Fumarama

I just rewatched the episode of Gilmore Girls in which Rory graduates from Chilton. As valedictorian she gets to make a speech. The speech starts out with a stupid preamble about how they thought this day would never come in (complete with a laugh track for that line). Then she launches into how she lives in two worlds, the world of books and the world of her family and friends, and then she begins to thank her grandparents and mother and all the people who care about her and tears up in front of the whole crowd (this is cut with scenes of Lorelai and Sookie and Jackson and Luke crying).

Worst graduation speech ever. Ok, I am exaggerating but it was a bad speech and this is why. It is a pretty huge day for all the students and their parents. This ceremony is equally special and important to everyone and it should feel that way to everyone equally. Giving a speech at such an event is a public service. You are adding to that moment for each person. A great speech either reflects what everyone is feeling or inspires people. But it should be about the audience. Unless the speaker is using a universal "I" that reflects what students are thinking (I will miss this school dearly...), oneself is a bad topic. Rory has the honor to speak to her classmates on one of the biggest days of their lives, why in the world does she think that she herself the best topic for the speech?