, we have got one ultimate tip . If you follow that, you should ideally be able to reach your audience more effectively.

Ultimate tip when writing speeches or speech openings for students

Write how you speak, not how you write.

When I came across this tip, I was surprised too. Because is indeed true that we write very differently when we have to show the speech to someone in written form but if asked honestly, do we speak in such a highly polished, extra professional vocabulary?

The idea is not to write the speech or speech opening riddled with slang but rather in a way that you’d feel comfortable listening to and understanding easily had you been the listener.

So in short, prepare the speech with the listener in mind, not the reader .

What is a good opening line for a speech?

Most opening lines for speech in school begin with a good morning.  We usually follow it with greetings or addressing the audience and the guests.

Wondering how you greet everyone in a speech?

Here is a list of ways you can begin with a simple good morning:

• Good morning everyone presents here today. I’m delighted to present my views and understanding on a very delicate yet overlooked topic; Gender sensitization in the workplace.
• Good afternoon esteemed members of the jury, my friends and peers, and everyone present in the room today.
• Good morning to the faculty, the non-teaching staff, and the class of 2022!!

Now it is a good practice to begin your speech with your usual greetings. However, in this blog, we are trying to look beyond the usual.

It doesn’t mean that you will not be saying good morning or your basic greetings; the only difference is that you’ll not be opening your speech with it but addressing these basic formalities later in the speech.

How do you start a speech without saying good morning?

There are a couple of ways you can start a speech without saying good morning. Here are some of the ways we will take a look at in this blog:

• “Imagine” scenario
• “What if” scenario
• Rhetorical questions
• Statistics and figures
• Powerful statements

Quotes are phrases or things spoken by someone influential . Quotes as speech openings for students can not only help them go beyond the widely popular way of beginning any speech but will also help them establish credibility right in the very beginning!

Now if you have ever wondered,

How to start your speech with a quote?

Here are a couple of examples of using quotes as speech openings for students:

Lon Watters had said that “A school is a building with four walls, with tomorrow inside.” And it would be wrong if I said that I didn’t agree with every bit of what he said. As we come to an end of our journey with this school that has provided us with tons of opportunities to learn, grow, interact and make memories we sure will cherish forever…

“If you don’t have a plan for your life, somebody else does.” This is a quote given by Michael Hyatt and isn’t it something we have all been experiencing all these years of growing up as our parents or guardians make plans for us right from the way we dress to the school we go to and sometimes even the careers we choose. Good morning everyone, I am Myra, a student of XYZ school standing here to voice my opinion on “Factors that influence your career decisions.”

 2. “Imagine” Scenario

This happens to be a personal favorite of mine when it comes to speech openings for students. A very simple yet beautiful way to engage your audience right at the beginning of your speech while at the same time allowing them to relate to what you’ll be saying next is what the image” scenarios are all about.

Before we begin, I’d like you to take a moment and imagine walking through a trail. You see the lush greens and pretty sky above you, the most dynamic clouds following everyone you go. Try sniffing the smell of wet soil and a hint of flowery fragrance as you walk towards the edge of the hill expecting to take a glimpse of the utter beauty that these hours of walking would lead you to, but you find something else. You see something that sends chills down your spine. There are some strange men performing rituals right in the very heart of these dense greens. You wonder what it is all about until it hits you; you have just uncovered a cult.

For the next example, I’d like you to take a look at the video below and check for yourself how wonderfully the speaker (although not a student) has made use of the “imagine” scenario to share his tragic experience with his audience.

Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.

3. “What If” Scenario

What if I told you that the best speech openings for students are actually the ones wherein they come up with an opening that best represents their style and comfort at delivering speeches, be it with a joke or a story?

Do you see what I did there?

That is an example of a “what if” scenario. It is similar to the imagination scenario we discussed above but the only difference here is that “what if” speech openings for students focus on providing an alternative idea to the audience while the imagined scenarios provide the audience an opportunity to relate to the speaker.

4. Rhetorical question

Rhetorical questions are questions the speaker includes in his/her/their speech that doesn’t necessarily require the audience to come up with an answer but are posed to get the audience thinking on the same.

Using rhetorical questions as speech openings for students can work wonders especially when you are looking for either a very quick speech opening or have very little time to deliver the speech.

An example of using rhetorical questions for speech opening is given below:

Talking about the new policy that makes it illegal to check the gender of the child before birth, do you think that it will curb the issue of female foeticide? Or will it simply take the activity underground?

The art of silence is phenomenal. Opening your speech in silence can help enhance your speech in two ways.

First, it will give the audience some time to settle in , post which you can expect to grab their dedicated attention. And secondly, silence would give you some time to understand the room and calm your pre-stage anxiousness .

6. Statistics and figures

Want to begin your speech on a hard-hitting and eye-opening note?

Show the numbers, the figures, and any statistics that serve your purpose for giving the speech.

It is very common to overlook the seriousness of any situation when you aren’t aware of the real extent of its seriousness. But when we have numbers in front of us, there is no more room for being in denial.

Examples of using Statistics or figures as speech openings for students

• According to the 2019 WWF report , on average, we consume about 1,769 microplastic particles every week. 1769 microplastic particles every single week, can you imagine that?
• 3.2 million teenagers between the age of 12-17 were depressed in the US as of 2017. Now you can only assume the number has increased over the past 5 years.

7. Powerful  Statements

Powerful statements are statements that try to break any common ideologies held by the public. Another example of a powerful statement is stating a fact or idea that isn’t openly spoken .

The video below is one such example of how the speaker tries to break a perception generally held by the people.

How often have we been told to include stories in our speech?

Almost every time isn’t it? So here we are to bombard you yet again by saying that stories are extremely fun and engaging forms of speech openings for students.

You can either share your experience or someone else’s story.

You can also refer to a Recent Conversation by starting your speech with something like “Just the other day as I was walking out of my Philosophy lecture, I asked Mr.Dee about his philosophy on life, and what he said was so eye-opening that I could not wait to share with all of you.”

An adorable example of how to begin a speech with a story is given below to help you get a clearer idea.

Examples of speech openings for students

Speech opening lines for public speaking competitions.

When it comes to public speaking competitions like elocutions, speech competitions, or even presentations, it is almost always recommended to begin with self-introduction . The reason is quite simple; there is a high chance that your audience might not know you .

But if you don’t want to begin with a self-introduction, you can start by using any of the alternatives we discussed earlier. Click here to go back and take another peek at it.

Speech Opening Lines for Self-introductions

Speech openings for self-introductions need to be simple, to the point yet descriptive.

Wait a minute? Wasn’t I contradicting myself in that line?

Yes, but that is how opening lines for self-introductions would ideally work. As people expect you to talk about yourself in depth in the rest of your speech, your opening lines would just be a teaser about yourself.

2 most important things to add in your self-introduction opening lines for students

• What do you do?

Other things that you can talk about in these opening lines include:

• Where are you from?
• What is your goal?
• What does your organization do?
• A little bit about your family

Examples of opening lines for students

Good morning, I am Reini. I recently graduated from BMU college and have since been working as a Design intern at Desgynopedia. 

Hello and good evening everyone. I am Nicole and this is my team, Alina, Tim, Harold, and Noman. We are in our senior year majoring in Organizational psychology. Today we would like to talk about the 5 main Psychological factors that impact any organization’s overall performance.

Hey, I am Nizan. I am a nerd for Political Science and Greek Philosophy and am currently majoring in the same. My love for the subjects is also the reason why I am here to present a topic I found very intriguing “The injustice behind socrates’ death.”

Funny speech opening lines for students

If you are giving a speech for a competition, one of the most fun ways of opening your speech could be to say “Good morning to the faculty, my friends, and (look at the opponents) others.”

Other funny opening line examples:

• I almost bunked school today until I realized that this speech carries marks and I sure don’t want to be in a class with our juniors. Just imagine! Who could do that?
• Hello and good morning to everyone, except the ones who are well prepared for their speeches today.
• Hello everyone, I’m excited to present my speech on XYZ’s topic today. I mean come on, what could be better than waking up at 7 am on a Monday morning to give a speech?
• Today I’ll be talking about XYZ because I was told to!

Best Speech Opening Lines by students

1. chase dahl.

In one of the funniest speech opening lines by students, Chase Dahl opens up by saying “You know I have never understood how imagining the audience naked was supposed to make you less nervous. Honestly, I’m just uncomfortable right now.”

2. Kyle Martin (The King’s Academy)

Yet another Valedictorian speech that has caught our eye is the one given by Kyle Martin. The reason we would suggest you take a look into the opening lines of his speech is so that you can take notes on how beautifully he has described the efforts taken by every department of the institute as he tries to thank them for their efforts.

Presentation Opening Lines

Presentation speeches are a little different compared to your usual speeches and the major reason for that is because now you have access to visuals or your PPT.

Besides some of the ways already discussed above, you can begin the presentation by pointing out a particular slide. You can show your audience a graph, table, pictures, or any other creative and eye-catching ideas that can also turn out to be an amazing presentation opening.

