It’s summer and it’s nearing graduation season for final year students in the UK.
However, in the USA, graduation, or commencement, ceremonies are already underway. Many universities across the countries have hosted celebrities who have given funny and insightful speeches to graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
But, arguably not all the speeches have been equal so here are the best ones that have been given so far.
Jennifer Coolidge
Two time EMMY winning actress and forever icon Jennifer Coolidge gave one of the first commencement speeches at Emerson College in Massachusetts on 11th May.
She spoke about her dreams growing up, saying: “I had this thing inside of me telling me that I could achieve anything, anything, in this world, and there was just nothing to back it up.”
She continued her inspirational speech, telling the graduates: “When you find the thing that you want to do, I really want to highly recommend, just friggin’ go for it. You really have to psych yourself up into believing absurd possibilities, and you have to believe that they are not absurd.”
Usher
On 12th May, R&B singer and winner of eight GRAMMYs Usher delivered a commencement speech at Emory University, Georgia.
He gave the speech after receiving an honorary doctorate from the uni, speaking about his academic struggles growing up and the importance of perseverance. He told students: “The system doesn’t always understand, and it doesn’t always celebrate passion; however, before I could sing, before I could dance, or before I was a doctor, I had passion.
“Sometimes, you may be passed on; someone, for some reason, may not understand or feel the same as you do, but if you change your mindset, you can blaze a new trail in the system.”
Simone Biles
Record-breaking Olympic gymnast Simone Biles gave her commencement speech at Washington University in St. Louis on 12th May. Her speech followed her being awarded an honorary doctorate in letters from the uni.
Simone told the graduates: “You don’t have to be the greatest engineer, the greatest lawyer, the greatest entrepreneur or the greatest social worker. You just need to be the greatest you that you can be, the greatest you of all time. [For me,] being the GOAT was never the goal.
“All I ever wanted was to be the greatest Simone that I could be. My goal was to be the greatest Simone Biles of all time i wanted and still strive for today and when I start to get in my head and doubt myself I reflect on what my mom instilled in me from a very young age and that is to be the best Simone that you can be each and everyday.”
Jane Fonda
Actress and activist Jane Fonda gave her speech at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication on 16th May.
In her speech, Jane referenced current issues such as climate change, urging to the graduates: “What we need now are strong communities and a healthy planet.
“The good news is, and I want you to know this, what we face, the challenges, they are winnable. Times are very hard but not hopeless. I want you to know that across the country people are pushing back, holding the line against the dismantling of democracy. People are advancing more climate solutions than you can imagine all across the country. I mean, it’s stunning really. What people are doing there is definitely reason for hope but hope takes action. I
“t’s easy to be optimistic, ‘everything’s going to be fine’, but you don’t do anything to make it so. Hope is a muscle like the heart. It’s when we take action that hope comes alive.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph, famous for her EMMY-winning role in Abbott Elementary and extensive Broadway career, gave a commencement speech at Tulane University, Louisiana on 17th May.
She expressed her admiration for the uni, calling it “a living, breathing testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of community”.
Elizabeth Banks
Hunger Games actress Elizabeth Banks returned to the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her bachelor’s degree before her successful film career.
She gave her commencement speech on 19th May, telling the graduates: “The profound lesson I learned through all this was that our values conflict sometimes and it’s making choices in those moments that help you clarify who you are and what you value in this world. And that’s adulting.
“It’s not just cleaning your hair out of the drain of a shared shower or sink, which you should absolutely do. It’s the series of decisions you make when your values conflict, GPA or family, creativity or security, loyalty or personal growth, love or money.”
Kermit the Frog
On 22nd May at the University of Maryland, Kermit Frog gave one of the most unforgettable speeches of the year. As well as jokes about his “very tiny cap and gown”, the Muppet said he was “honoured to share some words of wisdom about three things that are close to my heart: Finding your people, taking the leap, and making connections”.
Kermit also paid tribute to his creator, the late Jim Henson, who studied at the uni with his wife and fellow puppeteer Jane, and graduated with a degree in home economics.
Sandra Oh
On 15th June, actress Sandra Oh gave a commencement speech to the graduates at Dartmouth College. In her speech, she addressed her personal struggles and said she found kindness is the foundation for a lasting strength. Can you hold your heartbreak with tenderness and give it your loving attention? This is kindness.”
Sandra also received an honorary doctorate from the uni, which she acknowledged was a fitting callback to her Grey’s Anatomy character Dr. Cristina Yang. She ended her speech with a dance party as a reference to the show, with David Guetta’s Titanium blasting from the speakers.
Sandra concluded: “When the world gets hard, or when it’s good, especially when it’s good like today, by yourself, with your friends, people you love, with strangers, always make time to dance it out.”
Steve Carell
Sandra Oh was not the only celebrity who included a dance break to their commencement speech. On the same day, actor and comedian Steve Carell paused a speech to encourage guests to dance to That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings.
In his speech to the graduates of Northwestern University, Steve also emphasised the importance of kindness, concluding: “Don’t use Chat GPT for personal emails. That’s just sad.
“Hold the door for people regardless of gender, age or political affiliation. Just dance sometimes and, lastly, you’ll never regret maintaining relationships with the people who went through such a defining experience with you. Keep in touch.”
Featured image via YouTube
