A graduation welcome speech is the valedictorian or salutatorian’s welcome address at the beginning of the graduation ceremony. You need to prepare adequately before the speech. The graduation welcome speech is a semi-formal speech. It is supposed to reflect on your time at school and the collective campus experiences.

Don’t be afraid to be funny, engaging, and emotional. You can share personal stories or anecdotes about your classmates that had an impact on the class. You can also choose to appreciate some staff members that helped along the way, like teachers, school administrator, and coach.

The end of the speech should have an impact on the audience. It should be a summary of your experiences in the school and some advice for the students you will be leaving behind. Your goal is to make the audience feel inspired and honored to be a part of the journey.