Tom KrieglsteinFounder, Global Keynote Speaker, Swift Kick Leadership · Founder and Award-Winning Keynote Speaker at Swift Kick Leadership

Admiral McRaven's UT Austin Funny Opening: Commencement Gold

Name: Admiral McRaven's UT Austin Funny Opening: Commencement Gold
Uploaded: 2025-03-08T13:26:13+00:00
Duration: 41 s
Channel: Tom Krieglstein
Description: In the opening of his University of Texas commencement address, Admiral William H. McRaven looks back 37 years to his own graduation day, recalling a…

8 Mar 2025 · 1 min

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In the opening of his University of Texas commencement address, Admiral William H. McRaven looks back 37 years to his own graduation day, recalling a throbbing headache from a pre‑graduation party, a serious girlfriend who later became his wife, and his commissioning into the Navy. He humorously admits he cannot remember who the commencement speaker was or what they said, and uses this self‑deprecating admission to promise the audience a short, memorable speech despite his own memory lapses.

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It's been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT. I remember a lot of things about that day. I remember I had a throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend who I later married. That's important to remember, by the way. And I remember I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day. But of all the things I remember, I don't have a clue who the commencement speaker was, and I certainly don't remember anything they said. So acknowledging that fact, if I can't make this commencement speech memorable, I will at least try to make it short.