Arnold Schwarzenegger-USC Commencement 2009

Former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave this speech during University of Southern California (USC) 2009 commencement ceremony. This speech consists of a good blend of humor and wisdoms. I really enjoy listening to this speech as Mr. Schwarzenegger used a lot of humor to continuously capture his audience’s attention, but at the same time, it did not make the messages he was trying to put across appear any less significant.

    
    “I do not count my sit ups, I only start counting when it starts hurting, when I feel pain, that is when it really counts. “

                                                                                                Muhammad Ali

Mr. Schwarzenegger started his speech by thanking the crowd for the great welcome and he joked that he had not received such reception since the day he announced that he was retiring from the entertainment industry. This is a great way to start a speech as he used it to relate to most of his audience, who already knows him from his time as an actor. He continued his speech by telling the audience how proud he felt to be a new member of the USC family (his eldest daughter is studying there) and he even took some time to mock at USC football’s rival, UCLA. Mr. Schwarzenegger used this opportunity to relate not just to the graduates but also to their family.         

    “Trust yourself, breaks the rules, do not be afraid to fail, do not listen to naysayers, work your butt off and give back.”

                                                              
                                                       Dr Schwarzenegger’s 6 rules of success

The highlight of the speech was when Mr. Schwarzenegger talked about his six rules of success and the path that he had gone through in getting to where he is today. I find it very inspiring when he talked about how he refused to listen to the agents that doubt his ability to succeed in the show business, only to prove them wrong later on. It showed that he has a lot confidence in himself , which I find very admirable about him. He did a great job in delivering his six rules of success as he related each one of the rules to his life experience, which made them appear more credible to his audience.

                     
         “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.”
                                                                                  
                                                                                                Ted Turner                         

Mr. Schwarzenegger concluded his speech by assuring the audience that California and United States will make it through the uncertain economic times and came back even stronger. He also encouraged the graduating students to keep on working hard and be optimist in these uncertain times. I feel that he ended the speech very well as he managed to address the current issue that is lingering in the back everybody’s mind  and I believe his audience will be more optimist after hearing his encouraging words.

Rahm Emanuel-GWU Commencement 2009

This speech is given by the former White House Chief of Staff and Chicago Mayoral hopeful, Rahm Emanuel. In this speech, Mr. Emanuel is telling his audience how his two major life setbacks taught him to learn from his mistakes and about humility. I find it very inspirational that someone who is as famous and influential public figure, like Mr. Emanuel showed a lot of humility in telling his audience how his failures lead him to success.  

“You will have failures in your life, but it is what you do during those valleys that will determine the heights of your peaks.”                                                           

Mr. Emanuel started his speech in a self-depreciating way by making a joke about how his parents would be very amazed and proud of him knowing the fact that he was awarded honorary doctorate. He also jokes about being awarded honorary degree in the field of linguistic for his work in ‘four letter words’, as it had been widely reported in the media that Mr. Emanuel has a bad temper.  I think this is a really great way to start a speech as his 1^st joke kind of relate to his main audience, which are the parents and the graduating students. He uses his 2^nd joke to make the graduation ceremony to be more informal and I guess to make fun of his negative public image, which I think most of the audience already knew.            

The main part of the speech is when Mr. Emanuel told the audience how his childhood near death experience taught him in life he has to be serious and not reckless. He then went on to tell the audience how he was forced to learn humility and wisdom after he lost his dream job as a political director of Bill Clinton presidency. I think this part is very inspiring as the way he handle his shortcomings and failure really shows the great role model he is. I believe it is especially difficult for someone who has a huge ego like him to suffer such humiliating setback and then work his way back to the top again.                                    

“Sometimes you have to give up something you cherish to be part of achieving something even bigger.”

He concluded his speech by telling how everyone can play a role in making America to be greater country and make a difference in the life of others. Mr. Emanuel encourages his audience, the graduating students in particular, to serve for greater cause through volunteering in the various organizations and he even use his own situation as an example. Overall I think this speech is really refreshing and enriching, as it mixes both humor and wisdoms.