How to start a presentation speech example for students

A few common ways you can open your speech are:

• Hello everyone, I am Miya. I would first like to thank you all for your time.
• For those who don’t know me, my name is Nazia, and if you do know me, hello again!
• Good afternoon to all you wonderful people present here. I am Ryan and as you can see on screen, today I’ll be speaking on “The hazards of drinking from plastic bottles.”

For more examples of opening lines check out 50 Speech Opening Lines .

You might also like to know:

How to start a speech for the student council.

Speeches for student council are usually persuasive. They are your pitch to convince your fellow students to vote for you and help you get the position you are looking for.

So ideally, you should start by addressing everyone in the room . Then make a point to introduce yourself. Once you have introduced yourself, remind the audience why you are speaking which means let them know the position you are campaigning for. Bring up at least 1-2 issues that the students are most concerned about and tell them how if elected you’ll provide solutions to their issues.

Try to end it on a high note and don’t forget to add your campaign slogan .

You can also begin by stating your campaign slogan .

Yet another way to begin your speech for the student council is by challenging your opponent’s point of view or campaign . However, this would work only f you have a better strategy or solutions to the issues raised by your opponents.

Lastly, do something that no one expects from you . Let me share a story here to help you understand this point better. During one of the student council speeches, one candidate asked the audience to stand up, move a step in the front then go back to their seats and settle down. Following this, she said, “My parents told me if I could move the audience, I’d win.” And so she did win!

What is a speech class?

A speech class in high school or college is usually a short course or 1-semester course wherein the student is expected to improve on their public speaking skills along with critical thinking and active listening skills.

It essentially enhances their oral communication skills.

This also reminds me to introduce you to our courses that help enhance your public speaking and communication skills. If you are interested, head to Frantically Speaking .

But if your appetite for learning more about opening speeches isn’t satiated yet, we suggest you go check out our Video on the Powerful speech opening lines.

To Conclude

There are tons of ways to get creative with speech openings for students. From saying a simple good morning to adding stories, quotes, statistics, rhetorical questions, and even silence!

Get creative with your speech openings. As we always say, there are no right or wrong ways of public speaking as such, only a way that suits perfectly for you is the one that is right for you.

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One Student's Perspective on Life During a Pandemic

• Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
• Ethics Resources
• Ethics Spotlight
• COVID-19: Ethics, Health and Moving Forward

The pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place restrictions are affecting everyone in different ways. Tiana Nguyen, shares both the pros and cons of her experience as a student at Santa Clara University.

person sitting at table with open laptop, notebook and pen

Tiana Nguyen ‘21 is a Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. She is majoring in Computer Science, and is the vice president of Santa Clara University’s Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter .

The world has slowed down, but stress has begun to ramp up.

In the beginning of quarantine, as the world slowed down, I could finally take some time to relax, watch some shows, learn to be a better cook and baker, and be more active in my extracurriculars. I have a lot of things to be thankful for. I especially appreciate that I’m able to live in a comfortable house and have gotten the opportunity to spend more time with my family. This has actually been the first time in years in which we’re all able to even eat meals together every single day. Even when my brother and I were young, my parents would be at work and sometimes come home late, so we didn’t always eat meals together. In the beginning of the quarantine I remember my family talking about how nice it was to finally have meals together, and my brother joking, “it only took a pandemic to bring us all together,” which I laughed about at the time (but it’s the truth).

Soon enough, we’ll all be back to going to different places and we’ll be separated once again. So I’m thankful for my living situation right now. As for my friends, even though we’re apart, I do still feel like I can be in touch with them through video chat—maybe sometimes even more in touch than before. I think a lot of people just have a little more time for others right now.

Although there are still a lot of things to be thankful for, stress has slowly taken over, and work has been overwhelming. I’ve always been a person who usually enjoys going to classes, taking on more work than I have to, and being active in general. But lately I’ve felt swamped with the amount of work given, to the point that my days have blurred into online assignments, Zoom classes, and countless meetings, with a touch of baking sweets and aimless searching on Youtube.

The pass/no pass option for classes continues to stare at me, but I look past it every time to use this quarter as an opportunity to boost my grades. I've tried to make sense of this type of overwhelming feeling that I’ve never really felt before. Is it because I’m working harder and putting in more effort into my schoolwork with all the spare time I now have? Is it because I’m not having as much interaction with other people as I do at school? Or is it because my classes this quarter are just supposed to be this much harder? I honestly don’t know; it might not even be any of those. What I do know though, is that I have to continue work and push through this feeling.

This quarter I have two synchronous and two asynchronous classes, which each have pros and cons. Originally, I thought I wanted all my classes to be synchronous, since that everyday interaction with my professor and classmates is valuable to me. However, as I experienced these asynchronous classes, I’ve realized that it can be nice to watch a lecture on my own time because it even allows me to pause the video to give me extra time for taking notes. This has made me pay more attention during lectures and take note of small details that I might have missed otherwise. Furthermore, I do realize that synchronous classes can also be a burden for those abroad who have to wake up in the middle of the night just to attend a class. I feel that it’s especially unfortunate when professors want students to attend but don’t make attendance mandatory for this reason; I find that most abroad students attend anyway, driven by the worry they’ll be missing out on something.

I do still find synchronous classes amazing though, especially for discussion-based courses. I feel in touch with other students from my classes whom I wouldn’t otherwise talk to or regularly reach out to. Since Santa Clara University is a small school, it is especially easy to interact with one another during classes on Zoom, and I even sometimes find it less intimidating to participate during class through Zoom than in person. I’m honestly not the type to participate in class, but this quarter I found myself participating in some classes more than usual. The breakout rooms also create more interaction, since we’re assigned to random classmates, instead of whomever we’re sitting closest to in an in-person class—though I admit breakout rooms can sometimes be awkward.

Something that I find beneficial in both synchronous and asynchronous classes is that professors post a lecture recording that I can always refer to whenever I want. I found this especially helpful when I studied for my midterms this quarter; it’s nice to have a recording to look back upon in case I missed something during a lecture.

Overall, life during these times is substantially different from anything most of us have ever experienced, and at times it can be extremely overwhelming and stressful—especially in terms of school for me. Online classes don’t provide the same environment and interactions as in-person classes and are by far not as enjoyable. But at the end of the day, I know that in every circumstance there is always something to be thankful for, and I’m appreciative for my situation right now. While the world has slowed down and my stress has ramped up, I’m slowly beginning to adjust to it.

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Giving a Speech About Yourself?

Build your story around people who influenced you the most..

By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

If you are a successful professional—or you aim to be—it is likely that you will be asked to speak about yourself at some point in your career. Of course, all Toastmasters learn to do this in their Ice Breaker speeches. But a more robust speech about your background and how you attained your current stage in life might be appropriate with a promotion, accepting an award or some other community recognition.

Even seasoned speakers can be shaken by the idea of speaking at length about themselves. Didn’t our parents teach us to be humble, work hard and keep our heads down? Giving a speech about how successful we are might feel immodest or boastful. Not if it’s done properly.

As a professional speaking coach, I advise clients who come to me for help with crafting a speech about themselves to use two simple strategies: 1) Tell your life story in three clearly defined acts; and 2) Remember that no one becomes successful alone. While discussing your experience, be sure to give credit to the family members, colleagues and mentors who guided or supported you through your career. Highlight your success while thanking the people who helped you find it.

The video above is from www.frippvt.com .

Structuring Your Story

Look at your life story as if it were a play: Act I: When you were young; Act II: When you were more mature and starting your career; and Act III: When you achieved success. Audiences want to know your personal story and details about your journey to success. Try to convey where you came from, how hard you worked and what motivated you through your life, and then finally, how it feels to be where you are now—always remembering to mention the people who helped you along the way.

Here’s an example of what I mean: Consider Alex, a successful executive, who was to give a speech about his role as president of a real estate franchise. Speaking at the company’s annual conference, Alex’s audience of 700 realtors knew he was a multimillionaire. They did not, however, know of his humble beginnings.

“This is the secret to talking about yourself comfortably: give the best lines to your characters.”

His opening: “I never met my mother and didn’t meet my father until I was 14 years old. I was raised by my grandmother, and life was perfect.” Scene I, Act I of his life “play” gives the audience a clear sense of who he was as a child. He continued by describing his first hero—his grandmother. He talked about the influence she had on him, her philosophy that would inspire his own, the unconditional love she gave and her death when he was 14. That’s when Alex went to live with his father. Suddenly, he was forced to live with a person he never knew and stepbrothers and sisters he hadn’t known existed.

The owner of the business where Alex worked when he was 20 years old brought in a business consultant who noticed Alex and realized that he had great potential and initiative. The consultant guided him toward going into business for himself. That consultant gave him the courage to pursue entrepreneurism.

In this act, Alex talks about the man he referred to as his adoptive grandfather. This man also encouraged and guided him to expand his business beyond what Alex had believed possible. Alex included the actual words of support his adoptive grandfather said to him. This is a great example of the kind of story you can tell about yourself that helps the audience feel connected. In this way, his three influencers were the “heroes” of the speech, rather than Alex himself.

Alex’s presentation described the influence of his grandmother, a business consultant and his adopted grandfather. This is the secret to talking about your self comfortably: give the best lines to your characters. Repeat their advice in your speech—let them deliver the dialogue.

