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My Highschool Reflections Before Graduation

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How to Write a High School Graduation Speech (+ Examples)

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

I was in several clubs in high school, I was the valedictorian, and I happened to be the youngest in our graduating class. Needless to say, I had to write and give more than one speech at our graduation.

Being asked to give a graduation speech in high school is a tremendous honor and responsibility. It takes a lot of preparation, from planning to writing and editing your speech.

My guide should show you how to write a graduation speech for high school, especially with the examples I’ve included. Follow the template and tips, and you’re sure to receive a standing ovation from your audience.

How Long Is a High School Graduation Speech?

The best high school graduation speeches aren’t long and boring since the ceremonies already take hours. Aim for an address that doesn’t exceed 10 minutes. Keep your audience’s attention and save some for other people’s speeches.

Your graduation speech should only be around 500 to 600 words. You have to read it slowly and articulate the words clearly. One way to keep it shorter is by removing cliches and other unnecessary content.

High School Graduation Speech Template

Essays and speeches usually have three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is a structure you can follow for a memorable high school graduation speech.

Introduction

• Thank people for attending. Acknowledge the presence of your teachers, parents, and fellow graduates.
• Introduce yourself. Not everyone in the room knows you, even if you’re the class valedictorian.
• Catch the audience’s attention by sharing a motivational quote or saying. Your personal narratives and advice will later be based on this saying.
• Recall memorable high school experiences. Anything is worth sharing, whether it’s a simple day in class or your debate competition.
• Encourage classmates not to forget these beautiful memories.
• Share helpful advice for this new chapter of their lives.
• Restate the quote or saying you mentioned in the introduction.
• End with a call to action that will encourage the graduates to make a difference.
• Thank the audience for hearing you out.

How to Write a Graduation Speech for High School

Public speaking takes a lot of preparation. Here are some tips you should follow when writing and delivering a graduation speech for high school.

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Pick a Theme

Inspirational high school graduation speeches leave a mark on people. If you want to create one, try building it around a central message.

Think about everything you experienced in high school and look for patterns. Was high school about learning from mistakes? Or was it about achieving big dreams with small steps? Consider not only what is essential to you but also what is important for your fellow graduates.

Once you have picked a theme, selecting a quote, including advice, and recalling high school memories will be much easier. Here are some popular themes you can consider using for yours, but make sure to choose ones that are relevant to you and/or your class.

• Embracing failure
• Big things take time
• Achieving big dreams with small steps
• Facing change with grace
• Overcoming adversity
• Becoming a lifelong learner
• Being more intentional and responsible for your future

Begin With Gratitude and a Self-Introduction

Once you step on stage, you must start with a few formalities. Know the name of the previous speakers and acknowledge their excellent speeches. Then, thank everyone in attendance, including the teachers, parents, and fellow students.

Say it’s a privilege to speak before the audience on this special day. This is also the best time to introduce yourself.

Don’t assume that everyone in the room knows who you are. State your name and why you were tasked to create the speech. Below is an example.

“Thank you, Mr. Jones, for the wonderful speech. And thank you to the parents, teachers, staff, and fellow graduates in this room who have made the past four years unforgettable. It’s a pleasure to stand in front of everyone and represent the class of 2022 at this address. I am [name], your class valedictorian.”

Make It About Everybody But You

Your graduation speech is not a mini-biography of your accomplishments. Only sprinkle a few personal anecdotes, then include what the four years of high school have been like for the other students. Below is an example.

“Four years ago, we were freshmen walking through the doors of [school name]. While some of us want to be doctors, artists, engineers, and singers in the future, we all had one goal in mind during that time: to leave a mark on the school in the next four years.”

Recall High School Memories

Tap the ceremony’s nostalgia by recalling important events from the past four years. You can include prom, school fairs, and even mundane scenarios. Include hardships, such as the sudden shift to online classes during the pandemic.

If you are a valedictorian , you should know which memories everyone treasures. Try interviewing some of your peers about their best high school memories. Below is an example.

“Every batch of graduates from [school] has a common core memory. For us, it was probably prom 2022. Instead of getting our beauty sleep the night before the dance, everyone stayed in school until 8 PM because of the last-minute changes. While that experience was full of pressure and chaos, we look back on that memory remembering teamwork and dedication.”

Share Advice

Your advice is the most crucial part of the speech. It serves as a call to action the students will follow in the future.

Make sure to keep it positive and remind everyone that anything is possible. You can also advise them to advocate for others and treat everyone equally.

Here’s an example showing what I mean.

“The future is uncertain, and the only thing we can do is be optimistic about it. We learned to stay determined in the past four years, so we can do it again throughout college or our careers.”

Incorporate Your Personality

Just because you’re speaking for the rest of the class and following an outline doesn’t mean your speech should be boring. You can still infuse your personality through humor, anecdotes , and life experiences.

You can also open your address with something funny, as long as it’s appropriate and timely. If you’re a valedictorian, self-deprecating humor will be a hit. Try adding quirky memories from classes that will immerse your audience.

Leave Your Audience Inspired

You are not at the graduation to merely receive your diploma. As a speaker, you need to leave your audience inspired on the next chapter of their lives. Encourage them to find their purpose and make a difference in the world.

Some speakers end their speeches with another quote. Here is the one I used in my high school speech, but there are tons to be found on the internet you can use that might better suit your needs.

• “All our dreams can come true… if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney

Finally, thank everyone for taking the time to listen to your speech. Express gratitude toward your classmates for the memories over the last four years.

Proofread Your Work

Read your writing out loud and fix parts that don’t sound pleasing. Doing so will make your writing more powerful and precise. Look out for flowery language, excessive adjectives, and lengthy sentences.

When editing, make sure to remove cliches from your writing. These are words and phrases that have been overused in speech and writing. These include phrases like “all walks of life,” “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Try sharing more personal anecdotes and collective memories than tired pieces of advice. This will make the speech more interesting and customized for the audience. Find out what your fellow high school graduates and the rest of the audience want to hear and know, then write it concisely and effectively.

Once you’re done fixing clarity issues, it’s time to fix structural errors. Perform several edits on your speech to remove all spelling and grammar mistakes.

Practice Your High School Graduation Speech

There’s no exact formula for the perfect valedictorian or commencement speech. But if you follow my tips and examples and speak from the heart, your fellow graduates will live by your words as they go about their futures.

Remember to keep your engaging speech positive and inspiring. Recall memories from high school, then make them look forward to creating new ones in their careers or college.

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• 5 Common Types of High School Essays (With Examples)
• Last modified 2024-04-01
• Published on 2021-08-28

When it comes to high school essays, descriptive and narrative essays are very similar in the sense that they encourage writers to be creative in expressing their ideas. Expository and argumentative essays focus on providing clear information and making compelling points. Analytical essays require writers to present their arguments and are intended to enhance readers’ understanding of a topic, while persuasive writers try to persuade readers to accept a point of view.

In this article, we will go into detail about each one to help you better define the type and the writing method when you start writing.

1. Descriptive high school essays

A descriptive essay asks writers to describe something vividly —object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc., but more commonly, you will be asked to describe something abstract —emotions, experiences, or something outside of your typical experience.

A descriptive essay allows writers to be creative and have the freedom to express, especially when the topic is personal about them and what they care about, such as their favorite food or culture. Even though this sounds easy, this type of essay tests the writer’s ability to make appropriate word choices and have strong creativity to help readers visualize the overall picture of what they are writing about. A descriptive essay normally starts with introducing the subject or object of description, continuing with giving an overall picture, and then going into details. Additionally, understanding different points of view, as detailed in the Guide to Point of View in Writing , can greatly enhance the descriptive elements of the essay, providing varied perspectives and enriching the reader’s experience

Below is an example of a descriptive essay from Yourdictionary :

I watched a thunderstorm, far out over the sea. It began quietly, and with nothing visible except tall dark clouds and a rolling tide. There was just a soft murmur of thunder as I watched the horizon from my balcony. Over the next few minutes, the clouds closed and reflected lightning set the rippling ocean aglow. The thunderheads had covered up the sun, shadowing the vista. It was peaceful for a long time.

I was looking up when the first clear thunderbolt struck. It blazed against the sky and sea; I could see its shape in perfect reverse colors when I blinked. More followed. The thunder rumbled and stuttered as if it could hardly keep up. There were openings in the cloud now, as if the sky were torn, and spots of brilliant blue shone above the shadowed sea.

I looked down then, watching the waves. Every bolt was answered by a moment of spreading light on the surface. The waves were getting rough, rising high and crashing hard enough that I could hear them.

Then came the rain. It came all at once and in sheets, soaking the sand, filling the sea. It was so dense I could only see the lightning as flashes of light. It came down so hard the thunder was drowned. Everything was rhythmic light and shadow, noise and silence, blending into a single experience of all five senses.

In an instant it stopped. The storm broke. The clouds came apart like curtains. The rain still fell, but softly now. It was as if there had never been a storm at all, except for a single signature. A rainbow, almost violently bright, spread above and across the water. I could see the horizon again.

2. Narrative Essay

A narrative high school essay is similar to a descriptive essay but focuses more on the story description rather than the object description. The story can be about a personal experience that the writer has had, an event, a story, or an incident. Writers can even narrate a fictional experience that they haven’t had. Narrative essays are typically written in the first person. For example, the personal statement high school students must write for college applications.

The purpose of a narrative essay is not only to tell a story, but also to highlight the importance of the experience. Therefore, to write a perfect narrative essay, writers must include the elements of settings, context, plot, ending, and climax.

We have an example from a student’s work, which was published on the blog: People’s Republic of Creativity

Glup, glup.

I sat watching the plunger slowly make its way down the tube and into Miriam’s body. Inside the tube was a clear unknown liquid that would soon be injected into my own body. This was the third time this week, the twelfth time this month, and who knows how many times since we have been trapped in this hell on earth. Each day, we have only been given the bare minimum of food, water, and sleep. I don’t know how much longer we can survive before deemed useless by him.

Miriam fell out of her chair and onto the cold concrete floor, screaming in pain. She scrambles for something she can grasp onto to prop her malnourished body up. Then the piercing sound just suddenly stopped. Her thin arms that look only of bones and skin drop to the ground and she lay still on the floor, as if she were…dead. Please don’t tell me she’s dead! No, she couldn’t be; we promised each other to live until the day of liberation.

She needs to live.

It was my turn. He walked over with a syringe full of what had just been injected into Miriam. I try to focus on the red, black, and white badge on his left arm instead of letting the fear crawl in and take over my brain. But the unsettling tension stirs my thoughts around and around.

“Twin A1387, let’s hope what happened to your sister doesn’t happen to you.” He smirked. The needle pierced through my skin and my body was suddenly aflame. The raging blaze spread through every one of my veins, until I was shrouded in darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in an empty confinement. The space next to me, the space for Miriam, was empty too. Where was everyone? Most importantly, where was Miriam?

I got up and set my bare foot onto the dirty, wooden floor. Suddenly, my head started spinning and along with it, the world spun too. I fell to the ground, and when I could finally lift my head, what I saw above me terrified me. It was him, death in human form, and beside him were four of his helpers. They grabbed my arms and forced me to stand up.

