Top Graduation Quote Ideas for Your School Ring

Graduation day is just around the corner for the 2022 grads. The past few years have brought with them many challenges to face, but now there is a renewed sense of hope for better days ahead. 

With around 18% of all college students graduating each year, the future looks bright for the next group of eager young individuals looking to make an impact in the world. 

School rings are a great way to commemorate all your achievements. They are customizable for each grad so no two are ever exactly alike. One way you can personalize your school ring is with a graduation quote.

Want to know more about adding a graduation quote inscription to your school ring? In this guide, we’ll give you tips and tricks for how to choose the best graduation quote or graduation motto for your class ring. Keep reading for more information.

What Is a Graduation Quote Inscription?

An inscription can be any sort of memorable or personalized text that you or a loved one chooses for engraving inside the band of your class ring. Some opt to put their name inside the band, while others choose a quote.

Your graduation quote should be whatever line of text best represents you. It’s your own personal graduation motto. Bible verses, school mottos, song lyrics, and movie or TV quotes are all popular options for school ring inscriptions.

Depending on the width of the band and the size of the ring, you will only have a small amount of room to put your graduation quote. This may make choosing your graduation quote trickier, so you will need to get creative. 

You can expect the area on the inside of your school ring band to hold an average of 15 to 20 characters total. Characters are any letters, numbers, punctuation, and spaces you include between text. Some class rings may allow for 2 lines of text, but they will still only permit a finite amount of space.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled some options to help give you some inspiration. 

Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)

“Carpe Diem” is the roughly translated Latin phrasing for “Seize the Day.” Originally the word “carpet” was derived from the Latin verb “carpere”, which meant to harvest, to reap, or to pluck, and “diem” which means “day” so the literal translation was to “pluck the day.”

Today, however, it has evolved to mean “Seize the day” which is a great message for graduates to go out there and seek out every opportunity.

Both “Carpe Diem” and “Seize the Day” will fit within the confines of a limited number of characters. “Seize the Day” is 14 characters with spaces while “Carpe Diem” is just 10 characters.

Veni Vidi Vici

Also a Latin phrase, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” translates to “I came, I saw, I conquered.” The phrase has been widely attributed to Julius Caesar after a successful battle.

For those students who have recently conquered their course of study, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” should have them feeling pretty victorious as well. It is a short but powerful graduation quote that will remind them they can do anything they set their mind on. 

Move Mountains

It has been said that when obstacles, like mountains, seem to surround and overcome us, we feel as if there’s no way around them. Just two words remind the wearer of the school ring that anything is possible. This graduation quote inspires and empowers the graduate to never give up.

If you can move mountains, you can accomplish great things. You make a pathway where there doesn’t appear to be one in sight. 

Take the modern-day graduate for example. If they can tackle mountains of books, assignments, tests, and reports, and deal with all of the issues from a global pandemic at the same time, then there’s no limit to what they can achieve. 

To New Chapters

Graduation is seen as the end of one chapter of your life that leads to a new chapter just beginning. If you feel sad that this part of your life is coming to a close, don’t worry, there are still plenty of other chapters to explore that will be coming along. 

For those who are in literary majors or creative writing programs, the metaphor of a chapter in a book for this graduation quote is particularly suitable. 

From Now On

In a small piece of a song lyric from the 2017 movie, “The Greatest Showman”, P.T. Barnum comes to terms with the fact that his true family and friends had been standing beside him all this time while he strived to achieve all that he could.

With this graduation quote as your inscription, you will also know that everything you have ever wanted is right there in front of you. All that you have accomplished and all you still have left to achieve will continue to shape who you become as a person. 

Follow Your Heart

Other people may tell you what they think is best for you, but in the end, it’s your life and your decision how you live it. Only you know what really makes you the happiest and how to achieve this. Flaunt your talents and your passions for they are your greatest asset.

With this graduation quote inside your ring, it will always remind you to take the path you desire the most. You are the driving force in your own life.

If “Follow Your Heart” is too many characters for your ring inscription, then you can change the word heart to “<3" which is an online abbreviation for the heart.

Onward & Upward

When times get tough, you need to remember that progress is made by moving forward in the face of adversity. Onward & Upward means never giving up. You can persevere if you stay focused on the journey.

This graduation quote informs you that the only way of life’s challenges is to keep going until you achieve the tasks you need to and not lose sight of the end goal. 

Philippians 4:13

Philippians is a popular Bible verse and graduation quote. The full verse reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Because of limited space in your ring, you may not be able to put in the full verse.

