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

Writing a eulogy for an instructor feels heavy and meaningful at the same time. You want to honor someone who shaped your learning and maybe your life. This guide gives a clear method, real examples, and fill in the blank templates you can use right away. We explain terms you might not know and include delivery tips that actually work for nervous speakers. Read through, pick a template, and start writing with confidence.

Who this guide is for

This article is for students or colleagues asked to speak about an instructor at a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, campus gathering, or department service. Maybe you were their student who stayed after class for extra help or the teaching assistant who learned how to manage a classroom. Maybe you were part of their community outside of school. There are sample scripts for quiet academic tone, funny classroom memories, coach style, and short tributes that work for public announcements or social media.

What is a eulogy for an instructor

A eulogy is a short speech that honors a person who has died. For an instructor the eulogy usually mixes their professional life with the ways they influenced students. It is not the same as an obituary. An obituary is a written notice with facts like dates and service details. A eulogy is personal. It is story based and allowed to be imperfect. It should feel honest and readable by people who knew the instructor in different ways.

Terms you might see

• Obituary A written notice announcing a death that often includes biographical facts and service arrangements.
• Order of service The program for the event listing the sequence of speakers, readings, and music.
• Tribute A short expression of respect or praise. A eulogy is a type of tribute.
• Pallbearer Someone chosen to help carry the casket. This term is more common for in person funeral services.
• Memorial A gathering to remember someone who has died. It can be formal or casual.
• TA Short for teaching assistant. A TA helps with class tasks and often has close day to day contact with instructors and students.
• Faculty The group of teachers and professors at a school or university.

How long should a eulogy for an instructor be

Short and focused is better than long and rambling. Aim for three to seven minutes when delivering in person. That usually equals about 400 to 800 spoken words. If the event will include multiple speakers check the schedule and keep your remarks under the agreed time. For social media posts or email tributes aim for 150 to 300 words.

Before you start writing

Preparation makes writing and delivering easier. Use this quick plan.

• Check with the family or event organizer about time and tone Ask if they prefer academic, spiritual, celebratory, or informal.
• Decide your relationship and role Are you a former student, colleague, mentee, or teaching assistant? Say that at the start so listeners know your perspective.
• Gather details Collect dates, positions, awards, favorite sayings, and short stories. Ask classmates and colleagues for one memory each.
• Choose two or three focus points Pick the main things you want people to remember, such as mentorship style, a particular class tradition, or the way they demanded curiosity.
• Confirm pronunciation If you mention names of awards, institutions, or technical terms practice them so you do not stumble.

Structure that works

A clear structure helps both the audience and you. Use this simple shape.

• Opening Say your name and your connection to the instructor. Offer a short sentence about why you are speaking.
• Life sketch or career snapshot Briefly outline the instructor s professional highlights and what they taught beyond the syllabus.
• Anecdotes Tell one or two specific stories that show character. Keep them short and focused.
• Impact and values Summarize how they affected students, colleagues, or the field and what lessons they passed on.
• Closing Offer a goodbye line, a favorite quote they used, or an invitation for the audience to remember them in a specific way such as sharing a study tip or passing on their kindness.

Writing the opening

Keep the opening simple. State your name and relationship to the instructor first. That gives you one breathing moment to settle. Then say one clear sentence about what the instructor meant to you or to the community.

Opening examples

• Hi everyone. I am Alex and I was in Professor Kim s first year physics class. I want to share a quick story about how she taught all of us to trust our mistakes.
• Hello. My name is Pri and I worked with Coach Martinez on the cross country team. Today I want to say what his steady belief in us meant.
• Good afternoon. I am Jamie and I was a TA for Dr Lee for three semesters. I want to say thank you for the way he made room for curiosity.

How to write the career snapshot

The career snapshot is not a full CV. Pick the facts that matter for the story you are telling. Focus on roles, passions, and classroom habits rather than listing every publication. Use plain language and be honest about the ways they connected with people.

Career snapshot templates

• [Name] taught at [institution] for [years]. They were a professor of [subject], a mentor to students, and an advocate for [cause].
• [Name] started as a TA and later became a beloved lecturer known for [teaching method or habit]. Outside the classroom they volunteered with [group] and cheered for student projects like they were personal wins.

Anecdotes that matter

People remember stories more than statements. Anecdotes make your eulogy human. Keep them short, sensory, and with a clear point. A good story has a setup, a small action, and a line that explains why it matters.