“Good morning A1387. I am afraid your dear twin sister couldn’t handle the injections from yesterday. Let’s hope your fragile little limbs can endure those chemicals. I wonder how many more injections it will take for you to meet your pathetic sister,” he said, patting my head. His tone was playful, but deadly.

I froze. What? Miriam…dead? That one word, “twins”, has taken away everything of what feels like my past life, and now my last hope? I felt a surge of anger, hatred, sadness, fear, devastation swirling inside me like boiling lava in a volcano, ready to erupt. I wanted to scream, to shout, to kill him, but I couldn’t. My soft limbs felt as if they would collapse merely by trying to stand up. They would be harmless and defenceless against the Angel of Death. When he saw the hatred on my face, he started laughing hysterically and simply said, “What a shame; she was only 13. I cannot wait to see how long it will take for you to fall apart!”

3. Expository Essay

According to Purdue University , the expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. To accomplish this, writers use the method of comparison and contrast, definition, example, cause and effect, etc.

Writers are not required to argue or make a personal opinion but to present balanced and well-organized facts and figures.

In an expository essay–as the name suggests–you need to expose the particular subject in question by providing enough information. It is an informative piece of writing that provides a balanced analysis of the topic. It does not contain any personal opinion; instead, it is based on real facts and figures. Therefore, this kind of high school essay is commonly assigned in high school or college in order to test students’ familiarity with a topic and ability to convey information.

This is an example from College Board’s SAT Writing Prompt.  

In response to our world’s growing reliance on artificial light, writer Paul Bogard argues that natural darkness should be preserved in his article “Let There be dark”. He effectively builds his argument by using a personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions.

Bogard starts his article off by recounting a personal story – a summer spent on a Minnesota lake where there was “woods so dark that [his] hands disappeared before [his] eyes.” In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter about night darkness, the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess. He builds his argument for the preservation of natural darkness by reminiscing for his readers a first-hand encounter that proves the “irreplaceable value of darkness.” This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims.

Bogard’s argument is also furthered by his use of allusion to art – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – and modern history – Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light”. By first referencing “Starry Night”, a painting generally considered to be undoubtedly beautiful, Bogard establishes that the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite. A world absent of excess artificial light could potentially hold the key to a grand, glorious night sky like Van Gogh’s according to the writer. This urges the readers to weigh the disadvantages of our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting. Furthermore, Bogard’s alludes to Paris as “the famed ‘city of light’”. He then goes on to state how Paris has taken steps to exercise more sustainable lighting practices. By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2 AM”. This furthers his line of argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to preserve natural darkness. It shows that even a city that is literally famous for being constantly lit can practically address light pollution in a manner that preserves the beauty of both the city itself and the universe as a whole.

Finally, Bogard makes subtle yet efficient use of rhetorical questioning to persuade his audience that natural darkness preservation is essential. He asks the readers to consider “what the vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” in a way that brutally plays to each of our emotions. By asking this question, Bogard draws out heartfelt ponderance from his readers about the affecting power of an untainted night sky. This rhetorical question tugs at the readers’ heartstrings; while the reader may have seen an unobscured night skyline before, the possibility that their child or grandchild will never get the chance sways them to see as Bogard sees. This strategy is definitively an appeal to pathos, forcing the audience to directly face an emotionally-charged inquiry that will surely spur some kind of response. By doing this, Bogard develops his argument, adding gutthral power to the idea that the issue of maintaining natural darkness is relevant and multifaceted.

Writing as a reaction to his disappointment that artificial light has largely permeated the presence of natural darkness, Paul Bogard argues that we must preserve true, unaffected darkness. He builds this claim by making use of a personal anecdote, allusions, and rhetorical questioning.

4. Argumentative Essay

The argumentative high school essay is similar to the expository essay, because it requires writers to present their evidence-based arguments. Writers have to present a thesis statement, gather and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic. Many people think argumentative and expository essays are the same. They belong to a similar genre, but an argumentative essay requires more research than an expository essay. An expository essay is normally used in the SAT test, because test takers are required to investigate and present points from the prompts given. An argumentative essay is generally used in a final project or a capstone, which requires length and detailed research. The essay is divided into 3 parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction has a topic and thesis statement, the body has evidence and arguments, and the conclusion summarizes the arguments and potential directions for future research.

Below is an example from a GRE writing answer from ETS : 

Prompt : The best ideas arise from a passionate interest in commonplace things

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement above and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how those considerations shape your position.

Passion is clearly necessary for a truly great idea to take hold among a people—passion either

on the part of the original thinker, the audience, or ideally both. The claim that the most lucrative

subject matter for inspiring great ideas is “commonplace things” may seem initially to be counterintuitive. After all, aren’t great ideas usually marked by their extraordinary character? While this is true, their extraordinary character is as often as not directly derived from their insight into things that had theretofore gone unquestioned. While great ideas certainly can arise through seemingly pure innovation… say, for example, Big Bang cosmology, which developed nearly all of its own scientific and philosophical precepts through its own process of formation, it is nevertheless equally true that such groundbreaking thought was, and is, still largely

a reevaluation of previous assumptions to a radical degree… after all, the question of the ultimate nature of the universe, and man’s place in it, has been central to human thought since the dawn of time. Commonplace things are, additionally, necessary as material for the generation of “the best ideas” since certainly the success among an audience must be considered in evaluating the significance and quality of an idea.

The advent of Big Bang cosmology, which occurred in rudimentary form almost immediately upon Edwin Hubble’s first observations at the Hooker telescope in California during the early 20th century, was the most significant advance in mankind’s understanding of the universe in over 400 years. The seemingly simple fact that everything in the universe, on a very large scale, is moving away from everything else in fact betrays nearly all of our scientific knowledge of the origins and mechanics of the universe. This slight, one might even say commonplace, distortion of tint on a handful of photographic plates carried with it the greatest challenge to Man’s general, often religiously reinforced, conception of the nature of the world to an extent not seen since the days of Galileo. Not even Charles Darwin’s theory, though it created more of a stir than Big Bang cosmology, had such shattering implications for our conceptions of the nature of our reality. Yet it is not significant because it introduced the question of the nature of what lies beyond Man’s grasp. A tremendous number of megalithic ruins, including the Pyramids both of Mexico and Egypt, Stonehenge, and others, indicate that this question has been foremost on humankind’s collective mind since time immemorial. Big Bang cosmology is so incredibly significant in this line of reasoning exactly because of the degree to which it changed the direction of this generally held, constantly pondered, and very ancient train of thought.

Additionally, there is a diachronic significance to the advent of Big Bang cosmology, which is that, disregarding limitations such as the quality of optical devices available and the state of theoretical math, it could have happened at any point in time. That is to say, all evidence points to roughly the same raw intellectual capacity for homo sapiens throughout our history, our progress has merely depended upon the degree of it that a person happens to inherit, a pace that has been increasing rapidly since the industrial revolution. Yet this discovery had to happen at a certain point in time or another—it cannot have been happening constantly or have never happened yet still be present—and this point in time does have its own significance. That significance is precisely the fact that the aforementioned advent must have occurred at precisely the point in time at which it truly could have occurred—that is to say, it marks the point in our history when we had progressed sufficiently to begin examining, with remarkable substantiated acuity, the workings of the universe across distances that would take millions of human lifetimes to reach or to traverse. The point for the success of this advent must necessarily have been, additionally, the point at which the audience concerned was capable and prepared to accept such a radical line of reasoning.

Both factors, a radical, passionate interpretation of the commonplace and the preparedness to accept such an interpretation, are necessary for the formulation of a truly great idea. If the passion is absent from an inquiry by the thinker or by the bulk of an audience, the idea will die out if it comes to fruition at all. If the material is not sufficiently commonplace to be considered by an informed audience of sufficient size, the same two hazards exist. Given these two factors, the idea must still be found palatable and interesting by the audience if it is to hope to gain a foothold and eventually establish itself in a significant fashion.

5. Analytical Essay

An analytical essay is a writing genre that provides an in-depth analysis of a topic, ranging from art, music, and literary text to politics, science, and philosophy, etc. Analytical essays can boost a writer’s writing skills and overall comprehension of a topic while helping readers become more educated about the subjects of importance. This type of essay does not aim to persuade readers to a certain point of view but rather to provide a well-rounded and comprehensive analysis for the readers. The analytical essay is normally used in the GRE writing section.

A good analytical essay includes a thesis statement stating your main argument, followed by an analysis of your thesis and supporting evidence. Here are the 7 Steps to Write a Literary Analysis Essay .

We will take an example from a student’s work about CRISPR, a genetic engineering method. The full essay can be accessed here , but below is the preview of the essay:

No matter how much money people are willing to pay for health care, they may still suffer terribly from incurable diseases such as AIDS and cancer because of the underdevelopment of medical technology. However, today, the advancement in human knowledge has led to the introduction of human gene-editing, turning impossibility to possibility. In particular, the recent technology for genome editing called CRISPR has been having a groundbreaking impact on research in genetic science. This is due to its remarkable potential to simply cure genetic diseases in an embryo before they have a serious effect on further developmental progression. Although currently, there have been numerous debates regarding its extension in research for widespread uses, CRISPR is a completely promising technology because of the benefits it brings to people.

CRISPR, or Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, is the newest innovation in genetic engineering. The way CRISPR works is similar to “the scissor-like action of Cas 9 to target… any specific DNA sequence” (Baylis and Rossant). By making cuts in specific locations in DNA, CRISPR can cure diseases and make alterations in an embryo’s DNA, which prevent diseases from being passed down to following generations (Baylis and Rossant). Throughout the history, governments and researchers came up with different approaches politically and scientifically in attempt to control population. They hoped to encourage the “richest, wisest and healthiest to breed like rabbits” and the “sick, stupid, and poor to take one for the empire and remain childless” (Comfort 28). The second attempt happened during the 20th century, when the U.S government passed the law preventing marriage and immigration that would threaten a perceived core American “stock.” Another more extreme example was when Nazi sterilization law further advanced this population control approach. Later in the century, a biotechnological approach was established as a safer and more humane way to manage population health (qtd in Comfort 28). “Gene surgery,” which is similar to CRISPR technology, was established and followed by contentious debates regarding ethical issues between disease treatment and human trait enhancements. Currently, there has been a halt in the use of CRISPR because of the increase in concern from the public about the pros and cons of this technology.

Further reading: 

• Where to Submit Your Writing Works: 5 Main Platforms
• 6 Differences between High School and College Writing
• 20 Tips to Improve Your Writing
• Guide to Point of View in Writing
• 10 Mistakes High School Students Make in Creative Writing
• How to Overcome Writer’s Block in High School Writing Competitions

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This course helps students develop and improve their writing skills to prepare students for higher education courses. The methodology emphasizes the ability to read critically, think critically, and write critically. Students will learn informative, narrative, descriptive, creative, and persuasive essay writing skills. Students will learn how to brainstorm, structure and outline, form an argument, defend it, incorporate academic sources, and develop a clear, articulate writing style. The focus will be on the writing process, intended audience, consistent tenses, point of view, correct grammar uses, building vocabulary, appropriate style, and proper research and citation protocols.