When you are putting together a speech about yourself, design it in three acts and give credit to all who helped put you on the right path. This strategy will help alleviate any anxiety.

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Choose bravely, Ressa tells Harvard grads

Shruthi Kumar, Robert Clinton, and Blake Alexander Lopez.

Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer; Dylan Goodman; and Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer

Bridging social distance, embracing uncertainty, fighting for equity

Harvard Staff Writer

Student Commencement speeches to tap into themes faced by Class of 2024

Part of the Commencement 2024 series

A collection of stories covering Harvard University’s 373rd Commencement.

Three graduating students selected in a University-wide competition will deliver speeches Thursday at Tercentenary Theatre as part of the one of the oldest traditions of Commencement.

The student orators are Blake Alexander Lopez, a senior from the College who will deliver the Latin Salutatory; Shruthi Kumar, also a College senior, who will deliver the Senior English Address; and Robert Clinton, J.D. ’24, a Harvard Law School graduate who will deliver the Graduate English Address.

Overcoming those 6 feet of separation

Blake Alexander Lopez Undergraduate Latin  

When Lopez arrived on campus in the fall of 2020, six months into the COVID pandemic, first-year students could live in dorms, but they had to attend classes online and keep social distance as part of public health guidelines to slow the spread of the virus.

A joint classical languages and literature and linguistics concentrator with a secondary field in medieval studies, Lopez will address “that sort of nearer distance that we found ourselves within” in the Latin oration he will deliver during the Morning Exercises of Commencement.

“Being a student on campus in the fall of 2020 felt like we were in the proximity of all these things we had so long dreamed about, and yet there was an inherent separation between us,” said Lopez, a Kirkland House resident. “We were physically rather close, living in rooms next to each other and seeing each other on our computer screens because we had to stay socially distant.”

But as the pandemic eased its grip, members of the Class of 2024 returned to normal life and built closer relationships with one another. Celebrating graduation in person and together is a reason to celebrate, said Lopez.

“What I would like the audience to take away from my speech is that whatever difficulties were posed to us, we were able to meet them, adapt and exhibit a resilience that allowed us to thrive,” said Lopez. “There is so much our class has to be proud of, in view of what we faced. It is because what we faced, we faced together.”

Lopez, who fell in love with Latin in high school, said the language will serve him well to talk about both separation and closeness. Latin is considered a dead language because there are no native speakers. During his speech, subtitles will appear on screens in the Yard, and an English translation will be included in the program flyer.

“There’s a layer of separation between the reader of the speech’s English translation and myself delivering it in Latin,” said Lopez, who grew up in Chicago. “But being able to communicate my ideas and the feelings behind them across the linguistic boundary is reflective in a lot of ways of the fact that in spite of the barriers separating the Class of 2024 when we first arrived on campus, we were able to traverse that distance.”

At Harvard, Lopez strengthened his love of Latin and the classics. His senior thesis focused in part on ancient graffiti inscriptions found in Pompeii, which include jokes, riddles, literary quotations, and the customary “I was here.” The subject fascinates him because it provides a glimpse into the intimate relationship between Latin and the way common people made use of it.

After graduation, Lopez will pursue a master’s degree in classics at Oxford University. For now, he cherishes the fact that he was able to realize the dream he started nurturing when he was applying to Harvard.

“The fact that hundreds of years going on, we still do a Latin oration at Commencement really captivated me,” said Lopez. “I would sort of daydream about it. I’d like to go back to 17-year-old me and tell him, ‘Hey, we did it.’ Or as they’d say in Latin, ‘Vicimus.’ ”

The power of not knowing

Shruthi Kumar Undergraduate English

Kumar’s speech explores a subject she knows all too well.

Coming to Harvard as a pre-med student, Kumar took a history of science class on health disparities in the U.S., and she had a change of heart.

By embracing uncertainty, she found her passion for public health. “I didn’t know something like history of science existed,” said Kumar, a joint history of science and economics concentrator with a secondary in human evolutionary biology. “But I fell in love with that class, and I realized that history of science was what I really wanted to study to find ways to address the world’s biggest health problems.”

A Mather House resident, Kumar is glad she took risks during her time at Harvard and challenged societal and parental expectations when she switched pre-med studies for classes on health inequities and public health issues. In hindsight, Kumar said her decision made sense. After all, she had been interested in public health since high school, when she was involved in a mental health education program for youth.

In College, Kumar started a campaign to ensure that all Harvard bathrooms supply free menstrual products. Thanks to her advocacy, 817 bathrooms across the University are fully stocked with free tampons and sanitary pads on a regular basis.

Navigating the uncertainty of choosing a new career concentration could be nerve-racking, but Kumar found strength when she decided to follow her inner voice. “You’re supposed to make money, you’re supposed to have a family, you’re supposed to do this, that, or the other,” she said. “But at the end of the day, I think we owe it to ourselves to listen to that voice inside that tells us, ‘Oh, this is what I’m passionate about.’”

Kumar is confident her message will resonate with the Class of 2024, which started their first year amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. “There is a lot you don’t know in your first year, and on top of that, there was COVID,” said Kumar, who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. “Our class had to grapple with not knowing what was going to happen in the next few years of our College experience. … We have gone through College with this chaos, and we have developed a strength to deal with uncertainty, and that’s what makes us powerful.”

The power of not knowing can be revelatory, said Kumar. After graduation, she will work on public health entrepreneurship and after that, she plans to attend law school or pursue a Ph.D.

“We are all people walking through the world, not really knowing what’s going to happen,” Kumar said. “But the power of not knowing is about how you can turn that space of fear and anxiety into something that is empowering, uplifting, and exciting. It’s a conscious shift that you must make pretty much all the time every day.”

‘Working hard’ vs. ‘doing good’

Robert Clinton Graduate English

Growing up in Richmond, California, in an African American middle-class family, Clinton felt the call to public service early on. He is not sure where it came from, but he believes that both being the child of civil servants and being Black in the U.S. may have contributed to his commitment to the common good.

In his Commencement speech, Clinton will urge students to use their privilege and power to better the lives of fellow citizens and create a more equitable society. Privilege comes with social responsibility, he said.

“Some people who graduate from Harvard are going to be presidents or senators, but most people are going to be managers, professors, and even if they are not at the very top, they will still have a lot of power,” said Clinton. “We will be people with good jobs because we went to Harvard. And that means that we must be on the lookout for opportunities to help people.”

Harvard graduates should put their education to good use, said Clinton, who found inspiration in the work of actor and activist Harry Belafonte, who used his fame to support the Civil Rights struggle. Clinton was also stirred by the words of a Law School professor who exhorted students to find something bigger than themselves and be part of it.

“There’s a difference between working hard and doing good,”he said. “People here know how to work really hard, but working hard doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re making the world better or doing your part.”

Before coming to the Law School, Clinton worked for the city of San Francisco in the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs. But he began thinking seriously about the law when he became involved with efforts to remove a citizenship question from the 2020 U.S. Census questionnaire. A coalition of immigrant groups challenged former President Donald Trump’s administration before the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the petitioners.

“I got to see how lawyers can use the law to help people and to hold people accountable,” Clinton said. “It was really inspiring.”

After graduation, Clinton will clerk for Judge Dale Ho of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. By coincidence, Ho was the lawyer representing the immigrant groups that challenged Trump’s plan to include the citizenship question on the 2020 Census. Clinton is elated over that twist of fate.

“It was the first legal case that I followed from beginning to end,” said Clinton. “I read the briefs even though I didn’t know what they meant, I listened to the oral argument, and I was shocked when against all the odds, they won the case.

“And it just so happens that Judge Ho is going to be my first boss after law school. I joked with him in the interview that he was one of the reasons why I went to Law School. It feels like a wonderful full-circle moment.”

Also in this series:

One journey behind them, grads pause to reflect before starting the next

Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist puts values first in Commencement address focused on threats to democracy

‘Be that voice for compassion, learning, understanding, and unity’

Burns and others deliver call to action – and empathy – at Class Day ceremonies

Six receive honorary degrees

Harvard recognizes educator, conductor, theoretical physicist, advocate for elderly, writer, and Nobel laureate

A joyful noise

Ringing of bells marks 373rd Commencement

Ready to serve

New officers ‘join a long crimson line that goes back to the very founding of this country.’

Harvard awards 9,262 degrees

Totals reflect the 2023-24 academic year

Time to stand up, defend American higher education, Faust says

President emerita invokes spirit of Emerson, pushes back against recent criticisms

Maria Ressa will speak her troubled mind

‘Democracy dies quickly,’ warns Nobel laureate ahead of Commencement, where she hopes to find students committed to protecting it

‘Seek inspiration in one another’

Garber praises graduates’ resilience, urges them to maintain and cherish lasting bonds

‘I haven’t really had a proper weekend in a long time’

Longtime supporter of grads Kathy Hanley caps 13-year quest with a Commencement of her own

Party like it’s 2020

Class of ’24 gets a do-over on high school prom that pandemic took away

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Jim VandeHei discusses early internship at small Wisconsin newspaper that sparked his journalism career

Long before Jim VandeHei worked at The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, and before he co-founded media companies Politico and Axios, he interned at a small city newspaper between Oshkosh and Green Bay.

