Figure of Speech

Were you there?

I was there. I did graduate. Did we even have one? Oh, gosh. This is terrible. It was 19 years ago.

You did a speech last year and the year before. Is this a racket for you?

I actually did two last year. And made a new rule saying I would do no more than one a year.

Why do you say yes to them?

It's a huge opportunity to try to influence the thinking of our nation's future leaders, and it gives me a chance to step back and reflect on what the most important message is for them.

What have you learned about graduating seniors as an audience?

You know, it's different from school to school, and the setting matters a lot. As I recall, the UNC-Chapel Hill commencement was in the football stadium. I was wondering if folks were actually listening.

Do you ever speak words of hope to a graduating class but have doubts about the difficulties they'll face?

I think I'm optimistic and genuinely believe that young people are uniquely positioned to make a difference in the world, especially in the face of entrenched social problems that those of us who are more experienced have given up on.

Sasha Lakshmi Ponappa

P onappa, 25, is back from a West Coast internship to pick up her master's in social work from Gallaudet University. After her speech, which was scheduled for Friday, she plans to continue her work helping end domestic violence against deaf women and children, and hopes to bring about similar changes in her native India. The interview was conducted via interpreter Joseph McCleary.

Have you made an address like this before?

Yes, and I'm nervous every time. I've learned a lesson, though: not to drink coffee. The caffeine makes me really shaky.

What's your main theme?

My key message is the power of choice. We need to make a conscious choice throughout the rest of our lives to be leaders, to speak up, to make changes we want to see.

Any great speeches serve as inspiration?

This may be too common, but I was really inspired by Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. I remember reading it as a kid. As a person of color, a woman and a deaf person, to me his vision is beautiful: that everyone, no matter who they are, will be accepted.

If you had to broaden your speech to address the whole country, what would you say?

Every person and community has something to contribute to society. Despite our differences, we can recognize these positive characteristics and appreciate what makes all of us unique. Collectively, we should aim to be more united. That way we can deal with major challenges w ith those strengths.

Natalie Prizel

A native Washingtonian, Prizel, 23, is graduating with a bachelor's in English and a certificate in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies from the University of Maryland. She'll give her speech Thursday at the Comcast Center. She plans to apply to PhD programs and eventually teach literary modernism and sexuality at a university.

What's the speech about?

I just finished an honors thesis on Faulkner, narrative and marginalized identities in "Light in August" --

Whoa.

I have this interest in narrative structure, language and how it reflects and creates social identities. The speech is about how our language shapes how we identify, and it encourages people to be conscious about that as they go into the world.

Since you're a Faulknerian, will you deliver the speech as five narrators of varying ages and mental capacities?

I had not considered that, but that would be really cool. If I could get my sister, who's an actress, to help . . .

What's the key to a good address?

I can't even remember our high school commencement address. I try to avoid cliche. That's a big thing. To be motivating without using cliche is difficult.

What great speeches do you like?

I took a class on language and politics, and they showed us a Barbara Jordan speech on Watergate. A black lesbian speaking about the president in Congress -- that was pretty cool.

If you had to broaden your speech to address the whole country, what would you say?

I think it is important that people consider how the language they use and the stories they tell not only reflect their social identities and views of the world, but can also shape their self-perception and the world in which we live.

Jonathan Wharton

Graduating with a PhD in political science from Howard University, Wharton, 34, has lived in New Jersey the past two years to work on his dissertation. He addressed the class of 2008 on May 10.

So your time speechwriting on the Hill must have been useful for this task.

The university secretary was surprised that the speech didn't need much editing.

Is it about being motivational?

I wanted to highlight the positive aspects of Howard -- volunteering and community involvement -- and see that the mission is carried out beyond the classroom. The professors inspire us, and we should be reminded about that, that we have the legacy.

What's the topic of your dissertation?

I'm investigating urban elections, particularly Newark's mayoral elections in 2002 and 2006, about voters' concerns at polls, and [Mayor] Cory Booker not being black enough, a la Barack Obama. Especially with this generation of leaders coming out -- Adrian Fenty, [Massachusetts Gov.] Deval Patrick, Obama -- someone has to consider the nuances of these next generations.

Is the era of great political speechmaking over, or just beginning?

I think that there's a divide that exists between the constituents and the legislators, and somehow it's not getting across both ways. In terms of speeches being charismatic and inspirational, they are more packaged and prepared, and that has to do with the professionalization of communicating. That's my concern.