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer!

High school students generally do a lot of writing, learning to use language clearly, concisely, and persuasively. When it’s time to choose an essay topic, though, it’s easy to come up blank. If that’s the case, check out this huge round-up of essay topics for high school. You’ll find choices for every subject and writing style.

• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics
• Compare-Contrast Essay Topics
• Descriptive Essay Topics
• Expository and Informative Essay Topics
• Humorous Essay Topics

Literary Essay Topics

• Narrative and Personal Essay Topics
• Personal Essay Topics
• Persuasive Essay Topics

Research Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics for high school.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember to do the research and lay out the facts clearly. Your goal is not necessarily to persuade someone to agree with you, but to encourage your reader to accept your point of view as valid. Here are some possible argumentative topics to try. ( Here are 100 more compelling argumentative essay topics. )

• The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
• The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
• All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.
• Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
• The best country in the world is …
• Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
• Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
• Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

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• Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
• Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
• Does social media do more harm than good?
• Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
• What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
• Do we really learn anything from history, or does it just repeat itself over and over?
• Are men and women treated equally?

Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics for High School

A cause-and-effect essay is a type of argumentative essay. Your goal is to show how one specific thing directly influences another specific thing. You’ll likely need to do some research to make your point. Here are some ideas for cause-and-effect essays. ( Get a big list of 100 cause-and-effect essay topics here. )

• Humans are causing accelerated climate change.
• Fast-food restaurants have made human health worse over the decades.
• What caused World War II? (Choose any conflict for this one.)
• Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

• How does playing sports affect people?
• What are the effects of loving to read?
• Being an only/oldest/youngest/middle child makes you …
• What effect does violence in movies or video games have on kids?
• Traveling to new places opens people’s minds to new ideas.
• Racism is caused by …

Compare-Contrast Essay Topics for High School

As the name indicates, in compare-and-contrast essays, writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. The following ideas work well for compare-contrast essays. ( Find 80+ compare-contrast essay topics for all ages here. )

• Public and private schools
• Capitalism vs. communism
• Monarchy or democracy
• Dogs vs. cats as pets

• Paper books or e-books
• Two political candidates in a current race
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time
• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• iPhone or Android
• Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Bring on the adjectives! Descriptive writing is all about creating a rich picture for the reader. Take readers on a journey to far-off places, help them understand an experience, or introduce them to a new person. Remember: Show, don’t tell. These topics make excellent descriptive essays.

• Who is the funniest person you know?
• What is your happiest memory?
• Tell about the most inspirational person in your life.
• Write about your favorite place.
• When you were little, what was your favorite thing to do?
• Choose a piece of art or music and explain how it makes you feel.
• What is your earliest memory?

• What’s the best/worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
• Describe your favorite pet.
• What is the most important item in the world to you?
• Give a tour of your bedroom (or another favorite room in your home).
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Lay out your perfect day from start to finish.
• Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
• Tell what it would be like to live on the moon.

Expository and Informative Essay Topics for High School

Expository essays set out clear explanations of a particular topic. You might be defining a word or phrase or explaining how something works. Expository or informative essays are based on facts, and while you might explore different points of view, you won’t necessarily say which one is “better” or “right.” Remember: Expository essays educate the reader. Here are some expository and informative essay topics to explore. ( See 70+ expository and informative essay topics here. )

• What makes a good leader?
• Explain why a given school subject (math, history, science, etc.) is important for students to learn.
• What is the “glass ceiling” and how does it affect society?
• Describe how the internet changed the world.
• What does it mean to be a good teacher?

• Explain how we could colonize the moon or another planet.
• Discuss why mental health is just as important as physical health.
• Describe a healthy lifestyle for a teenager.
• Choose an American president and explain how their time in office affected the country.
• What does “financial responsibility” mean?

Humorous Essay Topics for High School

Humorous essays can take on any form, like narrative, persuasive, or expository. You might employ sarcasm or satire, or simply tell a story about a funny person or event. Even though these essay topics are lighthearted, they still take some skill to tackle well. Give these ideas a try.

• What would happen if cats (or any other animal) ruled the world?
• What do newborn babies wish their parents knew?
• Explain the best ways to be annoying on social media.
• Invent a wacky new sport, explain the rules, and describe a game or match.

• Imagine a discussion between two historic figures from very different times, like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I.
• Retell a familiar story in tweets or other social media posts.
• Describe present-day Earth from an alien’s point of view.
• Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
• Describe a day when kids are in charge of everything, at school and at home.

Literary essays analyze a piece of writing, like a book or a play. In high school, students usually write literary essays about the works they study in class. These literary essay topic ideas focus on books students often read in high school, but many of them can be tweaked to fit other works as well.

• Discuss the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Explore the symbolism used in The Scarlet Letter .
• Explain the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
• Compare and contrast the romantic relationships in Pride and Prejudice .

• Dissect the allegory of Animal Farm and its relation to contemporary events.
• Interpret the author’s take on society and class structure in The Great Gatsby .
• Explore the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia.
• Discuss whether Shakespeare’s portrayal of young love in Romeo and Juliet is accurate.
• Explain the imagery used in Beowulf .

Narrative and Personal Essay Topics for High School

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use some of the same techniques that you would for a descriptive essay, but be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative essay doesn’t necessarily need to be personal, but they often are. Take inspiration from these narrative and personal essay topics.

• Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
• Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
• Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
• Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Describe a time in your life when you’ve been scared.

• Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
• Tell about a time when you overcame a big challenge.
• Tell the story of how you learned an important life lesson.
• Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.
• Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
• What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
• Retell a familiar story from the point of view of a different character.
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Tell about your proudest moment.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience, so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try these topics to persuade someone to come around to your point of view. ( Discover 60 more intriguing persuasive essay topics here. )

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• The best music genre is …

• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is capitalism the best form of economy?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?

A research essay is a classic high school assignment. These papers require deep research into primary source documents, with lots of supporting facts and evidence that’s properly cited. Research essays can be in any of the styles shown above. Here are some possible topics, across a variety of subjects.

• Which country’s style of government is best for the people who live there?
• Choose a country and analyze its development from founding to present day.
• Describe the causes and effects of a specific war.
• Formulate an ideal economic plan for our country.
• What scientific discovery has had the biggest impact on life today?

• Analyze the way mental health is viewed and treated in this country.
• Explore the ways systemic racism impacts people in all walks of life.
• Defend the importance of teaching music and the arts in public schools.
• Choose one animal from the endangered species list, and propose a realistic plan to protect it.

What are some of your favorite essay topics for high school? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the ultimate guide to student writing contests .

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Graduation — Life After High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

Life after High School: Setting Goals and Exploring Career Options

• Categories: Graduation High School

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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The importance of setting life goals, the significance of career exploration.

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12 Benefits of Graduating High School Early

Posted on April 21 2020

One of the biggest myths about high school is that it takes four years to earn your diploma. In fact, a growing number of students are completing the requirements for a high school diploma a semester, or even a full year, early. While there are many good reasons for experiencing four years of high school, there are just as many benefits of graduating high school early. Here’s a look at 12 ways students can gain an advantage by wrapping up their high school responsibilities in less time than the standard four years.

Not every rewarding career requires a college degree. Many trades, such as electrician, plumber, and construction worker, begin with on-the-job apprenticeships and other forms of training. However, as U.S. News & World Report explains, every graduate needs to have a plan in place for life after high school, whether they finish in four years or sooner.

School counselors understand that each student’s situation is unique, and in many cases, the decision to pursue early graduation relates to their family’s financial situation. One characteristic that counselors consider essential for students who plan to graduate early is a high level of maturity. Taking on real-world responsibilities requires both a post-graduation plan and the will and dedication to stick with the plan through challenging times.

Many high school students who choose to graduate early do so to pursue their postsecondary education at an institution that allows them to enroll midyear or even a year early. Getting a jump-start on earning a college degree allows students to enter the workforce a year or more ahead of their classmates. Early enrollment in college is especially beneficial to athletes who want to begin training in their sport at the college level as soon as possible. However, for many students who enter college before their high school classmates, the greatest benefit is the ability to reduce the cost of higher education by applying the same approach to college, earning an undergraduate degree in fewer than four years.

The one-size-fits-all curriculum of many high school programs fails to engage advanced students and make the best use of the time they spend in the classroom. A major benefit of graduating high school early for these students is the opportunity to study topics and material that will allow them to progress faster in their chosen fields. Colleges offer much broader curricula that students can use to craft a custom program of study, allowing them to hone their academic skills and kindle the excitement they feel about getting started in their careers.

The maturity required for pursuing early graduation is also a common reason for wanting to make a quick exit. By necessity, high schools tend to be rigidly structured learning environments because most high school students are not yet capable of taking full responsibility for their own education, let alone the duties that come with life after high school. For many students, gaining the freedom to make decisions for themselves is the main benefit of graduating high school early.

Students who test out of high school courses and finish ahead of schedule can make an impression on college recruiters and potential employers. Along with a high grade-point average and high scores on the SAT and/or ACT exams, the effort required to complete their high school requirements in fewer than four years gains the attention of college recruiters. In addition, the New England Board of Higher Education states that students who entered college early tended to be high achievers who outperformed the general student population: the GPA of early entrants averaged 3.6 in their freshman year, compared with 2.9 for all students, according to 2017 data.

Not all education takes place in classrooms, labs, libraries, and study halls. Earning a high school diploma early opens opportunities for graduates to pursue interests outside of school. Many students spend a gap year between high school and college or work traveling around the world, while others spend this time working or volunteering in their community before entering college at the same time as their peers on the standard four-year high school schedule.

Few high schools can match the range of subjects that colleges and universities offer their students. Once a person has discovered the field they want to pursue as a career, they can tailor their elective courses to match their interests. Whether the goal is to study a technical subject, an area of the arts, or a particular medical specialty, students are more likely to thrive when they are engaged in subjects they’re passionate about and making progress toward their career goals.

The last year of high school leaves some students suffering from a malady known as “senioritis,” which saps their enthusiasm for just about everything related to high school. Graduating early can help reinvigorate students by allowing them to focus their efforts on college or work opportunities. 

Fresh U, a site dedicated to preparing students for their first year of college, highlights the benefits of graduating high school early for one student whose case of senioritis threatened to derail her hopes for college. She had finished her most difficult high school courses, had her final ACT score, and knew which colleges she intended to apply to, but the prospect of another full year of high school filled her with dread. After a single meeting with her school counselor, she was able to reduce her senior year to a single semester.

The same student whose cure for senioritis Fresh U described also discovered another benefit to early graduation: the first half of her school day was spent at a local technical institute that allowed her to earn 6 credit hours toward her college degree. While many high schools offer advanced placement courses that qualify for college credit, they aren’t the best option for all students. Similarly, schools may offer dual enrollment in both high school and college; the New England Board of Higher Education reports that 28 states now allow colleges and universities to “host” high school seniors for a full freshman year of college.

A primary benefit of earning college credit before enrolling is being able to spend less on tuition and other college expenses. By applying the same effort that got them out of high school early, students can earn a college degree without having to pay the cost of a full four-year enrollment.