Examples of short anecdotes

• Professor Ahmed always handed out tiny sticky notes for midterms with a single line like You are smarter than you think. I still find one tucked into a book when I need a nudge.
• Coach Rivera kept a jar of mismatched shoelaces in the locker room and would lend them to anyone who forgot. He believed getting on the starting line mattered more than being perfect.
• My music teacher would stop rehearsals to make us name one thing we were proud of that week. It felt small then and huge now.

Addressing complex relationships

Sometimes the relationship between a student and an instructor is complicated. You might have admired them but also felt pressured by their expectations. You can acknowledge that complexity without being hurtful. Focus on lessons, closure, or a small truth you can honestly claim.

Examples for complex relationships

• Professor Diaz could be tough and exacting. I will not forget the drafts he returned with more comments than words. He pushed me harder than I would have pushed myself and I am better for it.
• I had a stormy semester with Ms Rivera, and we argued about a grade. Later she found time to explain what she really wanted from my work and that conversation changed everything. I am grateful for that tough kindness.

How to use humor for an instructor eulogy

Humor can help people breathe. Use small, earned jokes that are relevant to teaching moments. Avoid anything that seems to mock the instructor or single out a student in a cruel way. Self deprecating lines that show your own awkwardness in class work well.

Safe humor examples

• Professor Chen could make any classroom debate feel like a gentle boxing match. We left smiling and slightly bruised intellectually.
• She insisted on coffee strong enough to wake the syllabus itself. If you arrived late you could always claim systemic caffeine issues and she would nod and hand you a cup.

What to avoid in a eulogy for an instructor

• Avoid turning the eulogy into a list of credentials without stories to make them real.
• Avoid private disputes or classroom incidents that would embarrass people present.
• Avoid inside jokes that most listeners will not understand. If you use one, explain it briefly.
• Avoid excessive technical jargon. Say things plainly so everyone listening can feel included.

Full eulogy examples you can adapt

Below are complete examples that follow the structure above. Replace bracketed text with your details and read aloud to make sure the voice sounds like you.

Example 1: College professor, 3 to 4 minute version

Hello. I am Maya and I was a student in Dr Patel s political philosophy seminar. Dr Patel taught at our university for twenty years and her office door was famously never closed for long. She gave us rigorous assignments and even tougher praise, but she also stayed late for students who needed to talk about more than theory.

A quick story that sums her up is from the first paper I ever wrote for her. I turned in a messy draft and expected a polite red pen massacre. Instead she wrote three lines at the top: You are thinking. Keep going. Then she left a comment on my bibliography that sent me to an archive I would not have found on my own. That single nudge changed how I researched and how I trusted my ideas.

Dr Patel cared about the work and she cared about us. She taught us how to read carefully and how to argue with kindness. She believed scholarship could matter in the world and she modeled how to take responsibility for your words. I will miss her exacting standards and her warm office where conversation felt like coaching. Please join me in remembering one small kindness she gave you. Thank you.

Example 2: High school teacher, short and warm

Hi everyone. I am Jamal and I had Ms Torres as my tenth grade English teacher. Ms Torres could spot a half truth in a student sentence from across the room and she would gently call you out to try again. She loved messy drafts because she believed drafts were where courage showed up. She started every class with a quote and a question. I am grateful for those questions because they made me more curious than confident. Thank you Ms Torres for giving me the habit of asking better questions.

Example 3: Sports coach, energetic and specific

Hello. My name is Riley and I ran under Coach Nguyen for four seasons. Coach did not care about personal records as much as being present for every practice. He taught us to finish what we started, to support the person next to us, and to laugh after a bad race. One small team ritual was his post run chalk talk. We would write one short goal on a chalkboard and run for it the next week. That tiny ritual made practices feel like home. Coach showed us how to be disciplined and how to be kind. We will carry that with us.

Example 4: Online instructor or mentor, virtual classroom tone

Hi. I am Noor and I was a student in Lani s online creative writing workshop. Lani made her virtual classroom feel lived in. She sent voice notes, handwritten scans of encouraging lines, and long emails after workshops. Once she left a voice note where she read my opening paragraph twice and then said, Keep going. There was nothing flashy about it. It was simply permission. She taught us that community could be built in digital rooms and that small encouragements make big changes. I am so grateful for her generosity.

Fill in the blank templates

Use these templates as a starting point and edit so the voice sounds like yours. Read out loud and trim anything that feels forced.

