How to Write a Eulogy for Your Classmate - Eulogy Examples & Tips

Standing up to say something about a classmate feels huge and vulnerable. You want to honor the person you knew and give your friends and teachers something real to remember. This guide walks you through what a eulogy is, how to pick the tone and length, story templates you can adapt, and delivery tips that actually help when you are nervous or sad. We explain any terms you might not know and give relatable examples for high school, college, sports teams, and study groups. Read one template and start writing with confidence.

Who this guide is for

This article is for anyone who has been asked to speak about a classmate at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, or campus vigil. Maybe you were a close friend, a teammate, a lab partner, a resident assistant, or a classmate chosen because you can hold a room. Maybe the relationship was casual but you were picked for practical reasons. That is okay. There are samples for short remarks, funny but respectful tributes, and honest notes when the relationship was complicated.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. It usually appears as part of a funeral or memorial service. A eulogy is personal. It focuses on memories and character not on a complete life list. A good eulogy helps listeners remember one or two things about the person that feel true and specific.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A written notice about a death that usually includes basic facts like birth date, survivors, and service details.
• Order of service The schedule for a funeral or memorial listing readings, music, and speakers. Think of it like the event program.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering that often focuses on stories, photos, and community rather than ritual.
• Memorial A service that honors someone who has died. It may or may not include the body present.
• RSVP This is an abbreviation for the French phrase respond s il vous plait which means please respond. It is used on invitations to ask people to confirm attendance.
• Officiant The person who leads the service. At school events this might be a teacher, chaplain, or student leader.

How long should a eulogy for a classmate be

Short and clear usually works best. Aim for three to five minutes. That is about four hundred to six hundred spoken words. If several people are speaking, check the total time and keep your remarks compact. A concise, honest tribute often lands harder than a long speech that loses focus.

Before you start writing

Follow this quick plan to make writing easier.

• Ask the organizer about time Confirm how long you should speak and where you fit in the order of service.
• Decide the tone Do you want to be solemn, celebratory, lightly funny, or a mix? Check with close friends and the family if appropriate so the tone fits the person and the audience.
• Gather material Collect nicknames, clubs or teams they were in, classes they loved, one or two memorable stories, and a favorite quote or lyric if they had one.
• Pick two or three focus points Choose a couple of clear things you want listeners to remember about that classmate. Two to three details give your speech shape and keep it real.

Structure that works

Use a simple shape. It gives you permission to be human and gives listeners something they can follow.

• Opening Say your name and your relationship to the classmate. Offer one line that sets the tone.
• Life sketch Offer a brief snapshot like their year, major, team, or role in class life. Do not try to list everything.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two short stories that show who they were. Keep them specific and sensory.
• Meaning Sum up what those stories say about the person. Share a lesson you learned or a way they changed the group.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a short quote, or an invitation for others to remember with you like lighting a candle or sharing a memory online.

How to write the opening for a classmate eulogy

Start with your name and how you knew them. That gives the room context and calms you for the first line. Keep the opening short and honest.

Opening examples

• Hello. I am Maya and I sat next to Lucas in Chemistry lab. Today I want to say what his curiosity meant to all of us.
• Hi everyone. I am Jamal and I was on the baseball team with Sofia. I still hear her laugh when I step onto the field.
• My name is Priya. I lived with Aaron for two years. He made ramen a ritual and playlists into emotional textbooks.

How to write the life sketch

The life sketch is not a full biography. Pick the facts that matter for the story you want to tell. Use plain language. Focus on roles like class year, major, club, job, roommate, or teammate rather than listing every achievement.

Life sketch templates

• [Name] was a [freshman sophomore junior senior] studying [major] at [school name]. They loved [hobby] and could be found at [place on campus].
• [Name] grew up in [town]. They joined the [team club], worked at [job], and volunteered for [organization]. They had a laugh you could hear across the quad.

Anecdotes that matter

People remember stories not lists. Choose stories that are short, sensory, and that reveal character. A good anecdote has a setup, a small action, and a line that explains why it matters.

Examples of very short anecdotes

• Sam never did group chat homework without adding one meme first. The homework turned into a minute of new jokes and then surprisingly good math problem solving.
• When practice ran late, Tessa would bring a giant jar of cookies and somehow calm down the whole team with one good joke and one warm chocolate chip cookie.
• During finals week Ben took a break to organize a hallway piano singalong. We all left feeling lighter and then oddly more focused.

Examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples you can personalize. Replace bracketed text with your details and read them aloud to trim anything that feels forced.

Example 1: High school classmate, 3 to 4 minute version

Hello. I am Emma and I sat next to Jason for four years in English class. Jason loved comic books but he also loved arguing about metaphor like it was the only thing keeping him balanced. He was the person who would stay after school to help the teacher grade papers just because he liked seeing how a sentence could be better.

One small story is from senior trip. Our bus broke down and everyone was tired and cranky. Jason pulled out a deck of cards and taught us a game I had never heard of. By the time the tow truck arrived we were laughing so hard our sides hurt. That is who he was. He could make a bad moment into something light and human.

He cared fiercely for the friends he had and he showed it in tiny ways like remembering birthdays or delivering coffee when someone was pulling an all nighter. I will miss his catalogs of obscure movie trivia and the way he made school feel less like a checklist and more like a place where we belonged. Thank you for being here and for holding Jason in your memory.

Example 2: College roommate eulogy

Hi everyone. I am Marco and I lived with Leila for three years. She majored in environmental science and majored harder in connoisseurship of terrible takeout. We spent nights arguing about climate policy and mornings arguing about whose turn it was to wash the dishes. She left a trail of succulents in our apartment and a playlist for every mood.

Leila taught me to show up even when I did not feel like it. When I was falling behind she came over with a thermos of coffee and a spreadsheet and somehow made planning feel like an act of love. That is the thing I will carry from her. She did small acts that mattered. Please join me in a moment of silence and then in sharing one quick memory with someone who needs it today.

Example 3: Teammate eulogy with humor

My name is Tyler and I played goalie with Jamie. Jamie had the rare talent of being loudly confident and quietly kind. Our warm ups included his questionable dance moves which we pretended were tactical. He would call out encouragement in the most embarrassing voice but we all knew it came from a place of real care.

Jamie taught our team to laugh after a loss and to celebrate the small wins. He also taught us how to prank our coach in a way that was all in good fun and never mean. We will miss him on the field and off it and we will try to play a little looser in his memory.

Example 4: Short two minute tribute

Hello. I am Aisha and I was in calculus with Noah. He had a habit of drawing tiny robots on the margins of his notebook and then offering to explain integrals like he was describing a comic plot. Noah made hard things feel do able. Thank you for being here and for remembering him with us.

Addressing complicated relationships

Not every student relationship is simple. If your relationship with the classmate was complicated you can still speak honestly with dignity. You do not need to air private grievances. Focus on what you can genuinely say and on any small reconciliation or insight. A short honest line is better than a long attempt to explain everything.

Examples for complicated relationships

• We did not always get along. We argued about group project roles and then laughed about those fights later. I learned from our friction and I am grateful for the moments we repaired things.
• Our friendship was not perfect but in the end we shared a few real conversations that I will always carry with me.

Using humor the right way

Humor can be a relief in grief. Use small earned jokes rather than shock value. Test them with someone who will tell you if the joke lands. Avoid jokes that might embarrass the deceased or single out someone in the audience. If your classmate loved a certain awkward joke style then a tiny callback can feel like them sitting in the room with you.

Safe humor examples

• They had a rule about snacks. If you ate their trail mix you had to buy the next bag. We broke that rule a lot and I am still paying for it in unexpected ways.
• They could not cook but they loved calling takeout by nicknames. We will miss ordering the best worst pizza in town with them.

What to avoid in a classmate eulogy

• Avoid turning the eulogy into a platform for private grudges or family disputes.
• Avoid gossip or details that could hurt others present.
• Avoid long lists of achievements without stories to make them human.
• Avoid clichés unless you immediately give a specific detail that makes them true.

Fill in the blank templates

Fill in the blanks and then edit to make it sound like you. Read it out loud and trim anything that sounds forced.

Template A Classic short

My name is [Your Name]. I was [classmate roommate teammate] to [Name]. [Name] was a [freshman sophomore junior senior] studying [major or program]. They loved [hobby] and could often be found at [place]. One memory that shows the kind of person they were is [brief story]. They taught me [value or lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here.

