Watch This High School Grad With Autism Give an Epic Commencement Speech

Graduation speeches often can be a bit forgettable, if not downright boring, as students — and sometimes parents and teachers too — are just desperate for the ceremony to end so they can get on with their lives. However, every once in a blue moon, a graduation speech can be life-changing. One such speech was given by Plano Senior High School student Sef Scott in 2018.

Scott’s speech, full video of which can be seen below, begins with the visibly nervous graduate discussing how “unexpected” it is that he’d be delivering a speech at commencement.

“I would imagine that to the seniors that know who I am that it is entirely unexpected that I would be standing here giving a speech,” Scott began. “I have autism and a social communication disorder. Just by my being here, speaking to all of you — that alone is unexpected.”

From there, Scott goes on to explain that despite his autism, he was inspired to give the speech by his brother Sim Scott, a brain cancer survivor who Sef has seen give speeches about his medical trials to large groups of people.

After discussing some of the trials and tribulations of teenage life, Scott wrapped his speech with a rousing statement that brought his classmates to their feet in raucous applause.

“Don’t follow someone else’s dreams,” Scott said. “Don’t waste time on something you never wanted. Do the unexpected. It is your life that you are living, not anyone else’s. So do what fulfills you. Don’t fear the future. Don’t fear the unknown. Will it be unexpected? Yes. Yes, it will. But that does not make it wrong,”

Scott’s graduation speech struck a chord beyond his Texas hometown, as a video of his words posted to Facebook has been viewed almost 500,000 times and shared more than 7,000 times as of press time.

Be sure to SHARE Sef Scott’s inspiring words with anyone who needs a pick-me-up.