2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth

Summary

Roger Federer addresses Dartmouth's class of 2024, sharing his journey from tennis to life beyond the court. He humorously reflects on receiving an honorary doctorate and imparts wisdom from his career, emphasizing the myth of effortless success, the importance of resilience in the face of loss, and the value of life beyond professional achievements. Federer encourages the graduates to embrace challenges, pursue their passions, and cherish the relationships that shape their journey.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker expresses great excitement and gratitude for being awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Dartmouth and for the opportunity to address the graduating class of 2024.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on the rarity of his visits to a college campus and the unexpected nature of his honor, highlighting the theme of embracing the unexpected in life.
• 🎾 The speaker humorously connects with the audience through the shared interest in 'pong', attributing its invention to Dartmouth and using it as a light-hearted point of connection.
• 🏞 The speaker appreciates the beauty of Dartmouth's environment, drawing parallels to the Swiss Alps and expressing how the community made him feel at home.
• 🤝 The speaker acknowledges the importance of his relationship with Tony Godsick, a Dartmouth alumnus, business partner, and friend, emphasizing the value of personal connections.
• 👨‍👧‍👧 The speaker shares personal anecdotes of spending time with his family, engaging in activities around Dartmouth, and indulging in local cuisine, showing his relatable and down-to-earth nature.
• 💚 The speaker conveys respect and admiration for the graduates' achievements and the support of their families and friends, advocating for recognition of their efforts.
• 🚴‍♂️ The speaker discusses his own journey post-retirement from tennis, drawing a parallel to the graduates' transition into the next phase of life, and emphasizing the uncertainty yet excitement of new beginnings.
• 💪 The speaker debunks the myth of effortless success, sharing his personal experiences and the hard work behind his seemingly effortless performances in tennis.
• 🤲 The speaker highlights the importance of self-belief and the need to earn it through hard work and facing challenges head-on, as he did in his tennis career.
• 🔄 The speaker encourages viewing failures and losses as temporary setbacks, using his own experiences in tennis to illustrate the importance of resilience and moving forward.
• 🌏 The speaker emphasizes that life extends beyond the confines of a tennis court, advocating for a well-rounded life that includes travel, culture, friendships, and family.
• 🤝 The speaker discusses the significance of his philanthropic work and encourages the graduates to find ways to make a difference in the world, beyond their professional achievements.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker underscores the importance of relationships and support systems, both personally and professionally, and the role they play in shaping one's life and success.
• 🎉 The speaker concludes with a heartfelt message of congratulations and encouragement to the graduates, urging them to embrace the future with kindness, fun, and a spirit of adventure.

Q & A

What significant event is being celebrated in the script?

The script is from a commencement address given at Dartmouth College's graduation ceremony for the class of 2024.

Who is the speaker at the commencement ceremony and what honorary title does he receive?

The speaker is Roger Federer, a former professional tennis player, and he receives the honorary title of 'Dr. Roger'.

Why does the speaker mention 'effortless' and how does he feel about being described that way?

The speaker mentions 'effortless' because it is a term often used to describe his playing style. He used to be frustrated by this description, as he believes it downplays the hard work he put into making his performance look easy.

What sport does the speaker suggest Dartmouth may have invented, and how does he relate it to his own experience?

The speaker humorously suggests that Dartmouth may have invented 'pong', also known as beer pong. He relates it by saying he has been practicing his shots and is considering turning pro.

What personal connection does the speaker have to Dartmouth through Tony Godsick?

Tony Godsick, a member of the class of '93, is the speaker's business partner, longtime agent, and one of his closest friends. Tony is also the proud father of Isabella, a member of the class of 2024.

What does the speaker reveal about his own educational background?

The speaker reveals that he left school at the age of 16 to play tennis full time, and therefore, he never attended college. However, he mentions graduating from tennis in 2022.

What is the speaker's perspective on the word 'retire' in the context of his tennis career?

The speaker expresses that the word 'retire' is awful and sounds terrible when applied to leaving college. He prefers to view his departure from professional tennis as 'graduating' rather than retiring.

What life lessons does the speaker intend to share with the graduates based on his tennis career?

The speaker intends to share lessons such as the myth of effortless success, the importance of not dwelling on a single point (or failure), and the significance of life being bigger than the tennis court.

How does the speaker describe his foundation's work in education and its impact?

The speaker describes his foundation's work as empowering children through education, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where 75% of children do not have access to preschool. The foundation has helped nearly 3 million children get a quality education and trained over 55,000 teachers.

What advice does the speaker give to the graduates about the future?

The speaker advises the graduates to be future record breakers, world travelers, volunteers, philanthropists, winners, and leaders. He encourages them to be excited about leaving the familiar and finding new worlds, to give their best in whatever they choose, and to be kind and have fun.

What does the speaker do at the end of his speech to add a humorous touch?

At the end of his speech, the speaker humorously demonstrates a tennis forehand grip and technique, turning the serious tone into a light-hearted moment.