Class of 2005
Graduation Speeches

What matters for eternity is that you be someone special, not just do something special.... To try change the world, we have to be great people. Not just great at what we do, but great in who we are. Then, and only then, can we be those individuals who change a neighborhood, a city, and a nation.

— Chris Krycho, 18, Colorado Springs, CO
Over the last four years, What Kids Can Do has posted remarkable graduation speeches from youth around the country, with messages as diverse as the students who write them. This year's submissions are no exception. For example, one student recounted how the books he read as a child taught him lessons he'll carry throughout his life; another student focused on the social capital that a high school diploma wields in today's society. One constant, however, unites many of the speeches: worries about the world, both near at hand and across the globe.
I want to talk about the future. Each generation faces problems and ours is no exception. Social Security will become bankrupt in our lifetimes, the country faces a monumental national debt, and millions worldwide are infected with AIDS.... It's not really a matter of whether or not we will be challenged but rather how we will rise to the challenge.

— Nick Xu, 18, Bellaire, TX
Some speakers, like Alvin To from Oakland, California, talk about re-defining what it means to be successful, at a time when working hard and pressing ideals seem more important than winning high salaries and fame.
Success is not how high our GPA was. Success is not how high our salaries will be. Success is not how many decorations we possess. Success is knowing we have the power to do anything we set our mind to and then working hard to accomplish our goals. Awards can be revoked, salaries can be reduced to nothing; but knowing we have the potential to accomplish anything can never be taken away from us.

— Alvin To, 18, Oakland, CA
Others, like Daniela Bloch, remind us that sometimes there is nothing more important than living in the present.
Every moment of the last few years has been spent anticipating the next. I know that that is true for me at least. But maybe just for today, the rest of this ceremony, we can sit here and enjoy the moment, because as we look back on the past four years, it becomes clear that time has gone by far too quickly.

— Daniela Bloch, 18, Hoffman Estates, IL
Click below for What Kids Can Do's collection of 2005 graduation speeches.

See also graduation speeches from the class of 2004


Marlon Bailey, 18
John B. Connally High School, Austin, TX

I assure you that no matter what your parents are thinking, which is something along the lines of "I did a great job with him or her," their conceited thoughts are irrelevant to this occasion because it's not about them; it's about us....

And when we leave this place to pursue separate ambitions, the attention will never fade, the hate will never subside, the mountains will increase without fail. No matter how many people have blazed a path, rivers will not part, expectations will not reduce and therefore it will still be about us.

Click here for the full speech


Minal Caron, 18
Community High School, Fort Kent, ME

I was not sure what the World Trade Center was at that point, but during the next several weeks all Americans abruptly became aware of our surroundings. An international community does exist, and our actions affect everyone. In addition, I realized I could even proceed towards a career relating to or immersed in a foreign country. Incredible new ways to find our niche present themselves to our generation...The burdens of these new opportunities are just as great, however, as America's success brings with it responsibility and potential conflict. Right now, safety for the people and the earth are problems without clear solutions. These problems will breed innovation, and with it success for people who help make the world run smoother.

Click here for the full speech.


Keirsten Hamilton, 18
Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ

I was not surprised to see Middle Township High School missing from Newsweek's list of the Top 100 High Schools in America for 2005. The magazine based their ranking on Advanced Placement scores and Ivy League acceptances. In the accompanying article on high school life, the journalist attempted to find the real worth of a high school education. Certainly, the excruciatingly painful 3-hour-long tests cannot sum up an entire four years of experience as a high school student...The journalist posed a most interesting question regarding modern education, asking, "What happened to time for fun, football games, and memories of life in high school?" Surely if national rankings were based on the overall academic, athletic, and social experience of young adults, Middle Township would find its name at the top of the list.

Click here for the full speech


Lane Ryan, 18
Winema High School, Salem, OR

Throughout our lives, even high school, we have known the bitter taste of failure. At times we wanted to quit and felt that we may not be capable of achieving anything, especially not a high school diploma. But, we can now stand and say proudly that we have persevered. We now know that failing is apart of nature, it is what you do after you fail that determines your character. By graduating from Winema high school we have shown our ability to endure even when obstacles loom in our path.

Click here for the full speech.


Carlos Sanchez, 18
Ansbach American High School, Nuremberg, Germany

Unlike most of the Class of 2005 in the States none of us here went to elementary school together, or middle school, or even all of high school. We come from a very different life experience than most. Most of us have never been the same place for more than a few years. That's only one of the many differences we have with our peers stateside. Another major one of course is the fact that we have spent most our high school lives in Europe. We live in a foreign country with different laws, a different language, and different customs. Many of us have also had the opportunity to travel to numerous countries around Europe and experience those societies as well.

Click here for the full speech.


Emily Shivetts, 18
Ballston Spa High School, Ballston Spa, NY

To be honest, I spent about three weeks putting off writing this speech, and about three hours actually writing it. I felt daunted by the task of attempting to sum up "the future"; and, what few key points could I focus on that everyone could relate to and take interest in? After a few weeks of thinking about it, the answer struck me—absolutely nothing. With that in mind, the task became easier, for I no longer aimed to impress but to advise, no longer to appease but to guide. The final result was much more personal and thoughtful than I had ever intended.

Click here for the full speech.