After many years at a university, graduation finally arrives. Many students look forward to this event, which is full of memories, and why not, great lessons.
In Brazil, the texts are full of memories of the class, because usually the chosen speaker is one of the graduates. However, in the United States, it is common for great personalities to give speeches at the greatest universities, such as Harvard, Columbia and Stanford.
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These people, usually successful, have already gone through ups and downs, so they have a lot to teach new professionals. North American speeches are full of motivation and inspiration about taking opportunities for growth from bad situations.
If you are about to graduate, have been chosen as valedictorian, or are just curious, Escola Educação has listed nine speeches, including two Brazilian ones, to inspire you. Check out:
Meryl Streep begins her speech to the Bernard College Class of 2010 in a joking tone, but in the course of her speech she delivers a great lesson.
The most striking phrase is from Streep, who has been nominated for an Oscar more than 20 times, and won three, was the following: “I can say that awards have little relevance to my personal happiness. My sense of well-being and purpose in the world comes from studying the feeling of the world, empathizing with my work.”
Harvard student, the COO (director of operations) of Facebook, returns to the institution in 2012 to give a graduation speech. Sandberg built a career worthy of great pride, so he spoke with the graduates a little about his trajectory.
She even gave precious tips about the importance of creative solutions and how to sell your work at the time of a job interview. She also pointed out that companies have less and less hierarchical structures, making everyone grow together.
Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress in 2012 for the beautiful film Crossed Stories, Octavia Spencer in her speech at Kent University spoke of the importance of doing things in one's own time, avoiding comparisons with others people.
During the speech, she even mentions that “comparing yourself to the successes of others makes it take you longer to find yours”. That is, it's never too late to get where you want to go.
When it comes to commencement speeches, this is perhaps one of the most memorable speeches of all time. Co-founder, president and CEO of Apple, which is currently the most valuable brand in the world, Steve Jobs gave a series of lessons during his speech.
To Stanford University's 2005 graduates, he stressed the importance of following one's intuition, and that often bad events are able to propel us to greater leaps in the future. It's worth taking inspiration from the tips of one of the brightest minds of recent times!
Former student of the institution, the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg did not complete his studies at Harvard. Despite this, not only was he invited to address a class of 2017, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from one of the most recognized universities in the world.
In his speech he says that at the time he created Facebook, with the intention of integrating Harvard students, he never imagined that he would integrate the world. He used the story to motivate graduates to bring about major world changes.
Invited to speak to the 2014 Business Graduate class, Jim Carrey, with his characteristic manner and humor, begins his speech, which lasts about 30 minutes, making many jokes. During his speech, he points out that the ego can negatively interfere with people's careers: “the ego is so treacherous that it tempts us with the promise of something we already have”.
One of the most famous and prestigious contemporary writers, JK Rowling is an inspiration for a generation. In 2008 she, who had to make many attempts before finally getting the Harry Potter story published, gave a speech to a class of Harvard graduates.
She spoke about the lessons that can be learned from failure. “You will never truly know the strength of your relationships until both are tested by adversity” said Rowling that, she considered herself at rock bottom when starting to write one of the most famous stories of the world.
But it's not just North American personalities who make excellent graduation speeches. Below, we have two examples from two important Brazilian universities. An older one, made by an illustrious guest, and a contemporary one, made by a student of the institution.
Bravo, accurate and cutting. This is how Michele Alves' speech can be defined, who was studying Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), one of the most traditional teaching institutions in the state.
During the course, she was a scholarship holder and therefore, when speaking on behalf of these students, she made a point of remembering the reality of colleagues who lived, and live, the same situation as hers.
It honors family members, often with professions not recognized by society, and who fought to keep their children in university. Michele's speech, despite portraying the harsh reality of fellows, it is a cry of encouragement, so that people, even with many difficulties, don't give up on your dreams and be proud of their origins.
The very name of the speech is already inspiring: “And speaking of a dream” was given at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in 1990. With a light speech, but with several provocations and questions about the uncertainty of the future, this became one of the most memorable graduation speeches in Brazil.
The writer goes on to say that “all beautiful things in life start with fantasy”about the importance of dreams and that “people who only have knowledge and no kindness will only contribute to an uglier world.” Certainly a beautiful reflection.