A growing number of states are attempting to stretch their education budgets by offering high school students incentives for early graduation. Secrets to School Success reports that the state of Indiana now offers high school students $4,000 if they graduate at least one year early, and several other states, including Utah, Idaho, Minnesota, and South Dakota, provide scholarships for students who graduate early and subsequently enroll in a “state-approved college.”

No matter the path students embark on after completing high school, education will be a big part of their lives. Professions of all types require continuous education to keep pace with changes in their industries. Students will need to take advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and training throughout their careers.

It isn’t unusual for students to be “done” with the high school experience long before their senior year. There’s much to be said for experiencing the rituals of high school — receiving your diploma, going to prom, hanging out with friends — but t here are many good reasons for students to finish high school early. Students can make the most of the benefits of graduating high school early by taking advantage of the online high school courses offered by The American Academy .

The American Academy caters both to students hoping to supplement their coursework at a faster pace through individual course offerings and students hoping to enroll in a different school altogether to complete their degree. Learn more about the benefits of online high school with The American Academy.

Recommended Readings

How to Do Well on a Test: Preparation Tips & Resources

7 Tips for Establishing a Successful Home School Schedule

Managing High School Stress: 5 Key Tips

Family Times, “Ditching High School: How I Graduated Early and Saved My Sanity”

Fresh U, “ How Graduating High School Early Changed My Life” 

Frugal Rules, “How to Save Money on College by Graduating a Semester Early”

New England Board of Higher Education, “Early to College, Likely to Rise? Benefits and Challenges of Early College Programs”

Odyssey, “13 Reasons Why Graduating High School Early Was My Best Decision”

Secrets to School Success, “14 Pros and Cons of Graduating Early from High School”

U.S. News & World Report , “How to Graduate from High School Early”

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Should You Graduate Early From High School?

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If you are an exceptional student and have exhausted all of your school’s course offerings, graduating early from high school may seem like an appealing, but daunting idea. So how do you go about finishing your high school career early and getting a head start on college? Read on for CollegeVine’s advice on how to decide if graduating early is the right path for you and how to navigate the process.

How do you graduate early from high school?

To start with, it is important to keep in mind that this option is intended for the most talented students who have taken advantage of everything their high school offers. You should have advanced to the AP, IB, or honors levels in all of your major subjects and excelled in them. (For more information on the importance of taking a challenging curriculum, check out our post, Should I Take AP/IB/Honors Classes? )

If your school doesn’t offer AP or IB courses, you should be trying to challenge yourself in other ways such as by taking community college courses and participating in pre-college or other academic summer programs . In fact, some high schools may allow you to use these courses as prerequisites or in place of requirements.

Whether or not you are able to graduate early also depends on your high school. Some schools may not allow it, and even if they do, they need to review your individual case to make sure you are a qualified candidate. You will need to fulfill all your requirements for graduation in a truncated time frame, which may require some advance planning. If you come up short meeting your requirements and have enough time to compensate, you might try summer school or other courses outside your high school. Your school may also have additional requirements that you need to meet; again, this varies by high school.

Advantages of graduating early

If you are an advanced and especially mature student, a college environment may be more intellectually stimulating, and could offer challenges you may not be able to find in high school. And if you have already exhausted the resources your high school and community college have to offer, graduating early may open up some more interesting opportunities.

You may have other motivations for graduating early, such as problems at home or in school, which might make leaving for college seem more attractive. However, you should keep in mind that starting college early isn’t necessarily a quick fix, and presents many other challenges.

Disadvantages of graduating early

Graduating early may have some downsides, too. It can be overwhelming trying to finish your graduation requirements ahead of schedule. It can also be socially isolating to be on a different path from your friends and peers.

Additionally, you will have less time to develop a competitive college application profile. If you are taking many classes simultaneously, you may not be able to achieve grades as high as those you could achieve if you had more time to devote to individual classes. You also won’t have as much time for extracurricular activities, and could potentially miss out on leadership opportunities .

You will also miss out on many perks seniors enjoy, such as ceremonies, prom, and other opportunities for recognition. Additionally, you may not be eligible for certain awards and scholarships that are limited to graduating seniors. And you may simply not be ready—emotionally or academically—for college life.

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Action steps to take if you’re interested in graduating early

If you are interested in graduating early, you should start by speaking to your guidance counselor about your plans and if early graduation is permitted at your school. You will also need to review your high school’s graduation and course requirements carefully to make sure you are on track. If there are more courses you need to take, consider whether you have enough time to complete them. Don’t force the plan if it’s going to cause you undue stress; you don’t want to become so overwhelmed that your grades and life outside school suffer. (For more advice on balancing your time in high school, check out CollegeVine’s guide .)

You should also look into other options, such as taking classes at a local college or online while you are still in high school. There might be other continuing education classes available in your community as well; talk to your guidance counselor for ideas and look online for more ideas.

Consider how graduating early will affect your life in general. Will you be able to balance your social and family life with your workload? Will you have time for other commitments? Will it cause you unnecessary stress?

If you know other students who have graduated early, talk to them about your plans. They might be able to offer valuable insights about whether or not it’s a good idea and how to go about making it happen.

What comes next?

If you do plan on graduating early, you should also be thinking about what you are going to next. You could get a jumpstart on college, although some colleges may not admit students who graduate from high school early; be sure to review the rules at the colleges to which you plan on applying and discuss them with a representative from the colleges.

There are some college programs that are specifically targeted to students who graduate early from high school, such as Simon’s Rock College at Bard . This might be a good transitional option for some students.

Another option to consider is taking a gap year. As we discuss in this guide , taking a gap year has several advantages, such as providing you with the opportunity to pursue other interests like volunteering or traveling before you start college.

The bottom line

Graduating early from high school can be great idea for some students, but you need to be academically and emotionally ready for it. While there are certainly some advantages, there are also significant potential downsides. It is important to discuss your decision with your guidance counselor, as well as other people who can provide advice and may be affected by your plans, such as your parents, teachers, and friends. Ultimately, it is a serious decision, and you need to make sure you’re doing it because it will contribute to your life positively—not just because you can.

For more tips on how to challenge yourself intellectually in high school, check out CollegeVine’s blog posts below:

Should I Take AP / IB / Honors Classes?

What If My School Doesn’t Offer AP or IB Courses?

What Should I Do If I Already Finished AP Calc / AP Lit Before My Senior Year?

How to Effectively Balance Your Time in High School

Effective Summer Activities

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to graduate high school early: 5 key steps.

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Are you a high school student who's thinking about graduating early? Maybe you have an exciting internship offer, want to start college early, or are interested in jumping right into the workforce.

The good news is that graduating high school early is often not as challenging as many people might think it is. This guide will give you all the tips and information you need to know about how to graduate from high school early in an easy and hassle-free way. It will also help you decide whether graduating early is ultimately the right decision for you.

What Does It Mean to Graduate High School Early?

In the US, the typical high school education lasts four years. Students who want to graduate early aim to complete their high school in less than four years , usually in three or three and a half years.

Unless you're homeschooled or attend a non-traditional school, it's often difficult or impossible to graduate high school if you have completed less than three years . This is because students normally can't complete all their graduation requirements in this tight of a time frame.

If you graduate early, you will receive the same diploma as any other graduate from your high school. Your transcript won't have any special indication that you graduated early , other than the fact that it'll contain fewer semesters than a typical high school transcript does.

Why Might You Want to Graduate Early? 4 Possible Reasons

What are the benefits of graduating high school early? Here are four of the most common reasons students strive to complete high school in less time.

#1: You Want to Start Your Next Education Phase Early

One common reason why students choose to graduate high school early is that they want to get a head start on college or technical school . You might want to do this if you have a lot of school left (say, you're planning on attending med school or getting a PhD) and want to get ahead so you can eventually complete your schooling a bit earlier.

You could also be interested in only attending college part-time but still want to graduate when you're 21/22. Completing high school early can help make each of these situations possible.

Graduating high school early can mean you enroll full-time (or even in just a few classes) at a new school. Students who enroll part-time often have a part-time job as well to help pay for classes.

#2: You Want to Pursue an Opportunity Before College

You might also have another opportunity you want to take advantage of that isn't related to school or classes. This could be an internship to get career experience, a job to earn money, or a similar opportunity you think is worth finishing high school early for.

Gap years , in which students take a year or so off from school to travel, work, or have a different experience, are becoming increasingly popular among high school and college-aged students. If you decide to do one, there are lots of options available, depending on your interests. You could work at a theater, help out at an archaeological dig, volunteer, and so on.

Spending a year away from school can help you get a better idea of how you want to spend the rest of your life —and it can also give you some great, enriching experiences.

#3: You Want to Enter the Workforce as Soon as Possible

Some high school students know early on what they want to do professionally and don't want or need to go to college in order to enter this field and be successful; as a result, you might want to graduate early so you can get started as soon as possible on establishing your career and earning a consistent income .

Entering the workforce at a younger age does come with its own set of challenges, of course (for example, you might find it difficult to get a full-time job if you're under 18), but it can be an ideal path for those who are ready to put in the energy and effort needed to find success.

Graduating high school early to start working might also be a good option for you if you want or need to start making money right away, whether to support yourself or your family .

#4: You Simply Don't Enjoy High School

A final reason you might want to graduate high school early is that you just don't enjoy it . Some people feel lonely or out of place in high school, and others don't feel that they're learning a lot.

This can be a legitimate reason to graduate high school early, but make sure you understand that it'll take time and effort on your part to plan it out , and you won't be able to finish high school immediately.

Disliking high school could be a reason to graduate early.

How to Graduate High School Early: 5-Step Guide

So, how can you graduate high school early? I've outlined the steps you need to follow below. There's a bit of math involved but nothing you can't handle. After all, you'll soon be a high school graduate!

Step 1: Decide When You Want to Graduate

This first step is pretty simple: all you need to do is decide how early you want to graduate high school . Do you want to graduate a semester early? An entire year? How long do you want to spend pursuing whatever it is you're doing instead of attending high school?

When figuring this out, keep in mind that it's often easier to graduate just a semester early than it is a whole year . If that doesn't seem like a long enough time to you, remember that even if you only graduate a semester early, you'll finish high school in December or January. If you start college the following September, that still gives you about eight months of time to work, travel, or pursue another opportunity.

If you still need help deciding, talk to your academic advisor. They're a great resource to have, and they'll likely be able to help make this process easier (not to mention, you'll have to let them know if you officially decide to graduate early, so you might as well start talking to them now).

Step 2: Calculate the Number of Credits You Need to Graduate

Now that you know when you want to graduate, it's time to get into the math. Almost every high school requires its students to complete a certain number of credits before they can graduate. Look in your student handbook or ask your academic advisor to find out how many credits your particular high school requires.

As an example, we'll use the high school I graduated from, which required its students to complete 21 credits, with each class worth about 0.5 credits per semester.

First, figure out how many credits you've already completed. You can usually find this information on your report card or transcript, or you can ask your advisor.

Next, subtract the number of credits you've completed from the number of total credits you need to graduate. The answer you get is the number of credits you'll need to take before you can graduate.

