Taylor Swift’s NYU Commencement Speech (Speech According to Purpose Assignment)

Summary

In a heartfelt address to graduates and their supporters, the speaker reflects on the unconventional journey that led to their own academic achievements, humorously sharing their nontraditional education story. They express admiration for the students who persevered through the challenges of attending college during a pandemic, navigating remote learning and frequent COVID testing. Offering unsolicited advice, the speaker emphasizes that while they don't feel qualified to give guidance, they encourage graduates to be proud of their accomplishments and embrace the uncertainties of the future with confidence and resilience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Acknowledge the support of parents, family, mentors, teachers, and friends in the graduates' journey.
• 😀 The speaker humorously mentions being technically a doctor, but of a very specific kind—one who can name 50 breeds of cats and write catchy songs.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on not having a traditional college experience, as they homeschooled and toured with their mom.
• 😀 The global pandemic disrupted students' college experiences, turning traditional learning into Zoom classes and requiring frequent COVID tests.
• 😀 The speaker compares life to a menu from which you don't always get what you expect, but encourages graduates to be proud of their accomplishments.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, the graduates should be proud of what they've achieved during their time at NYU.
• 😀 The speaker advises that they don’t feel qualified to give unsolicited advice but has been asked to share wisdom.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that graduates are in control of their own future and will likely do things differently, based on their unique experiences.
• 😀 The speaker recognizes the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication it took for the graduates to reach this milestone.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges the uncertainty of the future but encourages the graduates to embrace what lies ahead, knowing they are ready for it.

Q & A

What is the speaker's attitude toward their honorary title of 'doctor'?

The speaker humorously acknowledges their honorary title, making light of the fact that they are not the type of doctor one would want in an emergency. They joke that their expertise would be more useful for entertainment, such as singing catchy songs or identifying cat breeds.

How did the speaker's educational experience differ from a traditional college experience?

The speaker's education was unconventional, having been homeschooled after 10th grade and completing schoolwork in airport terminals. They also toured on the road for a radio tour, which, while glamorous in theory, was largely spent in motels with their mother, attempting to secure an empty seat on flights by pretending to have loud arguments.

What is the speaker's perspective on the graduates' college experience during the pandemic?

The speaker acknowledges the unique challenges faced by the graduates, particularly the fact that they attended NYU during a global pandemic. They emphasize that the graduates' experience was far from 'normal,' with students having to navigate online classes and frequent COVID testing, which added stress to the usual pressures of college life.

What is the speaker's view on life not always giving us what we want?

The speaker reflects on the unpredictability of life, using the metaphor of ordering food from a menu but not always receiving everything you selected. They suggest that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and you must make the best of what you receive. The graduates are encouraged to be proud of how they navigated their unique journey.

What is the speaker's approach to giving advice?

The speaker clarifies that they do not like to offer unsolicited advice. However, in this particular case, they recognize that they have been asked to share wisdom and are willing to do so, while also acknowledging their lack of formal qualification to dictate what the graduates should do.

What is the speaker’s attitude toward the graduates’ hard work and achievements?

The speaker expresses admiration for the graduates' efforts, highlighting the struggles, sacrifices, and dreams that have brought them to this moment. They acknowledge that the graduates have worked incredibly hard to reach this point and are well-equipped to continue their journeys.

What is the significance of the speaker's mention of 'getting what you get' in life?

By saying 'you get what you get,' the speaker emphasizes the importance of accepting life's outcomes, even when they are not what we expected or desired. It’s a reminder that success often involves resilience and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges.

Why does the speaker mention 'unusual' things like being able to name over 50 cat breeds?

The speaker uses humor to lighten the mood, offering an amusing and seemingly trivial skill—naming over 50 cat breeds—to emphasize their own unconventional expertise. This adds to the overall tone of the speech, which blends humor with life lessons.

How does the speaker view the graduates' preparation for the future?

The speaker acknowledges that while they may not have all the answers, the graduates are more than capable of navigating their own futures. They stress that the graduates will approach life differently from the speaker and will make decisions based on their unique experiences.

What lesson does the speaker want to impart to the graduates?

The speaker wants to convey the lesson that life is unpredictable, and though the graduates may not always get what they envisioned, they should be proud of their accomplishments and embrace whatever comes next. The importance of resilience and adaptability is a key takeaway from the speech.