How to Make a Salutatorian Speech
Speeches come in all forms and are used for many different purposes, such as delivering information or introducing another person. The salutatorian speech, delivered by the person with the second best grade average, is a general speech discussing time in school, the future and all the people who made graduation possible. Students making this speech know a good portion of people from their school, as well as members of the audience, which will include their own parents. The speech is delivered in both high schools and some small colleges at graduation.
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Instructions
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Approach the podium with confidence, walking with your shoulders back and your head high. You will be nervous, but your speech begins well before you open your mouth so make your approach matter. Smile and set your note cards down gently. If necessary, arrange the note cards for a minute at the podium to calm yourself before speaking.
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Look at the audience before beginning the speech. A simple glance at one section of the room is sufficient. You are trying to engage your audience immediately. You will continue to look at your audience throughout the speech, picking different sections of the room every time. If you are nervous, try to choose specific areas to look, such as at your parents or friends who are in the audience. There will be many recognizable faces during the salutatorian speech to use for audience engagement.
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Place your hands on either side of the podium or at your sides. If you are not the type to fidget, your hands at your sides will work fine. If you are fidgety, hold the podium to ground yourself and your fidget habits. The salutatorian speech is performed in front of many people who have known you for a long time, so make a joke if you start to fidget or exhibit other nervous habits. Jokes about the class senior skip day or overall school experience are also acceptable.
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Listen to yourself as you deliver your speech. If you are speaking too fast, take a pause and remind yourself to slow down. If you are using time fillers, such as "um" or "uh," remind yourself to stop filling silence. The salutatorian speech is light, filled with memories of group activities or pep rallies and thanks to teachers who helped the class through the school experience. For instance, perhaps a teacher merits special praise because she coached students involved in Academic Olympics on her own time after school. Speak calmly so your fellow classmates, teachers, friends and family will understand you.
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Express gratitude to the audience at the end of the speech, making sure to specifically thank the teachers, principal and other significant school workers who helped your class reach graduation. You will walk off the stage after gathering your notes with your shoulders back and your head held high. Confidence is important in speech delivery, and it needs to protrude from the time you raise from your seat until you rejoin your classmates.
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