Every spring, speakers take to the graduation stages to share their wisdom and experiences with graduates. We have researched dozens of speeches delivered over the years and distilled some of the best inspirational advice:

Donovan Livingston recognized the weight of responsibility placed on him this year when he was asked to deliver the commencement speech at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches. Ten years ago, he was the student speaker at his own graduation from Harvard's Graduate School of Education. At that time, his speech spread like wildfire, inspiring millions around the world and completely changing the course of his life.

Livingston told the audience nearly a decade ago that he was once that child who could never sit still in the classroom, saying: "I was in seventh grade when Ms. Parker told me, 'Donovan, we can channel all your extra energy into something useful'".

Livingston delivered that speech in the form of a passionate poem discussing the promises that education holds as an "equalizing tool" and how this system fails to deliver that for many students. He told his fellow graduates at the time: "It is injustice to tell them that education is the key while you continue to change the locks". He explained that his speech centered around discovering and embracing individual strengths, adding in his poem: "I have been like a black hole in the classroom for far too long; absorbing everything without allowing my light to shine. But those days are gone.. I belong to the stars, and so do you".

The success of that speech led him to write a book, gain media coverage, and receive international acclaim. He told The Washington Post: "I had no idea it would spread like this, but I am grateful that people were listening".

Similar to Livingston's speech, commencement speeches spread every year across social media, offering wisdom, advice, and inspiration. We spent a week watching graduation speeches and distilled some of the best insights shared. Here are our favorite tips:

Shonda Rhimes: Don’t Let Your Dreams Hinder Your Path

In a speech delivered at her alma mater, Dartmouth College, television producer Shonda Rhimes advised graduates to ignore the repeated advice to "dream big." Rhimes told the Class of 2014: "I think a lot of people dream, and while they are busy dreaming, the truly happy and successful people — the interesting, active, and powerful people — are busy working and executing".

The creator of hit series like "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Bridgerton" emphasized that hard work, not dreaming, is what achieves accomplishments and creates change. She recounted how, as a college student, she dreamed of becoming like Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. While she was lost in her dreams, she was living in her sister's basement (she added wryly: "For the record, dreamers often end up living in the basements of their relatives"). Eventually, she attended film school and learned a new way to tell stories. Later, Rhimes met Morrison and had dinner with her, ironically, all Morrison wanted to talk about was "Grey’s Anatomy." This would have never happened if Rhimes hadn’t let go of her dream of becoming a version of Morrison to focus instead on being herself. She concluded by saying: "Be proactive in your work, and don’t just be a dreamer".

Arthur Brooks: The Question is Not "What Will You Do?" but "Why?"

Sociologist and author Arthur Brooks studies the concept of happiness. In his commencement speech at Vanderbilt University, he spoke about what he discovered in his research as the true key to a happy life: a sense of meaning. Brooks said: "In college, you are largely preoccupied with two questions: How do you do things? And what do you want to do after graduation? But the truth is there is a more important question underlying your education and the way you want to live, which is: What is the 'why' in your life? What is the meaning of your life, your mission, your purpose, and your passion?".

Brooks talked about his son Carlos, who found himself lost at eighteen, thinking he should go to college but without any understanding of why. His father advised him to reevaluate his plans. The son ended up working on a farm, then joining the Marines, later marrying and having two children. Now, at twenty-six, he is ready and benefiting from pursuing a college degree. Brooks explained: "He found the meaning of his life. His path is not your path, and his beliefs and values are not your beliefs and values. You must find your own path. And that is the thrill; that’s where the journey begins, and the joy of life lies in this journey that awaits you".

Steve Jobs: That Calligraphy Class May Change Your Life

When Steve Jobs dropped out of Reed College, he stopped attending required courses that didn’t interest him and began taking classes that seemed fun, including a calligraphy class. Jobs told the graduating class at Stanford University in 2005: "I learned about serif and sans-serif typefaces, about changing the amount of space between different letter combinations, and about the details that make great typography truly great. It was beautiful, historical, and artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating".

None of this seemed relevant to his practical life at the time. But a decade later, when he designed the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to him, and Jobs said: "It was the first computer with beautiful typography". Jobs didn’t connect the dots at the time, but by following his curiosity and genuine interests, he learned what he would need to know later in life.

Steve Carell: Resist the Urge to Be Cynical.. and Dance!

Actor Steve Carell spoke about the importance of kindness in his speech at Northwestern University last year. He encouraged graduates to see the best in others and resist the tendency toward cynicism and sarcasm. He said: "Remember the little things, like being kind, and that you are not alone. Take care of each other, and remember to laugh when you get the chance".

Carell's children are the same age as the graduates he was speaking to, and he told them that this is the same advice he gives to his kids. Carell also took a moment to take a dance break on stage, and while he was clearly sweating afterward, he reminded students to take time to dance and enjoy sometimes, adding: "Remember that kindness is not weakness; it is a very powerful force".

Donovan Livingston: Removing the Mask of False Success

As Livingston contemplated what he wanted to say to the graduates of the University of North Carolina this year, he reflected on his personal journey. He knew that when students heard about his accomplishments, it might seem to them as if he had never struggled to carve his path. Therefore, he built his commencement speech entirely around his failures.

He shared his first semester college transcript with a low GPA of 1.6 and spoke candidly about the difficulties he faced in adjusting to college life. He touched on how he accepted a job as a college advisor shortly after graduation, only to later discover that he hadn’t actually graduated due to failing a required course, which led to the job offer being rescinded. He explained how all these setbacks and bumps helped him become the successful teacher and advisor he is today. Livingston concluded his talk by saying: "Disaster is opportunity. Your purpose in life often does not reveal itself in moments of comfort and ease, but your purpose is revealed when you feel like the sky is falling on your head".