VandeHei wanted a summer internship in 1993. So, he took a list of Wisconsin newspapers and started calling in alphabetical order. Zane Zander from The Brillion News answered the phone and asked VandeHei if he could come to the paper that day.

VandeHei tried to explain that he had yet to take a college journalism class, though he had covered some sports for the Oshkosh Northwestern. But Zander cut him off.

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“Will you run my newspaper?” Zander asked.

An editor was leaving for several weeks to go to Finland. Zander was desperate.

“I don’t think I’m the guy who should be running your newspaper,” VandeHei recalled saying. “I haven’t done anything.”

Zander taught VandeHei everything he could in a week: writing, photography, print layout, understanding an agriculture community. VandeHei would work 80 to 100 hours weekly and receive about $300, a rental car and housing in Zander’s cottage. VandeHei said the cottage sat next to a pond full of large-mouth bass, and the cottage’s refrigerator was always full of beer.

“I screwed up a lot of stuff early on but then learned a lot and really was on fire for journalism after that,” VandeHei said recently on WPR’s “ Wisconsin Today .” “That doesn’t happen everywhere.” 

VandeHei spoke to “Wisconsin Today” a few days after delivering a commencement address at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, his alma mater and hometown college. VandeHei discussed the effects of his Wisconsin upbringing, life lessons he wants to share and his new book, “ Just the Good Stuff .” 

The following was edited for brevity and clarity. 

Rob Ferrett: A theme in your book and in your speech is finding the right people to inspire you. What have you learned about that over the years? 

Jim VandeHei: Particularly as it relates to Wisconsin … just about the advantages of being from a small town and going to a smaller school. You just get this level of attention and individual affection from your professors that you might not get at other schools. 

RF: You were not a rock star student. You squeaked into UW-Oshkosh after a couple years at a two-year school, UW-Menasha Extension. What were some of those academic years like? 

JV: Charitably, I was a late bloomer. I was terrible in high school. I was a good partier, not necessarily good at academics. Graduated the bottom third of my high school class. I still vividly remember. I am scarred by going to see my guidance counselor. They hauled my parents in and said there’s no way this kid is going to college. I still went to a two-year college to get into UW-Oshkosh, where I still struggled until I found what I wanted to do. I found journalism. I found political science. 

But a big part of writing the book and the reason I was really excited to go back and do the commencement addresses, I think there’s a lot of people out there who have a similar life trajectory. You think, “Well, I didn’t get great grades,” or “I didn’t come from privilege or money. Therefore, I can’t go be a surgeon, or I can’t go to New York and work on Wall Street or go to Washington, D.C. and work in politics.” My message is you sure as hell can. There’s nothing that is holding you back.

If that inspires one kid in Ripon or Manitowoc to say, “OK, I’m going to go do something I might not have otherwise done and had the courage to do it,” that would be cool.

RF: One bit of advice I loved, you also say to watch for people in your workplace who are terrible or toxic in some way. See what they do and do the opposite. Why do you say that?

JV: A big part of it is being open eyed, watching what other people do. Don’t be so self-indulgent that you’re not paying attention to the people around the table. When you start to pay attention, you see the attributes in people that are magnetic. 

The flip side of that is when you see people who are talking behind other people’s back, or they’re being deceitful, or they’re cutting corners, or they’re trying to knock someone off so they can get ahead. It’s repulsive. When you see that and you’re repulsed by it, you should know that’s not the type of person that you want to be.

One of the reasons I’ve encouraged my children to play a lot of poker is it forces you to interact with different people from different lots of life. It forces you to read other people around the table. It forces you to be able to control your own impulses. It forces you to know when to go big or to get out of the game.

Attributes like that helped me better understand people. In some ways, it’s a way to teach yourself emotional intelligence. Forget the raw firepower of intellectual intelligence. Emotional intelligence, reading people and reading between the lines.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

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Student Life Essay

500 words essay on student life.

Student life is one of the most memorable phases of a person’s life. The phase of student life builds the foundation of our life. In student life, we do not just learn from books. We learn to grow emotionally, physically, philosophically as well as socially. Thus, in this student life essay, we will learn its essence and importance.

The Essence of Student Life Essay

Student life is meant to help us learn discipline and study. Despite that, life is quite enjoyable. The struggle is low in student life. One must get up early in the morning to get ready for school or college.

Similarly, rushing to the bus stop is very exciting during student life. The mothers constantly remind us to hurry up and not be late. It is no less than a mantra for all mothers.

In addition, there are other exciting moments in student life. We sometimes forget to complete our homework and then pretend to find the notebook when the teacher asks for it.

With the examination time around the corner, the fun stops for a while but not long. One of the most exciting things about student life is getting to go on picnics and trips with your friends.

You get to enjoy yourself and have a  lot of fun. Even waiting for the exam result with friends becomes fun. The essence of student life lies in the little things like getting curious about your friend’s marks, getting jealous if they score more, and so on.

The excitement for games period or learning about a new teacher. While student life teaches us discipline, it also gives us a lot of fun. It is a memorable time in everyone’s life.

Importance of Student Life

Student life is a vital part of everyone’s life. The future of the students and the country depends on how we are as students. Thus, getting the right guidance is essential. Student life builds the foundation for our life.

Thus, if your foundation is strong, the building will be a strong one too. However, a weak foundation cannot make a building stand. In other words, student life helps us embrace human qualities.

People don’t realize how lucky and privileged one is to even get a student life. Many children dream of having it but never get one. Thus, if one gets to attain education, one must make the most of it.

Student life won’t always be filled with happiness but it will be worthwhile. It helps us grow in the path of life and acquire qualities such as honesty, patience, perseverance, and more.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of Student Life Essay

All in all, student life is no less than perfect. Even though it has many ups and downs, it is all worth it in the end. Our student life determines a lot of things in our lives later on. Therefore, we must strive to be good students not just academically but also in other aspects. It is like a backbone to have a successful life later on.

FAQ of Student Life Essay

Question 1: What is the essence of student life?

Answer 1: Student life’s essence lies in the little things such as getting ready for school early in the morning or running late. It also lies in the positive attitude that we develop due to good discipline.

Question 2: Why is student life important?

Answer 2: We call the student life ‘golden life’ as students learn many essential things. The period of student life brings joy and happiness to our lives and builds a strong foundation. It also determines our successful life.

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My Reflections on the Last Four Years of College: Why Small Life Events Matter

My Reflections on the Last Four Years of College

Why small life events matter, robin kim (com’24, cas’24).

Between the endless hours in Mugar during finals week, a twinge of nostalgia starts to sweep my attention. These past four years of my life have rushed by, and even amidst a chaotic schedule, where I want to run away from all the stress, I am also sitting with emotional sentiments, trying to cling to every single college memory tightly. I am here wondering did I take things for granted? 

What made my college experience worthwhile was not the most significant academic accomplishments, but the smaller life events that I shared with my friends. I feel that this is seen as common knowledge, yet many of us never really understand it until it’s too late. I guess for the rest of the students who still have time here at BU, I wanted to push a new language that might reconsider the way you perceive your college day-to-day life. 

When you look up the definition of “moment,” it is defined as a “very brief period of time.” Something about this definition seems to reduce all the moments of peals of laughter shared with friends, the spontaneous trips to get matcha mid–study session, the nights where we were piled with overwhelming amounts of homework but decided to stay in Mugar to keep each other company, or the moments we would strategically enroll in classes so we can take the same classes together. These “moments” are not just brief; these were memories that made college college. Instead of treating each day as another moment, I realized there is a benefit in calling these “mundane” moments small life events . Why? Because it acknowledges that these “moments” shared with my friends were significant. Even Google acknowledges that an “event” is “a thing that happens, especially one of importance.” Although this definition is somewhat limited, I cannot grasp all the minuscule details that made my college experience worthwhile. However, it underscores the significance of treating each day as important as any other significant day that the word “moments” fails to exemplify. 

This blog is a celebration of the things that you might not consider “big.” Your small college life events deserve all the recognition as others because without these events at BU, what would be considered “the college experience” would not exist.  

At BU, it’s easy to get wrapped up in looking forward to the next big thing, whether getting your dream internship or getting the best grade possible.

But I realized that life is not about rushing to achieve the next thing . It gets tiring after a while. I know this because I am guilty of doing it. 

During my freshman year, I recall being anxious about all the uncertainties that my future holds. Most of which consisted of not doing enough. Although the people around me recognized my small accomplishments, I never felt proud of myself for them because I thought there was more to do. 

I’ve always tried to get things done quickly, fueled by the fear of falling behind. But looking back, I realize that the most valuable moments are sometimes spent simply enjoying the waves rather than trying to skip ahead to the next shore. Life is not a series of checkboxes to be completed; it’s a continuous, ever-unfolding process of growth and discovery.

After four years, I realized the crucial need to celebrate not just your As, Bs, or whatever grade you worked towards , but it was these small life events that made my college experience fruitful. There are only a select few people who will tolerate me repeating my jokes, a select few people who will hear me rant about the same things over and over again until I get over it, and a select few people who will go on random walks around Allston to get frozen yogurt, a select few people who will show up excited to your birthday, ready to celebrate you, a select few people who are equally happy for your successes, a select few people who will help you pick your graduation dress, a select few people who will appreciate just your companionship. 

