If I Were Your Graduation Speaker

This weekend, I attended a couple of graduation open houses and talked to two graduates preparing to give speeches at their graduation. I also saw the viral footage of country singer Eric Church giving a college commencement speech It got me thinking: If I were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would I say?

I first of all would keep it very short as I’m certain everyone attending wants to get to the main event (handing out diplomas!) vs listening to some guy talk for a while, but I think my words would be familiar if you are a consistent reader of my newsletter! I would add a couple of stories-maybe even include Caitlin Clark and knowing you will face adversity, but it would still be concise and to the point.

It might sound something like this:

“Before I say anything else, I want you to do something for me.

Take a look around: really take a close look.

The people sitting beside you. The family members who helped get you here. The teachers, coaches, friends, and mentors who shaped part of your story.

Because one day—sooner than you think—this moment will feel very far away.

And you’ll wish you had slowed down just enough to appreciate it as well as all of the people here to support you and helped get you to this point and will undoubtedly support you well into the future. Thank them, and take time to appreciate their efforts. We can’t do life alone-now or ever.

As you begin this next chapter, I want to challenge you to do something else that most people wait too long to think about:

Begin with the end in mind.

When people talk about you someday, when you retire, what do you hope they say?

What kind of teammate, friend, coworker, spouse, parent, or leader do you want to become?

Because our legacy isn’t built all at once.

It’s built in small choices.

How you treat people.
How you respond to adversity.
How you show up when nobody is watching.

And finally, while goals, careers, and success matter, don’t forget something important:

Be where your feet are.

Wherever life takes you, don’t spend so much time chasing the next thing that you miss the thing right in front of you.

Be present.

Appreciate the little moments, like the random conversations that lead to new learnings or even life changing events. The late-night laughs with friends and family. The long trips with unexpected outcomes.

Because someday, those are the things you’ll remember most.

The work you do will matter.

But in the end, your life won’t be defined only by what you accomplished.

It will be shaped by the relationships you built, the people who changed you, and the impact you had on others.

So go chase big dreams.

Take chances.

Be brave enough to grow. Try to get a little better at life every day.

But never get so busy building a life that you forget to truly live one.

And no matter where life takes you, never forget this:

People may not remember every success you had. But they will always remember how you made them feel.

So make it count. Don’t take anything or anyone for granted.

Maybe that’s the advice all of us need sometimes—not just graduates.

Slow down.

Be present.

Build meaningful relationships.

And remember that while life moves quickly, the moments and people we invest in are what matter most.

Best of luck-you got this-and onward and upward!”

I hope this resonated with you! What would you say to graduates if you had the chance?!

Congrats to all graduates and their families on this momentous occasion!

Have a great week!

Coach K