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In May and June, throngs of young people will be graduating from colleges and universities. Which means, of course, that scores of graduation speeches will be given.
The commencement speech is an annual ritual. Eager to draw attention to their campus, schools recruit big names to fill the role, including government leaders, high-profile CEOs, actors, athletes, authors, media figures, and others.
Though many speakers hit on the same themes year after year—“pursue your dreams,” “stay true to your values,” “you are the future and the change”—some have stood out for their refreshing insights and entertaining messages.
One noteworthy speaker is tennis legend Roger Federer, who drew widespread attention and praise for his 2024 commencement address at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Within a day, his speech had gone viral, with millions viewing video of it. How did the Swiss star score so big?
Well, for one, he made his story relatable. Though Federer is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time—the winner of almost 80% of his more than 1,500 singles matches—he struck a chord with this surprising statistic:
“What percentage of points do you think I won in those matches?” he asked the audience.
“Only 54%.”
Federer had lost nearly half of the total points he played in his storied career.
His message to the students was about mindset: You can’t dwell on errors or setbacks in life. Once they happen, put them behind you and move forward.
The New York Times wrote that the thoughtful speech is “the sporting equivalent” of Steve Jobs’ famed graduation address at Stanford University in 2005.
So the question is: Which speaker will make their mark on the school stage this year?
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Paul Sterman is senior editor, executive and editorial content, for Toastmasters International. Reach him at psterman@toastmasters.org.
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