Many people help students along the way, including teachers, administrators, parents and even fellow students. This type of speech allows the speaker to offer his thanks, appreciation and gratefulness to those who helped along the way. Speakers can show thankfulness in several ways, typically by sharing a little-known story about how that person encouraged him to be a successful student. Perhaps during his educational experience, a teacher taught him a lesson he will never forget. He might mention words from a parent or grandparent that proved invaluable or taught him an important lesson. Gratitude shows how much the speaker appreciates all of the support and confidence he received.
As students graduate, they look forward and ahead to the next phase of their lives. The salutatorian address allows speakers to offer advice, encouragement, inspiration and motivation to those getting ready for further education or careers. Speakers can do some research and include quotes about moving onward and upward by notable figures in entertainment and history. This is also a chance for a speaker to recount her own education, telling the audience what she learned and how she will benefit from her learning experience in the future. Perhaps the speaker herself received advice she would like to share with the graduating class.
As students look ahead at graduation time, they also look back and reflect on not only what they learned but the good times and friendships they made during their time in school. Remembering class trips, school plays, research projects and even apprehensions, preconceived notions and fears at the beginning of his experience are all areas a speaker can address during a salutatorian speech. Speakers can also take this opportunity to remember someone who made a great impact on them or the class -- especially if that person is no longer living.
Perhaps the funniest topic a salutatorian can talk about is being number two, especially if she has a history of being number two (birth order included). A salutatorian can make this part really funny by doing the math, noting the separation between her and the valedictorian. Since this speech is the first the audience will hear, humor can often "break the ice" and get the audience to laugh before the more formal part of the ceremony takes place. A speaker can also use humor to remember funny moments throughout her time at school.