The good news for you is that the number of graduating credits for most high schools often doesn't require you to complete four full-time years of school . Again, for my high school, you needed to complete 21 credits to graduate, but a student attending high school full-time would complete about 7 credits each year, meaning most students at the end of their junior year would already have enough credits to graduate.

The number of credits you need to take isn't all you need to worry about, though, so let's move on to the next step.

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Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Step 3: Determine Which Classes You Need to Graduate

It's time to figure out the specific classes you need to take to graduate.

Look at your student handbook or talk to your advisor to learn which classes students at your high school must take in order to graduate. This will usually require a certain number of semesters of math, English, science, and social studies , as well as some possible other requirements, such as a gym or fine arts class.

Make a list of all the required classes you haven't taken yet. Sometimes the requirements are general, such as taking six semesters of math, while other times they're more specific (e.g., all students must take algebra and geometry). Pay attention to this when making your list. Be aware that most high schools require four years of English but fewer years of other core subjects.

To again use my former high school as an example, all students had to complete the following:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math
• 2-3 years of science
• 2 years of history/social studies
• 1 year of a foreign language
• 4 years of gym/PE
• A fine arts class, a typing class, a driver's education class, and a consumer education class

Which classes does your high school require you to take?

Step 4: Figure Out Which Classes the Colleges You're Interested in Require

Now, we move on from classes that you must take in order to graduate to classes that it's a good idea for you to take (but aren't actually required).

Many times, the bare minimum high school graduation requirements aren't enough to get you into top colleges. For example, your high school might only require you to take two years of social studies, but the colleges you're interested in might want three to four years.

Check the admission requirements for several colleges you're interested in attending , and add any additional requirements they have to the list of classes you need to take in high school.

Keep in mind that you'll want to take more classes in the subject(s) you plan to study in college. So if you're planning on majoring in biology, you might be fine taking just three years of social studies; however, you'll probably want to take four years each of math and science if you're hoping to get into more competitive schools .

Step 5: Set Up a Schedule for When to Take the Rest of Your Classes

Now that you know how many credits you need to take and which classes you need to complete, it's time to start figuring out how you'll graduate high school early.

Make blank schedules for each semester you have left of high school. For example, say I just finished my sophomore year: I take seven classes a day and want to graduate a semester early. I'd make three columns, each with seven blank spaces, representing all the room I have left to take classes (see example below).

Next, begin filling in the blanks, starting with the classes that are required to graduate. For each class, put its number of credits next to it in parentheses. For some spots, you might not know exactly what class you'll be taking next, but you can put its general subject down for now like this: "English class (3 credits)."

After you've filled in required classes (and if you have extra space), start adding other classes you'd like to take or would be helpful for you to get into college.

Once all the spaces on your schedule have been filled in, add up all the credits you will have completed . Have you met the minimum requirement for your school? If not, how many classes will you need to take to meet it?

After, look at what classes are left over on your list. Are there any required classes you weren't able to fit? Any classes you don't have to take but would like to?

If you need to take either additional credits or classes, start thinking of ways you can fit them in outside of the normal school day. Some options include summer classes , taking classes at a nearby community college or university , or taking online classes . For each of these options, discuss it with your advisor before you enroll to ensure you'll get the required credit(s) you need.

Once you've figured out how you'll take each of these extra classes, add the information to your schedule.

Look at the junior- and senior-year schedule below for an example of how this all works:

In this example, the student would be able to graduate a semester early while having a course load that would be considered strong at many colleges . This student is planning on majoring in biology, so she wanted to maximize her math and science classes. Her junior-year schedule was pretty normal with the exception of taking two science classes (physics and AP Biology) at the same time. Taking two classes in one subject is something you'll likely have to do if you want to graduate early.

She realized that she wouldn't be able to fit in calculus normally, so she chose to take it over the summer. For her final semester, she took two English classes at the same time, took both a math elective and a science elective to get more experience in those subjects, and completed the rest of her required classes.

Assuming she had a regular schedule her previous semesters, she would have completed four and a half years of science, four and a half years of math, four years of English, three years of social studies, three years of a foreign language, and all her other required classes.

Completing those classes would be good enough for most colleges, though some highly selective schools would require four years of both social studies and a foreign language.

Notice that she had a lot of different options when creating her schedule —she could have dropped her foreign language and taken a different course, chosen to take two math electives her senior year instead of calculus over the summer, and considered a variety of other options.

Also, be aware that her junior year would probably be pretty challenging with her full course load that includes two science classes. Keep all these things in mind when creating your own high school class schedule.

Once you've finished designing your schedule, double-check it to make sure that all the school graduation requirements are met .

Congratulations—you now have a plan for graduating high school early! If you haven't before now, share your plan with your advisor and ask whether there are any additional steps you should take.

3 Potential Drawbacks to Graduating High School Early

You now know how to graduate high school early, but just because you can doesn't automatically mean that you should . Read on to learn the three potential drawbacks you might face should you choose to graduate early.

#1: It Can Be Stressful

As you saw above, graduating high school early takes a lot of planning and might mean you have to take extra classes during the school year and summer . Balancing this heavier course load can be stressful and tiring, and that's something you should consider before you commit to graduating early.

#2: You Might Miss Out on Important Events

Another potential drawback to graduating high school early is that you might miss out on special high school events.

For many high school students, senior year is their favorite year because of popular activities like homecoming and prom. If you graduate early, you might not be able to participate in these events. Additionally, you might not attend a graduation ceremony, which is an important experience for many students.

Before you decide to graduate early, think about how you'll feel if you see all your friends participating in events such as sports games, school dances, and senior days while you don't. For some people, this isn't important at all—but for others, they'd regret missing out on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

#3: It Won't Necessarily Impress Colleges

Lastly, don't try to graduate high school early to impress colleges. Just by itself, finishing high school in a shorter amount of time won't give your college applications a boost. In fact, if graduating high school early means you have fewer classes in core subjects, it could even hurt your chances of admission!

Unless you have plans to spend your time at a great internship or another exciting opportunity that will really show colleges who you are and what your skills are, colleges won't see graduating high school early as a sign of increased intelligence or motivation.

Don't expect colleges to be automatically impressed that you graduated early.

Should You Graduate High School Early?

You know how you can plan to graduate from high school early—but should you actually do it?

The main way to decide this is to think about what you'll do during the time you'd normally be in high school . If you have a great opportunity you'd like to take advantage of, such as an internship, a travel experience, college classes, or something similar, graduating high school might be a good idea.

However, if you plan to spend your time mostly watching TV or maybe working a few hours a week, it's probably in your best interest to graduate when you normally would.

Next, go through all the steps above. Is it possible for you to graduate early while also taking all the classes you need to and would like to without stretching yourself too thin? If you've found answers to both of the above considerations, graduating high school early might be something for you to start planning.

What's Next?

Thinking about summer school as a way to complete some of your graduation requirements? Check out our complete guide to summer school to learn whether it's a good option for you.

Do you think you go to a bad high school? Learn what your options are if you aren't happy with your current school .

Taking an independent study can be a great way to fulfill some of your graduation requirements. Learn how to take an independent study class with our expert guide.

What's the benefit to graduating high school early vs dropping out? Find out with our article on whether or not you need a high school diploma .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Essay on My Plans After Graduation

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Plans After Graduation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

My goals after school.

After I finish school, I want to keep learning. I plan to go to college and study to be a teacher. I love helping others and think teaching kids would be a great job for me.

Traveling Dreams

I also dream of traveling to see new places. I want to visit different countries, learn about other cultures, and make new friends from around the world.

Helping My Community

Lastly, I want to give back to my community. I hope to volunteer at local places like libraries or animal shelters, because I believe in making the world a better place.

250 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

My future steps.

After I finish school, I have many ideas about what I want to do. First, I plan to take a short break to rest and think about my next steps. This time will help me relax after all the hard work in school.

Further Education

I am very excited to keep learning. So, I plan to go to college. I want to study subjects that interest me and can help me get a good job in the future. I will choose my courses carefully to make sure I enjoy what I am studying.

Getting a Job

I also plan to find a part-time job. This will help me learn new skills that are not taught in school. It will also give me a chance to earn my own money and learn how to manage it.

I believe in giving back to the community. I plan to volunteer at local organizations. This will allow me to help others and make new friends.

Staying Healthy

Lastly, I want to stay healthy and active. I will join a sports team or a fitness club. This will be good for my body and mind.

In conclusion, after graduation, I look forward to learning more, earning some money, helping my community, and staying healthy. I am ready for these new adventures!

500 Words Essay on My Plans After Graduation

Introduction.

After I finish school, I have many ideas about what I want to do. Graduation is a big step that means I am growing up and can start making my own choices. In this essay, I will share my plans for what comes after I graduate.

Going to College

First, I plan to go to college. College is a place where I can learn more about the things I am interested in. I want to study subjects that will help me get a good job in the future. I also want to make new friends and learn about different cultures. College will help me become smarter and more ready for the world.

After college, I want to find a job that makes me happy. I hope to work in a place where I can use what I learned in college. I want to help people and make a difference in the world. I know that finding a job can be hard, but I am ready to work hard and be patient.

I also dream of traveling to new places. Traveling helps us see new things and learn how other people live. I want to visit different countries, try new foods, and speak new languages. I think traveling is a good way to learn, and it can make me a better person.

Helping My Family

My family is very important to me. They have helped me so much, and I want to give back to them. After I graduate and start working, I plan to help my family with money and other things they need. I want to make them proud and show them that their support was worth it.

Saving Money

Saving money is another big plan I have. I want to save money for things like a house and to have a family one day. It’s important to think about the future and be ready for whatever comes. I will try to be smart with my money and save a little bit every time I get paid.

Staying healthy is something I want to keep doing after I graduate. This means eating good food, exercising, and going to the doctor when I need to. Being healthy helps us do our best in life. I plan to join sports or go to the gym to stay fit and strong.

In conclusion, my plans after graduation are all about growing up and taking care of myself and my family. I want to learn more, work hard, travel, help my family, save money, and stay healthy. I am excited for the future and ready to start this new part of my life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Personal Ethics
• Essay on My Parents Is My Hero
• Essay on My Mother My Hero

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Graduation wishes: what to write in a graduation card.

Hats off to graduates! Whether they’re earning a diploma, a program certificate, a degree or even a cool new professional title, their hard work deserves some warm, thoughtful words of recognition and encouragement.

Maybe you’re experiencing one of those “Class of Everyone!” years where you have a lot of graduation cards to send. Or maybe you just want some fresh ideas for what to write in a card for one special graduate. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark .

You can read the whole guide or jump straight to the specific ideas you need. Whichever way you go, we hope our ideas help you add a little pomp to all your graduation-card circumstances!

• Congratulations
• Look to the Future
• Graduation During a Difficult Time
• When You Can Be There
• When You Will Not Make It
• Give Advice
• For a Family Member
• Warm Closings

Find tips for crafting your own special graduation message and get some real life examples from Hallmark Senior Writer Courtney Taylor in the video below or skip straight to the graduation wishes using the links above.

Congratulations  

There’s no need to deliver a whole commencement address in your card. “Congratulations” is a great basic message, and it’s easy to say even if you don’t know the graduate well. Here are some ideas for going a word or two beyond to warm up and personalize your congratulations.

