Tullane University Commencement Speech Analysis

In analyzing Ellen DeGeneres’ 2009 Tulane University commencement speech, in my opinion, was a combination of persuasive and informative. It starts off as informative and then towards the end it is almost like she is trying to persuade them that they will be okay out in the world after graduation. When Ellen begins her speech, she proceeds to tell the audience about her life before stardom, letting everyone know that she worked several different jobs that paid about minimum wage. Almost every college student can relate to that scenario, going to classes and working one or two jobs just to make ends meet while in college. Then she went on to talk about how she had no ambition and felt lost and didn’t know what she wanted to do. What college student hasn’t felt that way before? How many times have college students changed their majors because they weren’t sure if that was what they wanted to do for the rest of their life? Besides, it’s not just college students that feel lost and have no idea what they want to do or should do with their lives. The point is that most of us have been there at one time or another and we are all doing fine. …show more content…
It has taken me several years to realize that I am happiest working numbers, doing math. Like Ellen, I have also had several different jobs, flipping burgers at McDonald’s, Department Manager at Wal-Mart, bartending, front desk clerk at a hotel, working as a para-pro, and being a Latchkey Lead Teacher. I was happy with those, but not overwhelmingly so. I was at my happiest when I was working for the Fed Center doing audits. It took Ellen the loss of a good friend to find her true calling and the courage to finally be true to who she is. It has taken me to be laid-off twice in four years to realize that I finally needed to do what makes me happy and move