［中英字幕完整版］畢業生必看！泰勒絲在紐約大學的畢業演講 Taylor Swift addresses at 2022 NYU Graduational Commencement

Summary

In a heartfelt speech, Taylor reflects on her journey from performing in high heels to standing before NYU's Class of 2022. She acknowledges the collective effort behind individual success and the importance of support systems. Taylor shares personal anecdotes and life lessons, emphasizing the inevitability of mistakes and the value of resilience. She encourages embracing change, authenticity, and the pursuit of dreams, leaving the graduates with a message of empowerment and hope.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker expresses gratitude to NYU's board, faculty, and fellow honorees, highlighting the collective effort and support behind individual achievements.
• 🎶 The main reason for the speaker's presence is their song '22', which resonated with the graduating class, and their joy in celebrating the students' success.
• 👥 Everyone's journey involves a 'patchwork quilt' of people who have supported and shaped them, and the importance of acknowledging these influences.
• 💬 The speaker admits their lack of conventional college experience, empathizing with the graduates who also faced unique challenges due to the pandemic.
• 🎉 Despite not having a 'normal' college experience, the speaker encourages pride in overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
• 🚫 The speaker avoids giving unsolicited advice, instead opting to share personal 'life hacks' that have been helpful in their own life and career.
• 🔐 The importance of learning to 'catch and release' in life, deciding what to keep and what to let go, to make room for positivity and growth.
• 😅 Embracing the inevitability of 'cringe' moments and not being ashamed of enthusiasm or effort, as these are natural parts of personal development.
• 📝 The significance of writing and storytelling in the speaker's life, and how everyone is a 'writer' in various contexts.
• 🔄 The concept of change and adaptability, as the speaker has transitioned between different genres in their music career.
• 💔 The value of mistakes and setbacks, as they often lead to growth, resilience, and the most rewarding aspects of life.
• 🌟 The final message of encouragement, emphasizing that graduates are now embarking on their own unique paths, filled with potential for success and learning.

Q & A

Who delivered the speech at the stadium event?

Taylor, the speaker, delivered the speech at the stadium event.

What was the occasion of the speech?

The occasion was the graduation ceremony for New York University's class of 2022.

Who are the fellow honorees mentioned by the speaker?

The fellow honorees mentioned are Susan Hockfield and Felix Matos Rodriguez.

What does the speaker attribute their presence at the event to?

The speaker attributes their presence to having a song called '22'.

How does the speaker describe their educational journey?

The speaker describes their educational journey as non-traditional, involving homeschooling and learning on the road during a radio tour.

What challenges did the NYU class of 2022 face during their college experience?

The class of 2022 faced challenges such as lockdowns in dorms and attending classes over Zoom due to the global pandemic.

What does the speaker advise about carrying grudges and negative experiences?

The speaker advises to practice 'catch and release' by knowing what to keep and what to let go, as carrying all grudges and negative experiences can weigh one down.

How does the speaker feel about the concept of 'cringe'?

The speaker believes that 'cringe' is unavoidable and that one should not try to avoid it. They also advocate for not hiding enthusiasm and embracing effortlessness.

What is the speaker's perspective on making mistakes?

The speaker views mistakes as essential to growth and learning, stating that their own mistakes have led to the best things in their life.

What advice does the speaker give about life choices after graduation?

The speaker advises that there will be uncertainty and that it's okay to make mistakes. They emphasize that life is a series of choices and that one should be prepared to face both triumphs and failures.

How does the speaker encourage the graduates to handle their future?

The speaker encourages the graduates to trust their gut instincts, be resilient, and remember to breathe through the highs and lows of life.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Gratitude and Recognition

The speaker, Taylor, expresses gratitude to NYU's board of trustees, president, faculty, and alumni for the honor of speaking at the commencement. She acknowledges her fellow honorees and reflects on the collective journey of the graduates, emphasizing that no one achieves success alone. Taylor credits the support and sacrifices of loved ones, mentors, and teachers, and encourages graduates to remember those who have helped them along the way.

