Commencement speeches shouldn’t be confined to the recent graduates in caps and gowns. In fact, the most memorable ones have the ability to reach everyone and anyone, at any age and at any time — because these speeches are meant to inspire, encourage, and even give advice on what the speaker has learned throughout their life.<\/p>\n
Whether you’re looking for guidance, post-grad advice, or some good laughs, look no further than these unforgettable commencement speeches.<\/p>\n
David Foster Wallace<\/a> Steve Jobs<\/a> Mindy Kaling<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Wallace gave\u00a0one of the best commencement speeches at Kenyon College in 2005 — so good, that it was later turned into a book, This is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion About Living a Compassionate Life<\/a><\/em>. The brilliant author touched on what it means to be an empathetic person, remaining conscious and aware, and made the argument that education teaches you how to think.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In 2005, Jobs gave Stanford University\u2019s commencement speech where he emphasized the importance of finding what you love. The speech was relatively short — lasting about 15 minutes — and was divided into three stories. Each story related to the next, drawing on different obstacles and experiences that led him to be the person he was. He ends with a powerful message: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish. I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you: Stay hungry. Stay foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe actress, comedian, and writer spoke to\u00a0Harvard Law School\u2019s graduating class of 2014, where she joked that the reason she was there was to find a husband. However, Kaling rocked the podium and stayed true to character (being hilarious, of course!). Not only that, her speech was honest, heartfelt, and even a bit daring. She tells the audience, \u201cHarvard Law is the best of the Harvard graduate programs — you are entering a profession where, no matter the crime, you have to defend the alleged perpetrator. Across the campus, Harvard Business School graduates are receiving diplomas, and you will have to defend them.\u201d<\/p>\n