More casual

• “Congratulations and BRAVO!”
• “This calls for celebrating! Congratulations!”
• “You did it! Congrats!”
• “Caps off to you, Graduate! Well done!”
• “What a proud day! We just couldn’t be happier for you!”
• “What an impressive achievement!”
• “Happy Graduation Day!”
• “Good looks, brains, heart and now a diploma too? You’ve really got it all! Congrats!”
• “You did the damn thing, Grad! SO proud.”
• “The community, the church, your family and especially your mama could not be prouder of you.”
• “You deserve all KINDS of high fives and hugs! You worked hard and got it done.”
•  “¡Bravo! ¡Felicidades en tu graduación!”

More formal

• “Congratulations on your well-deserved success.”
• “Warmest congratulations on your graduation.”
• “Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for your next adventure!”
• “So happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day, and so very proud of you, too!”
• “With love and pride today and always,”
• “Prayers and blessings on your graduation and for your future.”
• “Tu graduación es la recompensa de todo tu esfuerzo. ¡Muchas Felicidades!”

Helpful tip: If the card you’ve chosen already has “congratulations” printed, follow it with an ellipsis […] and add to the “congratulations” message.

Look to the Future  

Graduation is the perfect time to look ahead, offer encouragement and express optimism and excitement about the graduate’s future. And you don’t even need a crystal ball to do it!

• “Hope you’ll always find yourself as happy and full of big, crazy dreams as you are today!”
• “Hope you’re able to take a well-earned rest, vacation—whatever kind of break sounds like fun. You’ve earned it!
• “You’re going to be a star! Congratulations!”
• “You deserve to see your dreams come true…congrats!”
• “This definitely won’t be the last time I get to brag about you.”
• “I’m so happy for you, even if this does mean you’re an [add school mascot here] for life.”
• “You’ve stepped up on the world stage ready to be a star. Love to see your shine!”
• “¡Lo lograste! Que todos tus sueños siempre se hagan realidad.”
• “I’m sure today will be only the first of many proud, successful moments for you.”
• “Sending warm congratulations today and wishing you all the best at Michigan State in the fall!”
• “Congratulations today and best wishes for all your tomorrows.”
• “I just know life has even more wonderful things in store for you.”
• “Today, the field of education gains a very promising new addition. Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck in your teaching career!”
• “Can’t wait to see where life will take you next. Wherever it is, our prayers go with you!”
• “¡Muchas felicidades! Tu actitud triunfadora te seguirá llevando muy lejos.”

Helpful tip: Let your relationship be your guide if you decide to write a lighthearted message. If humor is part of how you communicate with the graduate in everyday life, then feel free to be your funny self when you sign the card.

Graduation During a Difficult Time  

Graduation is supposed to be a time of joy, but sometimes life has other ideas. Here are some message ideas for when difficult personal, family or broader circumstances make it impossible to celebrate the way you and the graduate would have hoped.

When Commencement Is Canceled

• “Of course, we’re disappointed we won’t get to watch you walk across the stage like we’d always dreamed—but that just means we’re going to celebrate you even bigger as soon as we get the chance!”
• “Even though graduation is going to look different for you, the achievement is still the same. You’ve put in the same hard work. You’ve learned and grown so much. And I couldn’t be prouder.”
• “We’re sorry you’ve had to let go of the graduation ceremony and celebrating you’ve been looking forward to for the past four years. We wish it could have been different, but we want you to know we’re still so proud of you and what you’ve achieved.”
• “It’s going to take more than a canceled graduation ceremony to stop me from blowing an air horn in your honor. Way to go, Grad!”
• “You are still celebrated for this amazing accomplishment.”
• “Aunque por el momento no podemos celebrar tu graduación, celebramos con orgullo tu logro.”

When the Graduate Is Struggling

• “Congratulations on your graduation. I wish it could have happened at a happier time for you, but I hope it helps to know how loved you are and how proud you’ve made all of us who care about you.”
• “You might not feel up to celebrating as you graduate, but we hope you do feel the pride, caring and good wishes surrounding you right now.”
• “This is not how I pictured your graduation going, but you sure are the strong, resilient person I always imagined you’d grow to be. Anytime you don’t feel strong, please know you can lean on me.”
• “As you graduate, you’re in all my proudest and happiest thoughts…and in my most caring, heartfelt prayers, too.”
• “Sé que ahorita estás pasando por un mal momento, pero quiero que sepas que eres una persona que inspira a todos a su alrededor, y que se te desea todo lo mejor en tu graduación y siempre.”

When the Future Feels Uncertain

• “You’re graduating at a tough time, but I believe in my heart that better days are coming. It may take some time, but I hope you can hang in there and keep believing, too.”
• “Someday you’ll look back and think, Wow, I graduated at the strangest time ever… Until then, we’ll be here for you, cheering you on, looking forward to wherever life takes you next, and feeling so proud of you.”
• “Graduation cards are supposed to wish you a bright future, but right now, I’m all for taking things one day at a time. I hope you’re able to do that, too. Especially today, I hope you can just enjoy all the pride and good wishes coming your way.”
• “Praying for you as you graduate—for pride today, hope for tomorrow, and for love and support to go with you always.”
• “Your talent is still your talent. Your hard work is still your hard work. Your dreams are still your dreams. You will help turn the world right side up again. Because you are still that amazing.”
• “Hard work, talent, drive and vision will always outlast tough times. That’s how I know you’re going to make the world what you want it to be.”
• “Recuerda que Dios está contigo hoy que te gradúas y siempre. Él te guiará y te acompañará a cada paso.”

Helpful Tip: It’s okay to be real in the face of hard circumstances. If the real you would say “This sucks,” then write “This sucks.” But don’t leave it at that. Try to take your message in a more hopeful, caring direction from there.

When You Can Be There  

If you’re going to be at the commencement ceremony or a part of the celebration afterwards, you might choose to focus your message on the pride and fun of sharing in the graduate’s big day.

• “Congratulations, Jamal. It means so much to be a part of your graduation day!”
• “WOO-HOO! We’re thrilled to be celebrating your graduation with you!”
• “First I get to see you walk across the stage. Then there’s a party? Awesome!”
• “Your whole village is stomping their feet and shouting your name right now, Kendrick.”
• “¡Qué alegría poder ser parte de tu graduación!”
• “So happy we could be here to watch you graduate with honors. It’s an honor to share in such an important day.”
• “It’s my great privilege to know you…to think about all you’ve achieved…and to be with you on your graduation day.”
• “You’ll always remember this day and so will all of us who were here cheering you on. Best of luck to you always!”
•  “¡Muchas felicidades! Es un privilegio poder acompañarte en tu graduación.”

When You Will Not Make It  

Even when you can’t make it to the commencement ceremony or reception, you can still make your presence felt by letting the graduate know you’re with them in spirit.

• “Congratulations on your high school graduation, Tyler! Wish we could be there to see it.”
• “I wish I could be at your graduation to give you a hug and tell you in person how proud I am of you.”
• “Even though we’ll miss seeing you in your cap and gown, we would never miss this chance to tell you we’re proud of you.”
• “I feel a shout coming on! You can probably hear me from all the way over here. Congrats, Grad!”
• “Sending warm thoughts and big congratulations to a graduate we’re so very proud of.”
• “Thinking of you with love and pride on your graduation day.”
• “Our warmest thoughts and highest hopes are with you as you celebrate your graduation.”
• “Ojalá pudiera estar en tu graduación para decirte en persona que mi corazón está lleno de un orgullo inmenso por ti.”

Writing tip: When you can’t be there in person, you don’t have to include an apology in your personal message. Just the act of sending the card lets the graduate know you’re thinking of him or her.

Give Advice  

Graduation is a good time for the kind of advice that’s more about building people up than bossing them around. Keep your advice general, upbeat and encouraging, and it will be appreciated.

• “Always remember: There’s no limit to what you can do if you keep believing in yourself.”
• “Take pictures. Take your time celebrating. Take it easy for a while. Then get ready to take on the world!”
• “It took a lot of hard work to reach this goal. You had to show up every day, whether you felt like it or not. I hope you feel great about what you’ve accomplished, and I hope you’ll continue to be a person who shows up day in and day out for those things that are worthwhile and important in life.”
• “Graduation is like a bridge to the next part of your life, and everything that got you here—hard work, drive and confidence—is going to carry you across to the future you deserve.”
• “Para alguien como tú ningún sueño es imposible de cumplir. Eres muy especial y tu determinación te llevará muy lejos.”
• “May you always dare to do great things with your life.”
• “Keep on growing. Keep adding to the goodness and beauty in the world. Keep developing those unique dreams and talents that make you who you are!”
• “At my graduation, our commencement speaker challenged us to be lifelong learners, and that’s my advice for you as you graduate. Whatever you do, never stop learning, exploring, growing and challenging yourself to be your best.”
• “Sigue esforzándote para alcanzar todas tus metas. Tu graduación es solo el comienzo de un futuro lleno de posibilidades.”

Writing tip: What’s the best life advice you’ve ever received? Or, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned so far? Answering either of those questions might be the perfect lead-in to a meaningful graduation message.

For a Family Member  

When it’s a family member graduating—whether it’s your sibling, your child, your niece or nephew, your cousin or even your parent—you might want to add an extra measure of warmth and pride.

• “Your graduation day is a proud day for you and a dream come true for our family.”
• “Congrats on graduating summa cum laude! I’m beyond proud to be related to someone so smart.”
• “Know what makes your graduation extra special? It’s having watched you grow up, having so many good memories of you and knowing all the challenges you’ve worked through to get to this day.”
• “Tu graduación es un día de orgullo para toda la familia, ¡así que vamos a celebrar!”
• “Congratulations, with love for the grandson you are and with pride in the amazing person you are becoming.”
• “It seems like just yesterday you were just a kid starting high school…now you’re a confident young man about to receive your diploma. It’s been our joy to watch you grow and achieve so much these past four years. Hope you know how proud we are and how much we love you.”
• “It’s a beautiful thing, watching the daughter we’ve always loved growing up and getting one step closer to her dreams. Congratulations, with all our love,”
• “Es maravilloso verte crecer y alcanzar tus metas. Te queremos mucho y estamos muy orgullosos de ti.”

Helpful tip: It’s probably most natural to share a memory of the graduate, but you could also share a memory from your own life experiences or graduation—anything that would be relevant to the graduate and fun or meaningful for him or her to read.

Warm Closings  

A warm closing is like the bow on top! Choose one of ours, or create your own.

• Lots of love,
• Love always,
• Much love to you,
• Best wishes!
• Best wishes for your future,
• All life’s best to you,
• Congratulations!
• Congratulations and best wishes,
• Warmest congratulations,
• Gratefully,
• God bless you,
• God bless you now and always,
• ¡Felicidades!
• greeting card messages
• Additional contributions by Ellen Brenneman, Cindy Phillips and Melvina Young.

Keely Chace is a Hallmark Master Writer who loves reading, running and spending time with her husband and daughters. She shares writing tips in her "What to Write" series on Hallmark & Community.