05:01

🌟 Non-Traditional Path and Resilience

Taylor shares her non-traditional educational journey, from homeschooling to touring, and contrasts it with the unique challenges faced by the NYU class of 2022 during the global pandemic. She empathizes with the graduates' experiences of remote learning and lockdowns, and commends their resilience. Taylor also reflects on her own lack of a typical college experience and the silver linings it brought, such as the freedom to explore different creative paths.

10:01

💡 Life Advice: Catch and Release

Taylor offers life advice, starting with the concept of 'catch and release,' which is about knowing what to hold onto and what to let go. She emphasizes the importance of releasing grudges and envy to make room for positive experiences. Taylor encourages the graduates to be discerning about what they allow into their lives, highlighting that toxic relationships can outweigh the joys of life.

15:05

😅 Embracing Cringe and Enthusiasm

Taylor discusses the inevitability of 'cringe' moments throughout life and encourages the graduates not to shy away from their enthusiasm for their interests. She challenges the stigma around eagerness and advocates for embracing one's passions. Taylor shares her own experiences with changing styles and the evolution of her music career, reinforcing the idea that it's okay to change and grow.

20:05

🚀 Overcoming Mistakes and Learning

Taylor talks about the importance of learning from mistakes and the misconception that mistakes equal failure. She shares her own experiences of public humiliation, rejection, and criticism, and how these moments led to personal growth and success. Taylor reassures the graduates that it's okay to make mistakes and that these experiences can be the most formative. She encourages the class of 2022 to be resilient and to keep moving forward despite the challenges they may face.

Keywords

💡Pandemic

The term 'pandemic' refers to an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. In the context of the video, it relates to the challenges faced by the graduating class of 2022 at NYU, who had to navigate their college experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included lockdowns, remote learning, and other significant disruptions to their education and social lives.

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thanks for something or someone. In the video, the speaker expresses gratitude towards various individuals and entities, such as family, mentors, and the university itself, for their support and contributions to the success of the graduates. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the roles others play in one's personal journey.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or to adapt to challenging situations. The speaker in the video highlights the resilience of the graduating class, who had to endure a pandemic during their college years, and encourages the audience to grow stronger from the adversities they face. It underscores the idea that overcoming obstacles can lead to personal growth and development.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors or faults made by someone without intention, often leading to undesirable outcomes. In the video, the speaker discusses the inevitability of making mistakes and frames them as essential parts of life that can lead to learning and growth. The message is one of acceptance and encouragement to embrace the imperfections of the human experience.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity refers to being true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite external pressures. The speaker advocates for maintaining one's enthusiasm and individuality, even in the face of societal expectations or trends. It is tied to the idea that being genuine and true to oneself is more valuable than conforming to perceived notions of 'coolness' or popularity.

💡Cathartic

Cathartic refers to something that provides emotional release or relief, often associated with the purging of emotions such as guilt or frustration. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions the cathartic nature of her music, which can help listeners process and release intense emotions, providing a form of emotional healing.

💡Adversity

Adversity refers to difficult or unfavorable circumstances that one must face or overcome. The video's speaker acknowledges the adversity faced by the graduates, such as attending college during a pandemic, and uses it as an example of how challenges can shape one's character and future.

💡Personal Growth

Personal growth involves self-improvement and the development of one's character, skills, and understanding. The video emphasizes the importance of personal growth through experiences, both positive and negative. It suggests that the graduates have grown through their encounters with adversity and will continue to do so as they move forward in life.

💡Life Hacks

Life hacks are practical tips or strategies that can make one's daily life more manageable, efficient, or enjoyable. In the video, the speaker shares 'life hacks' as a form of advice for the graduates, suggesting ways to navigate the complexities of life with more ease and intention.

💡Literary Chameleons

The term 'literary chameleons' is used metaphorically in the video to describe individuals who adapt their writing style or voice to fit different contexts or audiences. It highlights the versatility and adaptability required in communication, as people often tailor their language and expression to suit various situations and relationships.

