Theme

Commencement Speeches About Public Service & Civic Life

A whole tradition of commencement speaking asks graduates to spend themselves on something larger: their community, their democracy, their country. These speeches make the case for citizenship and service as a source of meaning, not a sacrifice of it.

93 speeches / 51 core matches

Barack Obama's 2013 Morehouse College commencement address infographic

How to read this theme

A whole tradition of commencement speaking asks graduates to spend themselves on something larger: their community, their democracy, their country. These speeches make the case for citizenship and service as a source of meaning, not a sacrifice of it.

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3 good entry points

Begin with these speeches if you want the clearest path into public service & civic life.

01

Barack Obama Morehouse College / 2013 Why it belongs here Obama urges graduates to use their education and success for something larger than themselves, serving underserved communities and correcting society's injustices. This theme is central to the speech. 02

Barack Obama's 2010 University of Michigan commencement address infographic

Barack Obama University of Michigan / 2010 Why it belongs here Obama frames the entire address around keeping democracy alive through civic participation, service, staying informed, and contributing to the life of the country, invoking the Peace Corp... This theme is central to the speech. 03

Barack Obama's 2009 Arizona State University commencement address infographic

Barack Obama Arizona State University / 2009 Why it belongs here He calls graduates to serve struggling communities, teach in high-need schools, help nonprofits, and contribute to the nation and the world. This theme is central to the speech.

Featured speeches

Visual speech maps and strong matches

№ 2013.010

Barack Obama

Morehouse College / 2013

Why it belongs here Obama urges graduates to use their education and success for something larger than themselves, serving underserved communities and correcting society's injustices.

Core matchInfographicSummaryVideoTranscript

№ 2010.026

Barack Obama

University of Michigan / 2010

Why it belongs here Obama frames the entire address around keeping democracy alive through civic participation, service, staying informed, and contributing to the life of the country, invoking the Peace Corp...

Core matchInfographicSummaryVideoTranscript

№ 2009.001

Barack Obama

Arizona State University / 2009

Why it belongs here He calls graduates to serve struggling communities, teach in high-need schools, help nonprofits, and contribute to the nation and the world.

Core matchInfographicSummaryVideoTranscript

№ 2008.018

Oprah Winfrey

Stanford University / 2008

Why it belongs here Her final lesson on happiness centers on serving something larger than yourself, citing the Stanfords and Dr. King on greatness through service.

Core matchInfographicSummaryTranscript

№ 2007.004

Oprah Winfrey

Howard University / 2007

Why it belongs here She urges graduates to use their lives in service to others, invoking Howard's motto of truth and service and the duty to lift up struggling black youth.

Core matchInfographicSummaryVideo

№ 2019.003

Chimamanda Adichie

Yale University / 2019

Why it belongs here She challenges graduates to conceptualize what America should be and to participate in politics and civic life rather than withdrawing, using their power responsibly to affect millions.

Core matchInfographicSummaryVideo

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