I can’t go back in time, but if I could do it again, I would like to put more effort in these small events, as I did for all the “bigger” accomplishments. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2024; we have had the most unprecedented experience. I will miss BU dearly, but I am looking forward to all the small life events yet to come. 

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Robin Kim (COM’24, CAS’24) is a social media intern with BU Public Relations. She can be reached at [email protected]. Profile

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Invoking Struggle and Faith, Biden Reaches Out at Morehouse

Addressing graduates of the historically Black college in Georgia, Mr. Biden spoke to a crucial segment of the electorate and sought to distinguish himself from Donald J. Trump.

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Katie Rogers and Maya King

Here’s what to know about Biden’s remarks.

Biden calls on morehouse college graduates to defend democracy, in a commencement speech at morehouse, the historically black men’s college in atlanta, president biden condemned white supremacy and “extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of morehouse.”.

You started college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race. It’s natural to wonder if democracy you hear about actually works for you. What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street? What is democracy if the trail of broken promises still leave Black communities behind? What is democracy if you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot? Well that’s my commitment to you. To show you democracy, democracy, democracy, is still the way. That Black men are being killed in the streets, we bear witness. For me, that means to call out the poison of white supremacy. Graduates, this is what we’re up against: extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of Morehouse. And they peddle a fiction, a caricature, of what being a man is about — tough talk, abusing power, bigotry. But that’s not you. It’s not us. You all know and demonstrate what it really means to be a man. Being a man is about strength of respect and dignity. It’s about showing up because it’s too late, if you have to ask. It’s about giving hate no safe harbor.

President Biden invoked scripture and lessons from his own tragic past on Sunday in a commencement address to hundreds of young Black men at Morehouse College, saying he believes there are “extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message” of the prestigious institution.

Mr. Biden’s speech, delivered at the historically Black men’s college in Atlanta, put him directly in front of hundreds who represent a slice of the electorate that is drifting away from him over the war in Gaza and growing apathy about their choices ahead of the election. Mr. Biden used the moment to say that manhood was not about “tough talk” and “bigotry” but about calling out hate.

“Their idea of being a man is toxic,” Mr. Biden told the graduates, a reference to adversaries he did not name — but, given that his other events this weekend were focused on attacking his Republican competitor, Donald J. Trump, it was little mystery who he was talking about. “That is not you. That is not us. Being a man is about strength and respect and dignity.”

Those who stormed the Capitol with Confederate flags “are called patriots by some,” he said — a clear reference to Mr. Trump. “Not in my house.”

Mr. Biden’s speech was his first significant appearance before college students since protests over the war in Gaza began roiling campuses. For a ceremony in which students are discouraged even from decorating their caps, the signs of protest were respectful but noticeable: A small group of graduates turned to sit with their backs to Mr. Biden as he spoke, and several graduates wore the kaffiyeh, a traditional scarf associated with the Palestinians, draped over their shoulders. Some parents urged their graduating sons not to protest.

Mr. Biden also called for an immediate cease-fire and said that his administration was working to secure one. He said that members of his family had been upset by the war, a group that includes Jill Biden, the first lady, who has urged her husband in private to bring a stop to it.

“What’s happening in Gaza, in Israel, is heartbreaking,” Mr. Biden said. “It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

In a statement, Morehouse said that discussions between White House officials and students, faculty and alumni had helped shape Mr. Biden’s speech and his calls for a cease-fire in Gaza. The school also praised its graduates. “It is fitting that a moment of organized, peaceful activism would occur on our campus while the world is watching to continue a critical conversation,” the statement read.

During his 27-minute speech, Mr. Biden tried to stress to the graduates — none of whom stood for him as he took the lectern — that throughout his life he had respected and espoused the same ideas they care about.

He said he had worked throughout his life, as a public defender, senator and president, to correct inequalities. He outlined the work his administration has done that he and his advisers believe deserves more credit than it receives, including the forgiveness of large amounts of student loan debt and reducing the poverty rate for Black children.

“We know Black history is American history,” Mr. Biden said at one point, urging the crowd to “check my record,” which includes choosing the first Black female Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and the first Black woman to hold the vice presidency, Kamala Harris.

By focusing on matters of adversity and strength, Mr. Biden also sought to strike a contrast with Mr. Trump not on the grounds of politics or policy but through the lessons of keeping faith in moments of hopelessness. He spoke of the death of his first wife and daughter as well as his eldest son, Beau, from brain cancer.

He told the Morehouse graduates, a class that weathered the chaos of the pandemic and the tumult of widespread protests over the police killings of Black men, that it was natural for them to question whether there was a place for them in democracy at all.

“What is democracy when Black men are being killed in the streets?” he said. “What is democracy when a trail of broken promises still leave Black communities behind? What is democracy when you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?”

Repeatedly, Mr. Biden reached for religious inspiration, recalling that Jesus was buried on Friday and resurrected on Sunday, leaving Saturday as a day of hopelessness. He suggested that 2020 — the year he was elected, with its twin traumas of the Covid-19 pandemic and the police killing of George Floyd — had been one such Saturday.

At one point, Mr. Biden said, “I’ve learned there was no easy optimism but by faith, by faith you can find redemption.”

Mr. Biden, who has a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Oval Office — and who is old enough to have shared his memories of Dr. King’s assassination in his speech — walked into commencement on Sunday unsure of how the crowd would receive him.

Morehouse, which was established in Atlanta in 1867, is a school whose culture is steeped in tradition. Students spend their years working toward becoming the embodiment of the Morehouse man: well traveled, well read and civically engaged. As the alma mater of Dr. King, there is also a proud history of protesting for social justice.

Mr. Biden’s visit to Morehouse drew the objections of some faculty members, alumni and students, who have voiced anger over the war in Gaza and the American government’s support for Israel. The tension drew so much attention that the school’s president, David A. Thomas, publicly warned that he would stop the commencement if graduates shouted at the president or disrupted the event.

The men of Morehouse found ways to work their opposition to the war into the ceremony. DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, the class valedictorian, took the stage with the Palestinian flag pinned on his stole and on his cap.

“It is my stance as a Morehouse man, nay, as a human being, to call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire, in the Gaza Strip,” Mr. Fletcher said. Mr. Biden joined the crowd in standing up and clapping when Mr. Fletcher finished, and he shook the graduate’s hand.

But by the end of Mr. Biden’s speech, signs of support were visible, too. As Mr. Biden received an honorary doctorate of law, Mr. Thomas praised the president for listening to the concerns of the graduating class. And some people chanted “four more years” as Mr. Biden left the stage.

After addressing Morehouse, Mr. Biden was set to travel to Detroit to speak at a dinner hosted by the N.A.A.C.P.

Hitting two battleground states in eight hours was the clearest sign yet that Mr. Biden is serious about reintroducing himself to voters who carried him to the White House in 2020 and whose support he will need to win to stay in office for a second term.

In 2020 , 95 percent of Black women and 87 percent of Black men voted for Mr. Biden, according to the Pew Research Center. But in April, only 55 percent of Black voters told Pew that they approved of his job performance. A recent poll by Ipsos and The Washington Post showed that 62 percent of Black Americans planned to vote in 2024, down from 74 percent in 2020.

In recent days, both Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris have traveled outside of Washington to host events geared toward bringing those voters back into the fold.

Mr. Biden’s trip to Detroit comes as the latest New York Times/Siena College poll shows him winning support from less than half of Black voters in Michigan in a five-way race. In 2020, he won more than 90 percent of Black voters in the state, exit polls show.

The war in Gaza and concerns about the economy are driving factors behind what analysts say is an increase in apathy. In Michigan, nearly nine in 10 Black voters rated the economy as being in “fair” or “poor” condition, a higher rate than white voters, the Times/Siena poll found.

Alexis Wiley, the founder of a strategic communications firm in Detroit and a former member of the Democratic National Committee, said the Biden administration had to do more to communicate its victories.

“I think that they’re finally catching up to the fact that people aren’t feeling great,” Ms. Wiley said, “and now there’s this mad dash to try to correct it.”

Reporting was contributed by Nicholas Nehamas in Washington and Chevaz Clarke-Williams , Alan Blinder and Sean Keenan in Atlanta.

Biden asks Black voters to align with him in defending democracy.

President Biden on Sunday appealed to the graduating men of Morehouse College, and Black voters by extension, to align themselves with him on the side of democracy and against the forces of white supremacy that have coursed through American politics.

“It’s natural to wonder if the democracy you hear about actually works for you,” he said in a half-hour commencement speech. “What is democracy when Black men are being killed in the streets? What is democracy when a trail of broken promises still leave Black communities behind? What is democracy when you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot?”

He condemned both the “extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of Morehouse” and what he called false notions of what “manhood” really is.

Repeatedly, Mr. Biden reached for religious inspiration, recalling that Jesus was buried on Friday and resurrected on Sunday, leaving Saturday as a day of hopelessness. He suggested that 2020 — the year he was elected, with its twin traumas of the Covid-19 pandemic and the police killing of George Floyd and the protests that it ignited — had been one such Saturday.

