It's commencement season!
Actress Oprah Winfrey presented the commencement address at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. "I want to talk about my dream for you because I have been so blessed to live inside the dream of God." She said she figured out that she had learned "how to lean into life." She talked about choices to fulfill their lives. She assured the graduates that they had learned how to "make the right choices." She drew a personal connection: a member of her Leadership Academy was graduating that day.
She stated her thesis at the outset: "Every decision I've ever made that led me to the right space and place in my life, I got there because I relied on that inner voice, the truth of me." She related personal experiences about her own decisions that she made according to her instincts and "inner voice." This is very important. Like many graduation speakers, Winfrey was making very abstract points. To illustrate those points with stories makes them come alive.
Winfrey also introduced the concept of "intention." It is not just a matter of what someone does or seeks, but also what their intention is. Winfrey illustrated this point by discussing a horrifying example of teenage domestic violence. She explained that she makes every decision only after getting in touch with her own inner intentions. "There is nothing more powerful," she explained, "than you using your personality to serve the calling of your soul. Everyone of us has been called to the planet . . . to use more of you to bring forth the light." She emphasized that people are spiritual beings. This is not, she said, not necessarily religion, but rather a contact with one's inner self.
Speaking techniques: Winfrey repeated the phrase "inner voice" frequently throughout the speech. Beginning speakers might be reluctant to repeat themselves. This is tricky, as a speaker doesn't want to ramble. But Winfrey's artful repetition reinforced her theme. She spoke very slowly, carefully emphasizing words with her voice: never speaking loudly, but pausing, stretching out important words, and varying speed: sometimes a bit faster, sometimes very slow. People often take you more seriously when you speak slowly. She paused frequently, and some of the pauses were very long. Just as I urged my students for many years, Winfrey marked the sections of her speech with clear, sharp transitions. Vivid personal stories illustrated her points.
A good ceremonial speech is never mere fluff. The idea of a good commencement speech is to honor the graduates, but also to address basic values to live by. Oprah Winfrey is much in demand as a commencement speaker. She is always a good choice.
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