In this example, you can just put in the book of the Bible, which is Philippians, and the chapter and verse number, 4:13.

This way, when you look at your school ring, you’ll know just what Bible verse it is by the identifying information.

Destiny Awaits

Some graduates have known what they wanted to be since they were little kids. They feel a calling or a higher purpose as if everything was planned out ahead of time. 

If you are on your way to fulfilling your ultimate destiny, this graduation quote will speak to you. Even though you still put in the hard work needed to graduate, you are on your way to bigger things and the life you’ve always dreamed of. 

Trust in God

For those who need a simple reminder when times get tough, these three words say it all. “Trust in God” will help to remind you that the seas will not stay rocky forever and you will find your path in time. 

This graduation quote also serves to remind you that sometimes the best things in life aren’t rushed, they don’t come with a set schedule. If you put your trust in God to guide you on the way, then everything will be made clear to you when the time is right.

Do What You Love

It has been said that those who do what they love never work a day in their lives. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they never have to lift a finger or exert any effort. It means, for those who do what they truly love and enjoy, a job doesn’t feel like work because it is so natural and effortless.

When you do what makes you happy, what you truly feel you were meant to do in life, it’s a joy, not a strain. So, as this graduation quote advises, try to find something to do that you really love.

If there is limited space, you may be able to shorten it to “Do what U love” or “Do what You <3" with the 'less than' symbol and the 3 taking the form of a heart to represent love.

To the Future

Graduation signifies the next stage in your life starting. This leads to what you will become or what occupation you may be doing for the rest of your life. This can be a scary thought for some, but if you’re up to the challenge, then this is the perfect inscription.

This graduation quote says you’re ready for whatever lies ahead. Come what may, the future will be bright. 

Don’t Look Back

Looking back through life to reminisce or remember good times is a part of the journey we all take, but it’s important not to get stuck there. Especially when there is so much more to come. 

Sure, remember your time fondly and what you’ve accomplished, but don’t dwell on every little detail. If times were especially difficult, just remember that it’s all in the past now and that you should look forward to what lies in front of you instead. This graduation quote reminds you to keep moving forward. 

Believe in You

An important reminder and affirmative graduation quote. It means when all else fails, always believe in the power of you. People will come and go in life and sometimes they may let you down, but you should always believe in yourself. You are capable of great things.

Maybe others doubted you along the way and thought you couldn’t make it, but you did. You persevered and you overcame self-doubt and the judgments of others. You took the necessary steps to overcome the challenges and obstacles to success.

No Day But Today

From Jonathan Larson’s hit Broadway musical “RENT”, the song lyric that rings true throughout is “No Day But Today.” This inspiring graduation quote reminds graduates to make the most out of their time and not to hesitate in the face of life’s challenges, which is even more prevalent a theme in a post-COVID era.

It’s like a more modern version of “Seize the day.” Each day is a gift and you must take advantage of this opportunity to blaze your path in the world. RENT is about embracing your uniqueness and not being afraid to make each day matter.

You could also use ‘525,600 minutes’ which is a portion of the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical about how you choose to spend the time you are given in one year. 

In class rings with only 15 characters of text inscription space, you can shorten it to “No Day But 2Day” instead to save room.

Turn the Page

Along the same lines as starting a new chapter after graduation, the graduation quote “Turn the page” reminds the graduate that there will always be opportunities to find another page in the book of their life. 

Through difficulties, turning the page signifies a fresh start. No more dwelling on the same page, it is a better time that lies ahead. You may not be certain about what lies ahead, but you won’t know unless you try.

This inscription is also particularly fitting for a literature or creative writing major. 

Touch the Stars

The sky is the limit for most people, but why stop there? Remind your graduate that nothing is truly out of reach, even the stars. For a graduate who is out of this world, this graduation quote says it all.

If you have the space for 20 characters of personalization on your ring, you could also put “Reach for the stars” as an alternative.

With space travel now more possible than ever, this isn’t just some pie in the sky graduation quote either. In the near future, graduates could even matriculate on Mars.  

Find Affordable Class Rings at ClassRings.com

Ultimately, which graduation quote you pick to engrave on the inside of your class ring is up to you. No matter what graduation quote you decide to use, your class ring is a reflection of the unique individual who wears it. So wear your accomplishment proudly, Grad.  

ClassRings.com has a great variety of men’s, women’s, and even children’s class rings for affordable prices. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a beautiful and customized class ring. And you can receive your class ring in 2 weeks or less.

Browse our full catalog of class rings on our website today.