“In our lives, in our nation, we have those Saturdays to bear witness to the day before glory,” he said to the graduating class, largely made up of students who were barred from in-person high school graduations because of the pandemic. “What work is done on Saturday can move pain to purpose.”

Left unsaid was how Mr. Biden’s administration and the current political moment fit into that metaphor.

Mr. Biden highlighted policies that he said had disproportionately harmed Black voters, like a law enacted in Georgia in 2021 that placed more restrictions on ballot access. One provision outlawed giving voters water or snacks while they wait in line and has drawn the ire of Democrats nationwide.

“What the hell is that all about?” Mr. Biden asked.

He also underlined the policies his administration has championed that he said were meant to improve Black communities, like increased funding to historically Black colleges and reconnecting Black neighborhoods decimated by highway construction. “Instead of forcing you to be 10 times better,” he said, “we’re breaking down doors to save 100 more opportunities.”

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Sean Keenan

After spending most of the morning marching on sidewalks outside campus, as police requested, a group of about 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators has taken to the street. The march, which includes some Morehouse students and faculty members, is now blocking southbound traffic on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, a road named for the late minister and civil rights leader.

Chevaz Clarke

As Biden concluded his speech, guests seated in the V.I.P. section chanted “four more years.”

As Biden was being presented with his honorary degree, several students walked out .

This moment, where Biden is receiving an honorary degree, was more protested than his speech itself in some circles. Now that he’s received the recognition, Biden could technically be considered a “Morehouse man” — something many students and alumni disagreed with.

1 00:00:00,000 —> 00:00:05,178 I confer upon you, Joseph R. Biden Jr., 2 00:00:05,178 —> 00:00:07,490 the honorary doctor of laws, 3 00:00:07,490 —> 00:00:10,310 honoris causa, with all the rights, 4 00:00:10,310 —> 00:00:13,940 privileges and responsibilities appertaining 5 00:00:13,940 —> 00:00:15,450 thereunto. 6 00:00:15,450 —> 00:00:19,064 Congratulations, Dr. Joseph Biden. 7 00:00:19,064 —> 00:00:21,421 [cheering]

Katie Rogers

Biden makes a bit of a show for the cameras, smiling and pointing to his stole, after receiving his honorary degree.

That was a difficult needle to thread for the president, who went into this speech aware that there was a protest movement against his appearance here. But the president of Morehouse just praised him for “listening” to the concerns of the graduating class.

Alan Blinder

The president is finished. I clocked Biden’s speech at roughly 27 minutes, a bit shorter than Barack Obama’s 33-minute commencement address at Morehouse in 2013.

Black leaders and Democratic strategists have long warned that the biggest challenge this November will not be Black voters’ drift to voting for Trump or other Republican candidates but that they may stay home altogether. This speech — with its heavy allusions to democracy, manhood and the rich history of Black institutions like Morehouse — is meant to inspire groups like this to vote. And, even more, to get others in their communities to do the same.

Shane Goldmacher

When Biden puts it in such quick succession, his links to the Black community’s top political leaders are fairly remarkable. He was vice president to the first Black president; he named the first Black woman to serve as vice president; he appointed the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Yet early polls show him winning a smaller share of Black voters that most Democrats.

It was not a foregone conclusion that Biden’s address would continue without protests. But he spoke largely uninterrupted.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs

“Whether you’re young or old, I know what endures. The strength and wisdom of faith endures,” Biden says, acknowledging a concern among many young voters who I have talked to: the president’s age.

“I know I don’t look like I’ve been around very long,” Biden jokes, crossing himself.

“She’s tough, guys,” he adds.

Biden said that a Morehouse Man would become president one day, right after an “A.K.A. from Howard,” all but name-checking the vice president, Kamala Harris.

1 00:00:00,000 —> 00:00:02,570 I’ve been vice president of the first Black president 2 00:00:02,570 —> 00:00:04,863 and become my close friend 3 00:00:04,863 —> 00:00:07,925 and president of the first woman vice president. 4 00:00:08,652 —> 00:00:10,247 [cheers] 5 00:00:12,160 —> 00:00:13,810 Well, I have no idea — 6 00:00:13,810 —> 00:00:18,348 no doubt that a Morehouse man will be president one day — 7 00:00:18,348 —> 00:00:21,834 just after an A.K.A. from Howard. 8 00:00:21,834 —> 00:00:23,276 [laughs]

Biden lays out the stakes of 2024 for this crowd, saying there are “extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of Morehouse.”

Biden says those who stormed the Capitol with Confederate flags “are called patriots by some” — a clear reference to Donald Trump. “Not in my house,” he says.

President Biden also makes mention of Georgia’s stringent election laws. One provision that outlaws giving water or snacks to those waiting in line at the polls drew outrage nationwide.

The invoking of his own family’s frustration was very revealing.

Biden said that his family was angry and affected by what is happening in Gaza. We reported recently that Jill Biden, the first lady, has urged him to find a way to stop it .

Biden seems to be spending more time talking about Israel and Gaza than he spent discussing, say, student loan debt or education policy.

“What’s happening in Gaza in Israel is heartbreaking,” Biden says. “It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” Biden says he’s been “working around the clock” for an immediate ceasefire. Jake Sullivan, his national security adviser, is Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend for talks with top leaders.

This Biden speech shows a president torn between the frustrated feelings of many voters of his and the nation’s shortcomings, and the economic statistics that he hopes take hold in their view of his presidency this fall. “Record numbers of Black Americans have jobs,” he says, while acknowledging that is not enough.

Duke graduates who walked out on Jerry Seinfeld's commencement speech failed Life 101

The comedian used his commencement speech at duke to talk about something more important than just about anything in today's world: humor.

Roughly 30 of the 7,000 students at Sunday’s Duke University graduation ceremony walked out at the beginning of the commencement address by comedian Jerry Seinfeld .

They oppose Seinfeld’s support for Israel in its war with Hamas and chanted “free Palestine” on their way out.

News reporters, caught up in the many college campus disturbances over the war in Gaza, decided that the protest was the most relevant news story that day.

It wasn’t. It was the speech.

It’s worth watching and listening to, particularly the bit at the end.

Seinfeld's Duke speech was filled with bits

Seinfeld’s speech was filled with bits. That’s how comedians work. And the best of them, like Seinfeld, become philosophers in disguise, rummaging through the profound by way of the ridiculous.

“I can’t imagine how sick you are of hearing about following your passion. I say the hell with passion,” he told the graduates.

“Find fascination. Fascination is way better than passion. It’s not so sweaty …

“Find something where you love the good parts and don’t mind the bad parts too much. The torture you’re comfortable with. This is the golden path to victory in life.”

'Stay f------ hard': A Missouri Republican tried to mock gay people for votes. She instead gave us a meme.

Never lose your sense of humor, he told them

Seinfeld’s connection to the university is by way of a daughter who graduated from Duke and a son who attends the university.

He hit on a lot of conventional commencement address topics. Ambition. Money. Achievement.

But what he really wanted to talk about was something more important than all of that. Particularly in today’s world:

To all congressional Republicans: Rules for mandatory visits to Donald Trump’s UNJUST criminal trial

He said, “I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society.

“I think it is also wonderful that you care so much about not hurting other people’s feelings in the million and one ways we all do that every second of every day.

“It’s lovely to want to fix those things but – all caps – BUT, what I need to tell you as a comedian, do not lose your sense of humor.

“You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you are going to need it to get through. Not enough of life makes sense for you to be able to survive it without humor.”

The art of enjoying 'the dumbness of it all'

He came back to the topic again and again, saying, “Humor is the most powerful, most survival-essential quality you will ever have or need to navigate through the human experience.”

And he ended with it, saying something the graduates who had walked out could have used, something the reporters who wrote about the graduates walking out should have recognized, something the rest of us – in an election year – desperately need to hear.

“And humor is not just for the stress relief,” Seinfeld said, “or even just the simple fun of laughing, but for the true perspective of the silliness of all humans and all existence.

“That’s why you don’t want to lose it. Try to enjoy some of the dumbness of it all. That’s the best life advice I can give you.”

EJ Montini is a news columnist at The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, where this column first published . Reach him at  [email protected]

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• Speech Writing /

The Best Day of My Life Speech for School Students

• Updated on  
• Nov 7, 2023

We all remember the best days of our lives as these are special days when we experience happiness and joy with our friends and family. It doesn’t matter if you are in a school or in any professional environment, we all have our special moments where highlighting the best days of our lives can serve as a motivation and lesson for people around us. What have you learned from your best days? Do you miss those moments? We bet you do. So let’s bring the joy back where we’ll be providing you with details on how to describe the best day of my life speech in English.

Table of Contents

• 1 10 Lines Speech on The Best Day of My Life
• 2 Short Speech on The Best Day of My Life
• 3 Long Speech on The Best Day of My Life
• 4 Popular Quotes and Slogans on The Best Day of My Life

Also Read: Speech About Life for Students

10 Lines Speech on The Best Day of My Life

Here are 10 easy lines of speech on the best day of my life which you can discuss with your friends and in school. Here are some examples that you can incorporate in your 10-line speech on the best day of my life.

