NYU's 2022 Commencement Speaker Taylor Swift

Summary

In a heartfelt speech, Taylor Swift, honored with a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from NYU, addresses the Class of 2022, sharing her journey and offering life advice. She emphasizes the importance of releasing burdens, embracing cringe, and valuing effort, while acknowledging the challenges of navigating life's choices. Swift encourages graduates to trust their instincts, learn from mistakes, and find resilience, leaving them with a message of hope and the power of breathing through life's ups and downs.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Taylor Swift was honored with a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from NYU for her accomplishments as a singer, songwriter, producer, and advocate for artists' rights.
• 🌟 She is one of the best-selling music artists in history, with numerous albums and over 100 million album units sold, crossing various genres and reaching a global audience.
• 🏆 Swift has been a strong advocate for the Equality Act, supporting initiatives to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as protecting women and girls from harassment and sexual assault.
• 🤝 She has made significant donations to various causes, including disaster relief, cancer research, literacy programs, and public education.
• 💪 Swift has been a trailblazer in challenging the exploitation of music artists, fighting for their rights to be compensated for their work.
• 🙌 She expressed gratitude to NYU and her family for their support and emphasized the importance of acknowledging the people who have helped shape her journey.
• 📚 Taylor Swift did not have a traditional college experience, having been homeschooled and then going on a radio tour, which contrasts with the unique challenges faced by the Class of 2022 during the pandemic.
• 💭 She encourages graduates to embrace their individuality and the various 'voices' they use in different situations, highlighting the idea that everyone is a 'literary chameleon'.
• 🔄 Swift advises on the importance of letting go of grudges and unnecessary burdens to make room for the positive aspects of life.
• 😅 She humorously acknowledges the inevitability of 'cringe' moments in life and encourages embracing enthusiasm and effort, rather than striving for effortless perfection.
• 🎵 Her love for songwriting has been the guiding compass of her life, and she views all her creative endeavors as extensions of this passion.

Q & A

Who is Jason King and what is his role in the transcript?

Jason King is the Chair and Associate Professor of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Tisch School of the Arts. He is introducing the candidate for Doctor of Fine Arts.

Who is the candidate being presented for the Doctor of Fine Arts degree?

The candidate being presented for the Doctor of Fine Arts degree is Taylor Swift.

What are some of the accomplishments of Taylor Swift mentioned in the transcript?

Taylor Swift is recognized as a blazing singer, songwriter, producer, director, actress, and a pioneering advocate for artists' rights. She is also a philanthropist who has sold well over 100 million album units, earned numerous awards, and used her platform to support various causes such as the Equality Act and initiatives to protect women and girls from harassment and sexual assaults.

What is the significance of Taylor Swift's song '22' in the context of the transcript?

Taylor Swift humorously suggests that the main reason she was invited to speak at the graduation ceremony might be because she has a song called '22,' which aligns with the year of graduation for the Class of 2022.

How does Taylor Swift describe her educational background in the transcript?

Taylor Swift explains that she did not have a normal college experience. She went to public high school until the 10th grade and then finished her education through homeschooling while traveling and doing a radio tour.

What is Taylor Swift's view on the importance of mistakes in personal growth?

Taylor Swift believes that mistakes are an integral part of personal growth. She shares that her own mistakes have led to the best things in her life and that being embarrassed when you mess up is part of the human experience.

How does Taylor Swift address the concept of 'cringe' in the transcript?

Taylor Swift advises the graduates to learn to live alongside 'cringe,' stating that it is unavoidable over a lifetime and that one should not be ashamed of trying or of their past actions that they may look back on and find embarrassing.

What advice does Taylor Swift give about handling life's challenges and making choices?

Taylor Swift advises the graduates to trust their gut instincts, intuition, desires, and fears when making choices. She acknowledges that they will make mistakes but emphasizes that they will recover, learn, and grow more resilient because of it.

How does Taylor Swift relate to the graduates' experience during the global pandemic?

Taylor Swift empathizes with the graduates' experience during the global pandemic, noting that they were essentially locked into their dorms, had to do classes over Zoom, and had to pass numerous COVID tests on top of stressing about test scores.

What is Taylor Swift's message to the graduates about their future?

Taylor Swift encourages the graduates to be proud of what they've accomplished and to embrace the uncertainty of the future. She emphasizes that they are on their own now, which can be both scary and exciting, and that they should continue to dance through life like they're the Class of '22.