College graduation party toast

Make this speech your own

Copy the script into your own document, then replace every bracketed marker with a true detail. The examples below are fictional prompts, not facts about anyone. Change or remove any sentence that does not fit your graduate.

The // mark means pause; do not read it aloud. Use the default script, or swap in one of the openings or closings below. Do not add every alternative to the same speech.

With the fictional examples filled in, the default script is 245 words. At 125 words per minute, that is about two minutes. Your own details and pauses will change the time, so read your finished version aloud and time it.

Details to gather

SPEAKER — What name should you introduce yourself by? Fictional example: Jamie

GRADUATE — What name does the graduate want you to use? Fictional example: Robin

[HOW_MET] — How did you meet? Complete 'I've been their friend since…' Fictional example: we were assigned to the same freshman dorm floor and bonded over the early-morning fire drills

[SCHOOL_STORY] — What one story from school shows who they are? Write two or three sentences. Fictional example: During finals week, Robin set up a table in the library, put up a sign that said 'office hours' and helped half our floor get through statistics.

FIELD — What degree are they graduating with? Complete 'now has…' Fictional example: a degree in nursing

[TOUGH_PART] — What was hard about getting here? Keep it light. Fictional example: a semester of organic chemistry and a part-time job at the campus coffee shop

TEASE — What harmless thing have friends teased them about? Fictional example: setting four alarms every morning

WISH — What do you wish for them? Fictional example: a job you love, a boss who appreciates you and weekends that actually feel like weekends

Introduce yourself

Hi, everyone. I'm SPEAKER, and I've been GRADUATE's friend since [HOW_MET]. Thank you to GRADUATE's family for having us, and for giving me the floor for a couple of minutes. //

Tell one story from school

If you want to know what kind of student GRADUATE was, here's one story. [SCHOOL_STORY] // Did GRADUATE have time for that? No. Did GRADUATE do it anyway? Absolutely. That's who this person is. // And let's be honest, it wasn't all late-night studying and good deeds. There was also [TOUGH_PART]. GRADUATE got through all of it and somehow still had time to help the rest of us. //

Add one light line

I also want to point out that GRADUATE now has FIELD, which means we have to stop teasing them about TEASE. At least in public. //

Say what you're proud of

GRADUATE, you worked hard for this, and you made it look easier than it was. I'm proud of you, and I'm lucky to be your friend. // My wish for you is WISH. //

Close with the toast

So please join me in congratulating GRADUATE. Here's to everything that comes next. To the graduate!

Two optional openings

Hi, everyone. I'm SPEAKER. I've known GRADUATE through every all-nighter and every exam, and I'm so glad to be here for this one.

Good evening. I'm SPEAKER, one of GRADUATE's friends from school, and I have one story I've been waiting to tell.

Two optional closings

To GRADUATE: you did it, and we always knew you would.

Please join me in congratulating GRADUATE, the newest graduate in the room.

Prepare a version you can say

Check with the graduate or their family that a friend's toast is welcome, and ask when it fits best.

Tell the story to another friend first. If it needs a lot of explaining, choose a simpler one.

For a cue card, write: how we met, story, light line, wish, toast.

Keep it family-friendly

Choose a school story the graduate's family would enjoy. Leave out parties, drinking, exes, grades and anything private.

Keep the light line to a harmless habit, and follow it with something sincere.

Questions before the day

What do you say in a college graduation toast for a friend? Say how you met, tell one story from school that shows who they are and wish them well for what's next.

How long should a graduation party toast be? About two minutes, like this script.

Is it okay to include an inside joke? Only if everyone in the room will get it. Otherwise, choose a story that needs no explanation.