• I went on a family vacation on the best day of my life to the nearby amusement park.
• My mother bought a video game console for me on my 15th birthday.
• The best day of my life was when I scored the highest marks in my 9th Class.
• I won the State-level art competition, the best day of my life.
• Me and my sister gave gifts to our parents during their 20th marriage anniversary, which was the best day of my life.
• My best day was on 25th Dec 2015 when my father bought new running shoes for me.
• My teacher gave me a compliment in front of the entire class, making it one of the best days of my life.
• The best day of my life was when I got my first paycheck.
• I got a promotion at work, making it the best day of my life.
• The best days are when me and my family eat dinner together.

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Short Speech on The Best Day of My Life

Long speech on the best day of my life.

Q: Best day of your life? Cristiano Ronaldo: "When my son was born." pic.twitter.com/a161SG0w2R — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cr7Fran4ever) January 11, 2017

Popular Quotes and Slogans on The Best Day of My Life

Here are some popular quotes and slogans on the best day of my life. Feel free to use them anywhere.

• ‘The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.’ – Richard Bach
• ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.’ – Alice Morse Earle
• ‘Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.’ – Robert Brault
• “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou
• ‘Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.’ – Jim Rohn
• ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’ – Abraham Lincoln

You need to highlight the key elements and emotions of what made it the best day of your life. You can start by telling how the morning was or how you were feeling, and then talk about specific events or moments that made the day extraordinary. It can be any major or minor event that made you emotionally and personally attracted to it. Where you are describing this day, make sure everything you have in store is authentic and genuine. 

To make your speech perfect, you must connect with your audience. A sense of belonging develops when people are able to relate their stories. Even simple moments like family time or picnics, vacations, temple visits, etc. can be counted as memorable days, where you are present as yourself. 

Talk about how you were feeling on that particular day and about your plan. Try to keep simple language where there is room for more information and is entertaining when you talk about it. You are out of time so do not go into details. Just give 7 to 10 seconds of intro and focus on the body of your speech.

Explore more

Follow Leverage Edu for more interesting and informative articles on  school education .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Biden delivers Morehouse commencement speech as some on campus express pro-Palestinian messages

ATLANTA — President Joe Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College on Sunday morning, his most direct engagement with college students since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and a key opportunity for him to engage with a group of voters that data suggests is softening on him: young, Black men.

In his remarks, Biden ticked through his administration's policies that he said have aided Black Americans, including a record $16 billion in new aid for historically Black colleges and universities.

And, in a nod to the pro-Palestinian sentiment among Morehouse students and faculty, Biden reiterated his calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, more humanitarian aid in the region and support for a two-state solution that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.

“We’ve been working on a deal as we speak. Working around the clock to lead an international effort to get more aid into Gaza, rebuild Gaza. I’m also working around the clock for more than just one cease-fire. I’m working to bring the region together. Working to build a lasting, durable peace,” he said.

As Biden spoke, roughly six students in the crowd sat turned away from him. Though Biden did not reference the action directly, his remarks touched on the “anger and frustration” felt by many Americans over the war, including by members of his own family.

“I know it breaks your heart. It breaks mine as well,” Biden said. “Leadership is about fighting through the most intractable problems. It’s about challenging anger, frustration and heartbreak. To find a solution. It’s about doing what you believe is right, even when it’s hard and lonely.”

Following the speech, Morehouse President David Thomas praised Biden for a “thought-provoking speech” he said was reflective of the president “listening.”

“You spoke to the hard issues confronting our nation and the world at this moment,” Thomas said before conferring an honorary doctorate degree onto Biden.

No significant, disruptive protests materialized, but some students and faculty members still expressed their support for Gaza during the ceremony.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations began even before Biden took the stage Sunday morning. As graduates and faculty entered the ceremony, at least eight students and three staff members wore pro-Palestinian garb, some adorned in Palestinian flags and others wearing keffiyeh scarves.

An opening prayer by the Rev. Claybon Lea Jr. urged those in power to be “accountable for valuing human life” across the globe.

“Whether they live in Israel or Palestine, Ukraine or Russia, the Congo or Haiti, God give us men that will value life and call us to accountability. Give us men who require all of us to live the golden rule and even follow the edicts of that Palestinian Jew named Jesus,” Lea said as Biden sat inches behind him.

In the most direct call to action of the ceremony, valedictorian DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher concluded his remarks by calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, framing his decision to speak on the conflict as a moral duty in line with the legacy of fellow Morehouse alumnus Martin Luther King Jr.

“It is important to recognize that both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the wake of Oct. 7,” Fletcher said. “From the comfort of our homes, we watch an unprecedented number of civilians mourn the loss of men, women and children while calling for a release of all hostages. For the first time in our lives, we’ve heard the global community sing one harmonious song that transcends language and culture. It is my stance as a Morehouse man named as a human being to call for an immediate and a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.”

As Biden took the stage, graduating students remained seated and silent, even as older alumni nearby cheered.

And during his remarks, faculty member Samuel Livingston held up the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in an effort to bring attention to ongoing conflict in the region.

Sebastian Gordon, a graduating senior from Washington, D.C., was satisfied with Biden's remarks. “I know one concern that my class had was actions and words didn’t line up,” Gordon told NBC News. “I’m happy with his words that he said. I’m just going to continue to watch to make sure his actions line up with that.”

The protests during the commencement were largely peaceful, following instructions Thomas, the school president, gave to faculty and students across at least three meetings: The right to protest would be honored as long as they’re not disruptive.

Ahead of the commencement, Thomas told CNN that though he would not ask police to intervene should protests occur during Biden’s remarks, he would immediately bring the commencement to a halt.

“I have also made a decision that we will also not ask police to take individuals out of commencement in zip ties. If faced with the choice, I will cease the ceremonies on the spot if we were to reach that position,” Thomas said.

Even the most vocal student protesters at Morehouse predicted that protests during the commencement ceremony would likely not be disruptive, partially due to the volatility a police response would likely incite.

“I think that whatever happens on Sunday on the part of the people and the people who want to see some change is going to be peaceful,” sophomore Anwar Karim said. “I don’t see it erupting like it has at some of the other campuses, because we at HBCUs here are also just mindful of the fact of how interactions with police often go.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden spent several days working on the speech, tapping into a brain trust of senior advisers, including some Morehouse alums, to craft his message to the 415 Black men graduating from the school.

Biden previewed the tone of his remarks during a speech Thursday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision.

“Morehouse was founded after our nation’s Civil War to help prepare Black Americans who were formerly enslaved to enter the ministry, earn an education and usher them from slavery to freedom,” Biden said before announcing $16 billion in new investments for historically Black colleges and universities. “The founders of Morehouse understood something fundamental. Education is linked to freedom. Because to be free means to have something that no one can ever take away from you.”

Biden’s speech at Morehouse came against the backdrop of protests on college campuses nationwide over his handling over the war in Gaza, with many students and faculty members voicing opposition to the White House’s continued financial and military support for Israel. Some at Morehouse hoped Biden would speak directly to those concerns during his commencement remarks.

“I hope that we don’t get boilerplate language. I hope that we get something we haven’t heard before. I hope that his ethical, moral conscience trump any politics,” Morehouse professor Stephane Dunn said at a protest Friday.

Morehouse has also had pro-Palestinian protests on campus, though the HBCU did not see the same scale or escalation of demonstrations as some larger universities.

The school’s decision to host Biden as commencement speaker and award him an honorary doctorate degree almost immediately sparked protests among faculty and students, some continuing into the days leading up to the commencement ceremony.

“This is one big distraction on a day to celebrate the class of 2024 following Covid-19, but this is also an opportunity for students to make their voices heard during a time of increasing war and genocide in the Middle East,” Morehouse senior Calvin Bell said in reaction to Biden’s visit.

“We as students, faculty and alums who are standing on the right side of history do not stand with Biden,” Karim said. “We do not align ourselves with all of the clear and avid support that he’s had for a genocidal campaign on the part of the Israelis for the last over 200-plus days.”

Most recently, Morehouse faculty were split over the decision to award Biden an honorary doctorate degree at the ceremony. A letter circulated among staff members in protest of the decision got more that two dozen signatures in support, and the vote to award the degree passed 50-38, with roughly 12 faculty members abstaining.

The White House deployed its allies to Morehouse, both formally and informally, to assuage concerns and lower tensions over Biden’s visit.

Steve Benjamin, who heads the White House Office of Public Engagement, met with a small group of Morehouse students and faculty this month following a push from the school’s leadership for “direct engagement” from the White House.

During the meeting, some students expressed concerns about Biden overshadowing their graduation, while others implored Benjamin to ensure Biden’s speech doesn’t double as a campaign stump speech — frustrated with the idea of the commencement address being a vehicle for Biden to bolster support among Black voters.

That sentiment was shared by other Morehouse students critical of Biden’s visit.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he only accepted the invitation after Trump was already in [Atlanta’s] West End, trying to make gains and failing to make gains with our students here,” Morehouse student Malik Poole said at a campus protest ahead of Biden’s visit. “And this is coming at a time where voters of color are fleeing from Biden at record pace.”

