Talk about your real discomfort with accepting accolades for this spot, say it's subjectively and relatively arbitrary and that you don't think it was a big deal.Isn't it within the realm of possibility that a person doesn't want accolades, doesn't want to give a ridiculous speech and doesn't want people making a big deal out of something that is completely subjective and relatively arbitrary at the end of the day?
Then either:
- Talk about the things you DO think are a big deal. I.e. valuable lessons and experiences from law school and your internships/experiences/etc., or finding a job in this tough economy, or whatever else you feel is important to you or to students as a whole, stuff that motivates you, anything like that
- Give credit to the wider student body, tell them that they should ALL be proud to be there that day, and that they pushed through three years of hard work etc. etc. and that today is about all of them
- Say any message you want to be heard by them, or just any message you think is important
- Say something that will make everyone feel good about themselves
- Some combo of all of the above.
I'm sure you're not the first valedictorian who didn't think it was a big deal and didn't care to give a speech or have the spot announced, and you won't be the last.