Template A: Classic academic short

My name is [Your Name]. I was a student of [Instructor Name] in [course or program]. [Instructor Name] taught at [institution] for [years] and was known for [teaching trait]. One memory that shows the kind of teacher they were is [brief story]. They taught me [value or lesson]. We will miss [what people will miss]. Thank you for being here to remember them.

Template B: Coach or practical instructor

Hello. I am [Your Name] and I trained with [Coach Name]. Coach taught us to [skill or habit]. My favorite small memory is [short story]. That memory shows how Coach shaped us not only as athletes but as people. If I could say one thing to Coach now it would be [short line].

Template C: Complicated but grateful

My name is [Your Name]. My relationship with [Instructor Name] was complicated. They pushed me in ways I did not like at first, but those pushes forced me to grow. In time I learned [lesson]. I am grateful for the clarity they gave me even when it felt hard.

Practical tips for delivery

Speaking while grieving is hard. These practical tactics keep you steady and make your message clear.

• Print your speech Use large font. Printed pages are easier to handle than a phone in an emotional moment.
• Use index cards One idea per card helps you find your place and reduces the chance of losing your place.
• Mark pauses Put a bracket or the word pause where you want to breathe or where a laugh might come. Pauses give you time to regroup.
• Practice out loud Read your speech at least three times to a friend or into your phone. Practice tells your mouth what to do.
• Bring water and tissues Small comforts make a big difference.
• Have a backup person Arrange with a friend or colleague to finish a line if you need a moment. Plan a signal so it is not awkward.
• Project your voice If there is no microphone speak slowly and project to the back row. Slow is clearer than loud.

When you want to cry while reading

Tears are normal. Pause, breathe, look down at your notes, and then continue. If your voice cracks slow down and let the words land. Sometimes a short silence can be more powerful than pushing through. The audience will understand and wait with you.

Including academic honors, publications, and professional details

It is okay to mention significant awards, books, or service roles. Keep these short and pair them with a story that shows why they mattered. For example instead of listing a book title alone say they wrote [book title] and that in it they argued for students to ask smarter questions which changed how we wrote abstracts in class. That connects the fact to the person.

Logistics and etiquette for campus or classroom memorials

• Coordinate with the family and department about whether the service is public or private. Respect privacy requests.
• Tell the event organizer if you need a microphone or slides.
• If the instructor taught with religious or secular rituals check what the family prefers to include in the ceremony.
• Offer to collect student comments or memories to create a memory book. That is often appreciated.

Recording and sharing the eulogy

Ask permission before posting a recording online. Some families prefer privacy. If sharing is approved add a short note about where donations can be sent if the family requested that. If the ceremony is on campus the department may want a copy for archives or for a memorial page.

Glossary of useful terms and acronyms

• Eulogy A speech given at a funeral or memorial to honor the person who has died.
• Obituary A written notice that announces a death and usually includes service details.
• Order of service The plan for the funeral or memorial listing the sequence of events.
• Tribute A short expression of respect or praise.
• TA Teaching assistant. A person who assists an instructor with grading and class support.
• Faculty The teaching staff at a school or university.
• Memorial A gathering to remember a person who has died.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a eulogy for my instructor if I am nervous

Begin with your name and how you knew the instructor. A short opening line like Hello I am [Your Name] and I was [Instructor s Name] student gives the audience context and buys you a breath to settle. Then say one simple sentence about what the instructor meant to you. Practicing that opening until it feels familiar will steady you at the podium.

What if the instructor was my mentor but we had disagreements

You can acknowledge complexity while staying respectful. Say something like We had different views sometimes but I always knew they wanted the best for me. Focus on what you learned and how the relationship helped you grow.

Can I include a poem or reading related to teaching

Yes. Short excerpts work best. If you include a poem keep it brief and confirm with the event organizer. Reading a short passage that the instructor loved can be a meaningful way to close.

How formal should a eulogy for an instructor be

Match the tone to the event and the family s wishes. A university memorial may be more formal while a classroom gathering may be casual. When in doubt choose honest and clear language rather than academic jargon.

Should I mention the instructor s awards and publications

You can mention important professional achievements but pair them with a story that shows why those achievements mattered for students and colleagues. That makes the details human readable.

Is it okay to speak for the whole class

Only if you have permission from classmates and the family. A common approach is to speak personally and invite other students to share short comments. Collecting short written memories and presenting them as a group gift is a respectful alternative.