But still, Biden’s Morehouse visit came amid a concerted effort by his administration and campaign in the past week to sharpen his message to Black voters .

On Thursday, Biden met with plaintiffs and their family members from the historic Brown v. Board of Education case. The following day, he met with leaders of the Divine Nine, a group of historically Black sororities and fraternities, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority herself. During his trip to Georgia, Biden attended an event Saturday focused on engaging Black voters. And following his commencement address, Biden will close out the weekend by delivering the keynote address at the NAACP Freedom Fund dinner in Detroit, where he plans to tout his administration’s accomplishments for Black Americans.

As data suggests that Black voters — particularly young Black voters — are souring on Biden, some at Morehouse recognized the “opportunity” Biden had to make his case to members of that voting bloc during his address.

“If you want ... these students to vote in the fall for you, you have to give them something that shows that you are hearing them,” Dunn said. “That you are trying to do something we haven’t heard about. This is the opportunity.”

Nnamdi Egwuonwu is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

Harrison Butker introduced Benedictine College to the world. But there’s more to my school.

In mid-May, tears streamed down my face as I drove across the Amelia Earhart Bridge, leaving Benedictine College for the summer. My sophomore year at the Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kan., had wrapped up, and I was sorry to leave.

But Benedictine did not stay far from me for long. As soon as I arrived home and opened X, I saw comments about my beloved college all over the social media platform thanks to Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement speech . It seemed like everyone on my timeline, Catholic or not, had an opinion about Mr. Butker’s take on the role of women as homemakers, the traditional Latin Mass and a litany of culture war issues from I.V.F. and abortion to Covid-19 lockdowns.

A few weeks earlier, Benedictine had also made headlines after the Associated Press included the college in a report about the resurgence of traditional Catholicism in the United States. The report got some things right. Benedictine indeed promotes traditional Catholic teaching on marriage, life and family values. But the reporter from the A.P. also unfairly portrayed Benedictine by focusing on a small minority of homeschooled students and those who prefer the traditional Latin Mass, neglecting the experience of 2,000 other students.

I don’t want to comment on Mr. Butker’s remarks or to discount the A.P.’s reporting. And obviously as a current student who has had a very positive experience at Benedictine, I am not unbiased about the school or how it is presented. But I do think it important that someone provide a firsthand account of the culture of Benedictine College, a college that has grown exponentially in the past 20 years and transformed from being a known party school to one recognized for its strong Catholic identity .

Let’s start with the numbers. As reported by the A.P., Benedictine College has seen immense growth in the past 15 years, a time when many institutions of higher education have struggled with declining admissions. The enrollment doubled, and the school has built 14 new residence halls, with three more now under construction. In addition to an architecture and engineering program, the school has expanded its academic offerings to include a nursing program, recently voted the best in the state .

So what spurred the change? Two factors were mentioned by Steve Minnis, Benedictine’s president: Mary and mission.

“Benedictine College has been successful because of two things: We embraced our mother and we embraced our mission,” Mr. Minnis told me in a recent conversation. “We have consecrated the college to Our Lady and thereby put the college in her hands. Secondly, we formulated and embraced this amazing mission to educate our students within a community of faith and scholarship. Everything revolves around community, faith and scholarship.”

President Minnis has set an example by leading students in praying the rosary every week. He maintains a robust presence on campus, constantly reminding students to live out the three pillars of Benedictine College: community, faith and scholarship.

Welcoming community

When I was touring colleges, the community at Benedictine set the school apart. Walking around the campus, I noticed that students, instead of staring at their phones, would greet each other and strike up conversations on the way to class.

“A lot of other places you go, people walk to class with their heads down and AirPods in,” recent graduate John Welte said. “I was in D.C. last summer, for example, and just had my AirPods while walking to work. I can’t really do that here because you have to say ‘hi’ to all of your friends.”

The relatively small size of the school creates a unique atmosphere where it can feel like everyone knows each other. But that doesn’t mean it is cliquish or a monoculture.

Just ask Rachel Monahan, a nondenominational Protestant who just finished her sophomore year at Benedictine.

“The culture, from my perspective, has always been inviting and welcoming to everyone. Because it’s a smaller school, everyone knows everyone else,” Ms. Monahan told me. “Students typically take the initiative to be kind and helpful to one another. I made a lot of amazing friends during my time so far at Benedictine, and I truly believe I wouldn’t get that anywhere else.”

Other students who might not fit the Benedictine college stereotype, like athletes, are also involved with campus life . Carter Schultz attended a large public high school in California and will be the starting quarterback for the football team next year.

“There definitely was a divide between the football team and other students during my freshman year,” Mr. Schultz said. “But my class has a lot of strong practicing Catholics on the football squad so we invited a lot of the guys into a Bible study, which got bigger, and over time they branched out and it has been really cool to see more football players interact with the nonathletes on campus in both a religious setting but also just by creating friend groups with them.”

Inviting faith

The A.P. and Mr. Butker coverage made it clear that Benedictine is deeply committed to the Catholic faith. But that does not mean everyone on campus shares the N.F.L. player’s devotion to the traditional Latin Mass. Most people at Benedictine are just your average Novus Ordo-loving Catholics striving to be saints.

The local parish offers 24/7 adoration, and whether it is 2 a.m. on a Saturday or 4 p.m. on a Monday, at least one student is present, often multiple. Daily Mass attracts over 300 students, and the confession line wraps around the perimeter of the abbey every day.

“Iron sharpens iron,” Mr. Schultz said, quoting Proverbs 27:17. “At my parish back home there’s not a whole lot of young people who are on fire; there are just a lot of older people around me, which makes it hard to grow since there is little accountability. But here, sometimes I do not want to pray, but I go to adoration and I see so many other students who are on fire and pursuing a strong prayer life.”

Observers might naturally ask whether this strong Catholic culture is alienating for some students. I put this question to Ms. Monahan.

“As a Protestant, I would say that the Catholic faith is not forced upon me at Benedictine College,” Ms. Monahan shared. “I have always been encouraged and invited to attend Mass or pray the rosary, but I never felt pressure to do so. The college, without a doubt, takes pride in its faith, but it also takes a lot of pride in its community, which includes people who aren’t Catholic like myself. Everyone is accepted.”

There is a culture of invitation at Benedictine, with students frequently inviting both non-Catholic and Catholic friends to pray or discuss the faith.

And these invitations bear fruit.

This past April, the school welcomed 19 students into the church, an impressive feat for such a small college.

Engaging scholarship

Conversations about the intellectual side of the Catholic faith also abound on campus.

It’s a cliché to say you can often hear students in the dining hall debating theology or philosophy—but it also happens to be true in my experience.

“This is a college that expects academic excellence and that our students are constantly searching for the truth, so even after you graduate, you’ll still have this intellectual curiosity,” President Minnis said. “One of my favorite parts of the job is talking to students in the dining hall. Every time I go, I always see multiple tables engaged in conversation about Plato or some obscure theology topic, which is so cool to see.”

Often, these conversations have a conservative bent, as noted by the A.P. The school does not try to hide that it holds true to traditional Catholic values, an attribute that many students appreciate.

“The college is conservative in the way that it talks about pro-family, pro-life, pro-traditional values,” Mr. Welte said. “But it is not conservative in the sense that everyone’s ultra-right-wing, MAGA. I’m sure that there are some people there who are like that, but I haven’t really met any. People just have conservative values that align with the teachings of the church, such as [supporting] traditional marriage and [being] pro-life from conception until natural death.”

Ultimately, these conversations often turn inward. Whether it be in theology class or a late-night debate, the conversation leaves the 30,000-foot view behind and asks: “How does this apply to my life? How is it helping me to be a saint?” Benedictine’s mission revolves around this fundamental question.

Forming Saints

President Minnis shared that his goal is not to push a conservative or traditionalist Catholic agenda on students.

“In today’s society, people always want to label others or institutions as conservative, liberal, progressive or traditional,” Mr. Minnis said. “We do not want to associate with those labels. We want our students to understand the power of community, to understand that humans are social beings. We want them to be lifelong learners constantly searching for the truth. We want them to fall in love with Jesus Christ and have a relationship with him. That’s who we are, and that is what we’re trying to accomplish.”

As I reflect on my first two years at Benedictine, the famous quote often attributed to the Jesuit superior general Pedro Arrupe, S.J., comes to mind: “Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”

Sure, I have fallen in love with the school. But it is deeper than that. I have made lifelong friendships, learned about the Catholic faith and most importantly, I have fallen in love with Jesus Christ and his mission to go out and make disciples of all nations.

Yes, Benedictine may come off to an outside observer as too traditional or conservative. But I would encourage those who have formed an opinion on Benedictine from the A.P. story or from Mr. Butker’s speech to visit the school, to cross that Amelia Earheart bridge and come see for themselves the vibrant, Catholic community that is forming young people to go out into the world on mission for Christ.

Jack Figge is a rising junior at Benedictine College, where he studies political science and theology. In addition to his studies, Jack has written for a variety of Catholic publications including the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor and The Pillar.

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