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100 Best Graduation Wishes to Write in the New Grad's Card

Say "congratulations!" to the class of 2024 with these inspiring words.

Graduations are one of the first big milestones in a person’s life. Depending on the school, this academic accomplishment can start as early as preschool, followed by elementary school, middle school, high school, and of course, college. No matter what grade the graduate in your life is completing, it’s a momentous occasion worthy of praise and celebration. How do you honor your shining scholar?

From funny quotes to encouraging sentiments , these congratulatory messages and well wishes will let your graduate know how happy and proud you are of them. Whether it’s your witty fifth grader moving up from elementary school or sentimental teenager graduating from high school — these inspiring, wise words will be well received.

Of course, you can use them verbatim or simply as inspiration to spark ideas to write your own personal message. In addition to being written inside of a card, they can also be shared as thoughtful texts or as uplifting Instagram captions . No matter how you share them, the lucky graduates of 2024 will know that you’re cheering them on as they embark upon their next exciting chapter.

Looking for graduation gift ideas? Check out these Good Housekeeping gift guides:

Best Preschool Graduation Gifts | Best Kindergarten Graduation Gifts | Best High School Graduation Gifts | Best College Graduation Gifts | Best Graduation Gifts for Her | Best Graduation Gifts for Him

Sweet Congratulatory Wishes

• Congratulations, you make me so proud!
• You did it! Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment.
• You’re destined for success. Nothing can stand in your way!
• There was never a doubt that you wouldn’t become the super successful person you are today! Congrats!
• Enjoy your special day because you’ve earned it! Congratulations.
• Wishing you nothing but the best as you embark on this new journey.
• Congrats! Keep making us proud. We know that you’re just getting started!
• You continue to inspire us every day. Congratulations!
• We wish you an abundance of health, wealth and
• Congratulations! Your future shines brighter than the sun in August.
• Caps off to you, graduate!
• Congratulations! This is only just the beginning. You’re a star in the making!
• Congratulations on your big day! Know without a doubt that you were made for great things.
• Congratulations! We are so proud of you.
• Congrats, you did it!
• This calls for celebrating! Congratulations!
• What an impressive achievement!
• Wishing you all the best on your graduation day.
• Good luck on your new beginnings!
• Woo hoo! Good for you! Congrats!
• Congratulations on your well-deserved success.
• Your ambition is so inspiring! Congrats!
• We knew you could do it! Congrats!
• Congratulations! No one deserves this more.
• Major snaps and claps on your graduation.
• Your hard work definitely paid off. Congrats.
• Here's to your next adventure. Make it be as awesome as you.
• Congrats! May your future be as bright as your smile!
• Sending you good vibes and positive energy for your post-graduation life.

Funny Graduation Messages

• Now that you’ve graduated, what are you going to do with all those sticky notes now?
• Now that you’ve graduated, does that mean all your partying days are behind you? We sure hope so!
• It’s a miracle you reached this milestone after all the goofing off you did. Good job, sport!
• I guess barely getting by pays off. Cheers to you!
• Did you pay your teachers for your diploma? C’mon, you can tell me!
• Congrats! Welcome to the real world. Trust me, it’s not what you think.
• You were always good at surprises! Graduating is your best one yet.
• Who did you hire to take all of your tests? They should be the ones walking across the stage. Oh well, I guess you paid extra to do the walking.
• My deepest condolences on the end of your college life.
• And the hard work starts .... now!
• All that work for a piece of paper?
• We’re just as shocked as you that this day has come.
• Congrats! It's time to move out.
• Sure, there’s no more pencils, no more books. But there’s also no more fun.
• Congrats on getting through the easiest part of life.
• I lost a bet. You graduated.
• The tassel was worth the hassle! You did it!
• Cap. Gown. It’s going down. Congrats!
• I always knew you would barely graduate, well done!
• Congratulations, have fun dressing up in a gown and silly hat!

Inspirational Graduation Messages

• This milestone is just a steppingstone for more successes to come!
• Never stop believing in yourself. You’ve already proven that nothing can stand in your way when it comes to accomplishing your dreams.
• Stay focused and you can achieve anything. You’re already a shining example. Congrats!
• There’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it. Hats off to you!
• Success doesn't always come easy. Remember to always do your best no matter what.
• You’re on your way to seek new vistas, dream new dreams, embark on who you are. Remember to embrace life with passion and keep reaching for the stars.
• The road ahead will have its share of obstacles, but you’re incredibly ambitious and strong to overcome anything that comes your way.
• Chasing a dream requires hard work, passion, and many sacrifices. We can’t wait to see you accomplish everything your heart desires.
• Nothing can stop you now. Your next adventure awaits, and we’re excited to see where it leads you.
• Today is only the first of many amazing moments and I know life has many more in store for you.
• May your feet always take you where your heart wants to go.
• Remember, if opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
• Congratulations! Don’t think of this as an ending, but rather, an exciting beginning.

Offerings of Wisdom

• There are no shortcuts to true success. Keep working hard and the rest will follow!
• Life is full of surprises. Take them in stride and never lose sight of your goals.
• Challenges and setbacks are a part of life. Learn how to manage your reactions to difficult situations and you’ll be unstoppable.
• Be curious and bold as you forge through life, and you’ll never go wrong.
• You’ll continue to soar as long as you stay true to yourself.
• Never chase other people’s dreams. You’re unique and so are your aspirations.
• Remain humble, work hard and it will pay off.
• Never stop growing, exploring, learning, and challenging yourself.
• School may be over, but life’s lessons are yet to be learned. Keep an open heart and mind. Happy graduation!
• The journey of life brings both challenges and chances. May you snatch the chances and beat the challenges. Congratulations on graduating.
• Graduation isn’t the end of a tough journey. It is the beginning of a beautiful one. Start each day believing in yourself and watch the magic happen.
• Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticize, wait. And, before you quit, try.
• Be bold, be courageous, be your best.
• Graduation isn’t the end of a tough journey. It is the beginning of a beautiful one.

Graduation Messages for Sons and Daughters

• I remember when you were finger painting, now you’re graduating! You’re all grown up now.
• Cheers to all our late-night study sessions. Clearly, those all-nighters paid off!
• Seeing you walk across the stage brings me to tears, but I couldn’t be happier. Congratulations.
• Your big day is finally here. Relish your accomplishment and cherish the memories.
• I can’t believe you’re ready for this next phase of life. I’m confident that you’re prepared to tackle whatever lies ahead.
• I’ve watched you grow into a mature, responsible and confident young adult. You’re well on your way to achieving even greater success!
• From when you were little to this very day, you continue giving us reasons to hold our heads up in pride. Congratulations on your achievement!
• It seems like just yesterday you were just starting school and now, you’re receiving your diploma. It’s been a joy to watch you grow and achieve so much these past four years.
• It's true what they say, time flies, but I'm glad we've created incredible memories together that I'll cherish forever. Congratulations, graduate!
• I closed my eyes for but a moment and suddenly you stood where my baby used to be. I may not carry you now in my arms, but I will always carry you in my heart. Congratulations on this special achievement.
• Know what makes your graduation extra special? It’s having watched you grow up, sharing amazing memories with you, and knowing all the challenges you’ve worked through to get to this day. You did it, kid.

Famous Quotes

• “You will find true success and happiness if you have only one goal. There really is only one, and that is this: To fulfill the highest, most truthful expression of yourself as a human being.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “Just go for it. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to start it. Nothing is ever perfect, but it can’t be improved until it exists.” — Issa Rae
• “Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.” — Hillary Clinton
• “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” — Nelson Mandela
• “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
• “Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.” — Michael Josephson
• “Now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for you being here. Make good art.” — Neil Gaiman
• “Go forth and set the world on fire.” — St. Ignatius Loyola
• “There is no excuse to wait a day to do what you want to do and to change the way that you want to change." — Sophia Bush
• "Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. You've got to take risks." — Denzel Washington
• "You don't have a job? Get one. Any job! Don't sit at home waiting for the magical opportunity. Do something until you can do something else."— Shonda Rhimes
• "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." — Nora Ephron

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'Shattered Ice' filmed in Needham, Randolph tackles suicide in wake of real-life tragedy

RANDOLPH — Between 2004 and 2009, five teenagers died by suicide in Needham, Massachusetts. Twenty years later, two Needham High School graduates are producing a film inspired by these tragedies in an attempt to raise awareness about mental health.

Written and produced by longtime friends and Needham High alumni Jake Miskin and Ben Stephen, Shattered Ice is a small-town New England hockey drama that centers around a group of friends who have to navigate life after losing their best friend and teammate to suicide.

" Shattered Ice is inspired by my own high school experience at Needham High School in Massachusetts between 2004-2009, where we lost multiple students to suicide," said Miskin, who began writing the script for the film more than 10 years ago.

"This fictional story is an amalgamation of experiences and events that took place while I was in high school, with a few creative liberties taken. We lost friends, we picked each other up, and we went to a hell of a lot of high school hockey games," he said.

While the plot of the film is kicked off by the tragic suicide of a young man, the message of the film is ultimately one of hope, highlighting the importance of community and togetherness in times of tragedy.

Tragedy at Needham High School

Between 2004 and 2009, five Needham teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 took their own lives. Several of the parents of the teens who died spoke to the media about their children to raise awareness about mental health and suicide.

A 19-year-old Needham High School graduate took his own life in November of 2004 , on the same day that another 13-year-old student at Pollard Middle School in Needham also died by suicide . In October 2005, a 17-year-old Needham High School student became the third student in a year's span to die by suicide . And in April 2006, another 17-year-old at Needham High School also took his own life. Then in 2009, an 18-year-old Needham High School graduate died by suicide .

Fathers raise awareness Needham fathers talk about coping with sons' suicides

Both Miskin and Stephen were high school students when the suicides occurred. While the characters in Shattered Ice are entirely fictional, Miskin was able to use his experience as a witness to these suicides as inspiration for the script.

"Because we were in high school, it breaks that sense of innocence pretty sharply. It wakes you up to the reality and tragedy inherent in the world," said Stephen.

The experience of writing and producing a film based on that experience allowed the men, and ultimately, the fictional characters, to face their trauma and grief in a different way than they had been able to at the time.

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Shattered Ice

While the premise of Shattered Ice was inspired by the tragic Needham student suicides, the film is an entirely fictional story that follows main character Will Mankus, played by Charlie Gillespie, as he copes with his friend and teammate's suicide.

"Our main character goes through a cycle of what not to do, certainly, before he is able to pull himself back up and face that trauma and grief head on," said Stephen. "The big message is that nobody should ever go through that experience alone. There are always people around you that can help you through it," he said. "You never know who that person is going to be, so having the willingness to talk to someone, whether it be a coach, sibling, friend, teacher, principal, or a therapist or psychologist, but just the willingness to have a dialogue with someone."

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Getting the hockey scenes right

Equally as important as communicating those heavier themes surrounding mental health and suicide was creating an exciting sports drama, said Miskin.

"I always wanted to tell a story about the culture of hockey in New England," he said. "The goal of this film is to start the conversation to end the stigma of suicide and mental health, but also tell an awesome hockey story. We want this to ultimately be optimistic and hopeful."

