In the words of William Mulholland: "There it is. Take it."

And then they all run over to the other high school and steal all their water?

Helen, of all the posts on the net, yours have been the most eloquent. And you are asking these people for help? :eek:

Keep it brief. Wearing underwear helps too.

Actually, the old scroll joke is a good call.

Her speech should probably be along the lines of "Make your own path" because in the end, it's your life.

I think a call to hedonism is on order - as you leave highschool, you enter those wonderful years of semi-independence, you can do all the stupid "career limiting" things while in college or bumming around town figuring out what you are going to do. Have fun, make love, mix cocktails, indulge in all you can - as you'll live off those memories and relationships for decades to come.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Aw, you made me blush, RStar. Seriously now, of all the places on the net, the LoT holds many of the most eloquent, informed, and stylish posters I've met. Yeah, I'm talking to y'all.

Well, if I were giving the speech it would be this:

Perhaps if we had a bit more to go on...

See if you can get her started with some brainstorming questions...

What would you like to hear if you were in the audience? Will the speech be looking back or looking forward? Can you combine the two? What about where you have been makes you optimistic about the future? What are your fears/hopes about going forward? Where there any seminal moments to set this class apart? What % serious vs what & humor? How long is the speech time wise?

Also, why is she being accorded the right to speak?

She would like it to be more humorous than serious but serious is okay. The speech is to be 5 minutes. Cleo is used to speaking in public because she is a high school debator who competes on the national level. She's coming up blank with this little speech, probably because she'll know most of the audience.

She is president of the student body.