The Commencement Speeches meme template typically captures the formal, often overly earnest atmosphere of a graduation ceremony to highlight the contrast between high-minded ideals and relatable, harsh realities. Whether it features a celebrity giving a moving address or a classic stock photo of a speaker at a podium, the meme is used to subvert expectations—pairing a grand setting with common struggles like student debt, job market anxiety, or the irony of 'finding yourself.' It gained widespread popularity as a way for internet users to satirize the predictable nature of motivational speaking while poking fun at the chaotic transition from academic life into the real world.