"The film is, of course, an attempt to convey a message about mental health and start a conversation, but it's also not lost on us that this is a sports movie as well," said Stephen.

According to Director Alex Ranarivelo, it was important to show the characters within the hockey community coming together to have difficult conversations about mental health.

"In the sports world, where being tough and kicking ass is valued above all else, perhaps what takes the greatest courage is showing vulnerability," he said. "This message is why I wanted to tell this story."

"There's not a lot of stuff out there in the media landscape that allows for young men to be vulnerable about their feelings. There can be a tough guy attitude, especially in the sports community, that you should, 'Be a man and just deal with it.' That's obviously not a very healthy way of going about things," said Stephen.

"I think what's inside these characters is a bit of an accounting of how we dealt with things and how we could have done better."

On Jan. 24, the crew and cast filmed some of those hockey scenes at Zapustas Ice Arena in Randolph.

"We had a really incredible hockey technical advisor, skating cameraman, and elements to make the sports part of it pop. Most of the players in the film are actually local guys that are talented young players."

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Production timeline

A few years ago, Miskin's script got the attention of Hope Givers , a non-profit organization that helps storytellers produce content on issues related to mental health.

“Their mission is storytelling that normalizes the conversation around mental health, so we fell right in line with them," said Miskin.

Through the organization's fiscal sponsorship program for filmmakers, Miskin was able to take his story from script to screen and began filming this past January.

“It was quite a surreal experience to be able to film a movie inspired by the town that we grew up in, in the town that we grew up in, more or less, obviously, with the exception of Randolph and a few other locations," said Stephen.

With filming officially done, Miskin and Stephen said they hope to have a final cut done by the end of the summer, but without a distribution deal for the film, a release date is still up in the air.

"We anticipate having some kind of finished cut by the end of the summer, which we will then submit to festivals and begin the process of finding a distributor," said Miskin.

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What to Wear to a Graduation

Here’s some advice on how to dress appropriately as a guest at a high school or college commencement.

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While, of course, the graduate will be the center of attention that day, there's no reason you can't look your best for the ceremony.

Key Takeaways

• Consider the weather and setting.
• You can be appropriately dressed and comfortable at the same time.
• It's better to overdress than underdress.

When dressing to attend a college or high school graduation ceremony, keep in mind that you’re going to see graduates receive degrees or diplomas and other recognition after major investments of time and energy. It’s a celebratory but serious occasion, and you want to show up appropriately attired. 

That generally means a more polished look elevated above ordinary streetwear, such as professional or at least business casual pieces – avoiding items like jeans, shorts and sneakers. 

Context is important, so consider the event’s setting, season, cultural norms and any traditions the particular school may have as you assemble your outfit. 

Setting and Season  

Dress for the season: the weather is typically warmer in the spring, when most graduations are held, though it may be on the cool side. The location and setting of the graduation ceremony can also be a factor in what you wear. Theaters and basketball arenas have different considerations, as do football fields, gardens and other outdoor venues. 

Clothes made of medium- or light-weight fabrics are more comfortable in stadium bleachers under a sweltering sun, for example, while weightier textiles or more layers may feel better in an air-conditioned theater. 

The idea is to look appropriate and also be comfortable, understanding that comfort is a function of quality, season-appropriate fabrics and proper fit.

Cultural Norms and School Traditions  

Despite a continuing trend toward more-relaxed dressing in most settings, graduations in the U.S. are still a time for business attire or at least smart business casual. This shows respect for the gravity of the event as an educational and personal milestone marked by formal gowns for graduates and – at the college level – similarly formal academic regalia for faculty and administrators. 

Though typically less formal than college commencements, high school graduations are still on the dressier side, given graduates’ traditional caps and gowns and the professional attire of administrators. 

Although it’s uncommon, some schools, such as private or more affluent schools – prep schools, military academies and Ivy League institutions – may have even more formal dress norms or traditions. These are typically unwritten and may require some proactive questioning, but the expectation is a more elevated, polished look. It wouldn't hurt to reach out to a school if you suspect this might be the case. 

Here's a good rule of thumb: Better to overdress than underdress.

What Not to Wear to a Graduation 

Here are some examples of looks that are too casual to wear when attending a graduation ceremony:

• Athletic wear
• Leisure wear

Sample Graduation Outfits  

Business suit featuring a jacket over pants or a skirt 

Dress with or without a complementing jacket 

Skirt with a sweater twinset or blouse 

A dress in a neutral, print, or fashion color 

Graduation Fashion (Women)

Suit and dress shirt with or without a tie 

Sport coat or blazer with dress shirt and slacks 

Sweater with shirt, necktie, and dress slacks 

Dress khakis with a dress shirt and sport coat or blazer 

Graduation Fashion (Men)

What Should the Graduates Wear?

Although graduates will be seen in robes, it still matters what they wear underneath. The key is to not overdress, because those robes tend to be notoriously warm.

Winning options for women are a dress, jumpsuit, skirt and blouse, or a nice top over dress slacks. High hemlines and plunging necklines can be saved for a less serious occasion. Sandals are fine – go for strappy heels or a flat gladiator or bejeweled style rather than flip-flops.

For men, dress pants, a long-sleeve dress shirt and a dress shoe are easy and perfectly appropriate. A necktie can be a nice addition. If you opt for a suit, have someone hold your jacket until you're out of the robe so you'll be more comfortable. Skip polo shirts, luxury-style T-shirts (because it's still a T-shirt), sneakers, lug-soled shoes like work boots and sockless looks.

What should children wear?

Think in terms of outfits that mirror what parents are wearing. Although kids are often impatient with dressier outfits, especially young children, they can probably survive being dressed to impress for a few hours. Skirts and dresses are appropriate for girls, as are jumpsuits, which can be elevated with a cute sweater or jacket. Meanwhile, difficulty getting boys in suits has made room for a suitable alternative – slacks and a button-up shirt and either a jacket or tie. 

Are some graduations dressier than others?

Yes. Generally, college commencements are more formal than high school graduations, which means something for attire. Many colleges and larger universities have multiple graduation ceremonies that vary in size, particularly for doctorate and other advanced degree programs such as medical and law schools. The smaller the gathering and the higher the credential earned, the more you’re better off dressing up. 

Is it OK to wear a hat?

If the ceremony is outdoors, a hat can provide protection from a blazing sun. Just make sure it’s not so large that it obstructs the view of guests sitting near you. A man wearing a hat to a graduation ceremony should remove it if he goes indoors.

What about wearing school colors or school-branded clothing?

Either is a great way to honor the institution while honoring the graduates. Branded choices are plentiful, with occasion-appropriate options ranging from a lapel pin to a scarf or crested blazer.

School colors may be easier. For example, if the school colors are navy and white, think navy suit and white shirt – or vice versa – or a blue or white dress with a scarf or purse and shoes the other color. A garment that incorporates both colors can be a tasteful, understated look.

Caution: Exercise restraint. You don't want to look like a walking rack of gift shop merchandise or someone who got splashed with two buckets of paint.  

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Woodward High School names Anton "Tony" Bray as its new head football coach

CINCINNATI — Woodward Career Technical High School named Anton "Tony" Bray as its new head football coach for the 2024 season, according to athletic director Jabreel Moton.

"His passion to bring pride back to Woodward football and to build student-athletes are his main focuses," Moton said. "Woodward Athletics is excited to get him back into the DawgPound and look forward to watching him create a culture of excellence within our football program."

Bray, a 1990 Woodward graduate, has worked with Cincinnati Public Schools athletics for the past 10 years. He was most recently the Aiken High School run game coordinator.

"Coach Bray will be a tremendous assist to the Woodward community on and off the field," Aiken head coach Harry McCall said. "He's a great human with a ton of experience and wisdom. He's very detailed and an extremely hard worker. He will for sure be missed on Belmont Avenue but we wish Coach Bray the best at Woodward and we know he will excel in his new position."

Woodward had a 1-9 record including 0-5 in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference during the 2023 season.

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With state's high school graduation rate rising, here's how local districts are performing

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect 2023 graduation rate for Marshall Public Schools. Marshall's district graduation rate was 81.2% for 2023. District graduation rates, identified in this story, include graduates from all high schools in a given district. For example, the Marshall Public Schools graduation rate includes graduates from Marshall High School and the Marshall Opportunity High School.

BATTLE CREEK — Michigan’s statewide high school graduation rate increased for the second year in a row in 2023, with local districts approaching the graduation rates of pre-pandemic levels.

The state's graduation rate, 81.77%, is the second highest-level ever and an increase of 0.76% from 2022, according to the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information. The state's four-year dropout rate, meanwhile, fell slightly to 8.1% in 2023.

Michigan's 2019-20 graduation rate was the highest ever at 82.07%.

“Rising four-year graduation rates in all categories, above pre-pandemic levels in almost all cases, are a welcome sign that student achievement is rebounding and a tribute to the hard work of Michigan students, educators, support staff, and communities,” State Superintendent Michael Rice said in a statement. "While our progress has been significant over the last two years, we have more work to do to address graduation rate gaps. Local school districts and the department will continue focusing efforts to support students and staff in this regard.”

Locally, Athens Area Schools led area districts in 2023 with a graduation rate of 97%, up from 80.7% in 2022.

Harper Creek Community Schools graduated 87.5% of its seniors in 2023, up from 83% the year prior. The district's dropout rate, meanwhile, held steady at 4%.

"Like many schools our graduation rate was negatively impacted by the pandemic," Harper Creek Superintendent Rob Ridgeway explained. "One change at Harper Creek was the addition of an alternative education program that helped more students attain graduation who were behind in credits. We anticipate that our graduation rate will continue to increase with the efforts of our entire high school staff."

Lakeview School District experienced a similar boost in 2023, graduating 87.3% of seniors, a nearly 5% increase from 2022. Pennfield Schools' graduation rate climbed to 85.4% in 2023, up nearly 1.4% from the year prior.

Marshall Public Schools graduated 81.2% of its seniors in 2023, down 9.4% from the year prior.

Battle Creek Public Schools, meanwhile, had a 2023 district graduation rate of 55.2%, down 2.6% from 2022. The district graduated 51.1% of seniors in 2021.

Graduation rates for every Michigan high school can be found online at  MISchoolData.org .

Here are the 2022-23 district-wide graduation rates for Calhoun County area schools:

• Athens: 97%
• Battle Creek: 55.2%
• Bellevue: 90.6%
• Harper Creek: 87.5%
• Homer: 89.1%
• Lakeview: 87.3%
• Marshall: 81.2%%
• Olivet: 83.7%
• Pennfield: 85.4%
• Tekonsha: 75%
• Union City: 84.6%

Individual high school graduation rates for the 2022-23 school year are as follows:

• Athens Junior/Senior High School: 97%
• Battle Creek Central High School: 72%
• Bellevue Jr/Sr High School: 90.6%
• Harper Creek High School: 87.5%
• Homer Community High School: 89.1%
• Lakeview High School: 92.5%
• Marshall High School: 92%
• Olivet High School: 83.7%
• Pennfield High School: 85.4%
• Tekonsha High School: 75%
• Union City High School: 84.6%

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at [email protected]