It’s graduation season. At ceremonies across the country, valedictorians, salutatorians, student council presidents, and school administrators are giving speeches to commend millions of high school graduates on their good work, encourage them to savor this moment of achievement, and go forth in a spirit of gratitude and pride.
Typically, these speeches rarely stray from pre-approved messages stressing inclusion, positivity, and general affirmations. After going through the gauntlet of censors, what mostly comes out is nearly always some mix of platitudes about seizing opportunities, enjoying the journey, and persevering through adversity. Nevertheless, in past years, the speeches still expressed the students’ own voice on some level — and I would know since I was usually the one teaching them how to write.