Template B For teammates or club members

Hi I am [Your Name] and I played [sport or instrument or role] with [Name]. They had a way of [quirky habit]. One match practice or rehearsal shows it best. [Brief story]. That is the way they made our group better. Please remember them when you [action like pass the ball show up to practice play the song].

Template C Short and tender

Hello. I am [Your Name]. I sat with [Name] in [class or dorm]. They had a laugh that made late night study sessions feel like community. My favorite memory is [small memory]. I will miss them and I hope we can all carry one of their small rituals forward together.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving is hard. These practical tactics will help you stay steady.

• Print your speech Use large font on plain paper. Paper is easier to manage than a phone when emotions run high.
• Use cue cards Small index cards with one or two lines per card reduce the chance of losing your place.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket where you want to breathe or where the audience might laugh or clap. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read the eulogy to a friend to find awkward phrases and to get comfortable with timing.
• Bring tissues and water Keep them nearby. If your voice breaks slow down and breathe. The audience will wait.
• Arrange a backup Have a friend who knows your piece and can step in if you cannot continue. That can ease the pressure of finishing perfectly.
• Mic technique Keep the microphone a few inches from your mouth and speak at a normal volume. If there is no mic project slowly to the back row.

When you want to stop or you forget your place

If tears come take a breath and look down at your notes. Pause and breathe. Say a short line like I need a moment and then continue when you can. If you cannot continue someone you trust can finish a sentence or read a closing line you prepared. Many people prefer to write a short closing line on its own card so someone else can read it if needed.

Including readings songs and social posts

Short readings work best. If you include a poem choose a two to four line excerpt rather than a long piece. Music can be a recorded track or a live student performance. If you share a recording online ask the family or organizers for permission. A micro memorial like a shared campus playlist or a digital memory book can be a gentle way for people to contribute stories or photos.

Logistics and who to tell

• Tell the event organizer if you need a microphone or if you plan to hand out printed copies.
• Confirm where you will stand and how long you may speak.
• Give a copy of your remarks to the person running the order of service so they can include the text in a program or archive.

After the eulogy

People will likely want a copy. Offer to email it to friends and family. Some groups create a memory book or a campus archive. You can also record the audio and share it privately. That recording can comfort those who could not attend. If you are asked to post something on social media keep it simple and ask the family if they want privacy before tagging people.

Checklist before you step up to speak

• Confirm your time limit with the organizer.
• Print your speech in large font and bring a backup copy.
• Practice at least three times out loud.
• Mark pauses and emotional beats in your copy.
• Bring tissues and a bottle of water if allowed.
• Tell a friend you might need a moment and arrange a small signal if you want them to finish a closing line.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial to honor someone who has died.
• Obituary A written notice announcing a death and usually including service details.
• Order of service The plan for the funeral or memorial showing the sequence of events.
• Celebration of life A less formal gathering focused on stories photos and community.
• Memorial A service to remember a person who has died. It may not include the body.
• RSVP Ask to confirm attendance. It stands for respond s il vous plait which means please respond.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy if I am nervous

Begin with your name and your relationship to the classmate. A short opening sentence like Hello my name is [Your Name] and I was [Name] classmate gives the audience context and buys you a breath to settle. Practice that opening until it feels familiar. That will steady you when you begin.

What if I forget my place or start crying

Pause and breathe. Look down at your notes. If you need a moment take it. People will wait. If you cannot continue ask a designated friend to finish a short closing line you leave for them. Having that backup removes pressure to be perfect.

Can I use humor in a eulogy for a classmate

Yes small earned humor is often welcome. Use jokes that are based on kind memories and that the family would accept. Avoid anything that might embarrass the deceased or upset close friends. Follow a joke with a sincere line to reconnect the tone.

Should I include a poem or song

Short readings work best. If you include a poem pick an excerpt of a few lines rather than a long piece. For music choose a short track or a live student performance and confirm with the organizer about timing and permissions.

How long should a classmate eulogy be

Three to five minutes is a good target. Short and focused remarks are usually more memorable. If many people are speaking coordinate time with the organizer so the event stays on schedule.

Is it okay to post the eulogy online

Ask permission from family or the group organizing the memorial before posting. Some families want privacy. If sharing is approved add a note about a way people can give to a memorial fund or share memories privately.