💡Breath of Fresh Air

The phrase 'breath of fresh air' is often used to describe something that is new, refreshing, or a welcome change from the norm. In the video, the speaker uses this metaphor to convey the idea of resilience and the ability to start anew after facing challenges or setbacks.

Highlights

Taylor begins her speech by contrasting her previous stadium appearance with her current comfortable outfit.

She expresses gratitude to NYU's board of trustees, president, faculty, and alumni for making the day possible.

Taylor feels proud to share the day with fellow honorees Susan Hockfield and Felix Matos Rodriguez, who inspire her with their work.

She humorously attributes her presence to the popularity of her song '22'.

Taylor acknowledges that none of the graduates have achieved their success alone, emphasizing the support of loved ones.

She reflects on the sacrifices made by her family, particularly her parents and brother, to support her dreams.

Taylor thanks NYU for making her a 'doctor', albeit not the kind to call in an emergency.

She empathizes with the graduates who experienced college during a global pandemic, highlighting their resilience.

Taylor shares her own non-traditional educational journey, including homeschooling and touring.

She advises the graduates to learn to carry and release certain aspects of life, focusing on what's important.

Taylor encourages embracing 'cringe' and not being ashamed of trying, as effortlessness is a myth.

She discusses her varied career, from country to pop, and how it has been an extension of her love for songwriting.

Taylor emphasizes that everyone has different 'voices' in writing depending on the situation, making us all 'literary chameleons'.

She shares the pressure of growing up in the public eye and the unsolicited advice that came with it.

Taylor talks about how mistakes have led to the best things in her life and the importance of resilience.

She assures the graduates that they will make mistakes, but these will lead to growth and learning.

Taylor concludes her speech by encouraging the graduates to trust their instincts and embrace the unknown.

She leaves the graduates with a message of pride and a call to continue dancing through life.

Transcripts

[Applause]

hi i'm

taylor last time i was in a stadium this

size i was dancing in heels and wearing

a glittery leotard

this outfit is much more comfortable

i would like to say a huge thank you to

nyu's chairman of the board of trustees

bill berkley

and all the trustees

and members of the board

nyu's president andrew hamilton

catherine fleming

and the faculty and alumni here today

who have made this day possible

i feel so

proud to share this day with my fellow

honorees susan hockfield and felix matos

rodriguez

who humble me

with the ways they improve our world

with their work

as for me

i'm 90 sure the main reason i'm here is

because i have a song called 22.

and let me just say

i am

elated

to be here with you today as we

celebrate and graduate new york

university's class of 2022

not a single one of us here today has

done it alone

we are each a patchwork quilt of those

who have loved us

those who have believed in our futures

those who showed us empathy and kindness

or told us the truth even when it wasn't

easy to hear

those who told us we could do it when

there was absolutely no proof of that

someone

read stories to you

and taught you to dream

and offered up some moral code of right

and wrong for you to try and live by

someone tried their best to explain

every concept in this insanely complex

world to the child that was you

as you asked a bazillion questions like

how does the moon work and why can we

eat salad but not grass

and maybe they didn't do it perfectly

no one ever can

maybe they aren't with us anymore

in that case i hope you'll remember them

today

if they are in this stadium i hope

you'll find your own way

to express your gratitude for all the

steps

and missteps

that have led us

to this common destination

i know that words are supposed to be my

thing but i will never be able to find

the words to thank my mom and dad

my brother austin for the sacrifices

they made every day so i could go from

singing in coffee houses to standing up

here with you all today because no words

would ever be enough

to all the incredible parents family

members

mentors

teachers

allies friends and loved ones here today

who have supported these students

in their pursuit of educational

enrichment

let me say to you now

welcome to new york

it's been waiting for you

i'd like to thank nyu for making me

technically

on paper at least

a doctor

[Applause]

not the type of doctor you would want

around in case of an emergency

unless your specific emergency was that

you desperately needed to hear a song

with a catchy hook and an intensely

cathartic bridge section

or if your emergency was that you needed

a person who can name over 50 breeds of

cats in one minute

[Applause]

i never got to have

a normal

college experience per se

i went to public high school until 10th

grade

and then finished my education doing

homeschool work on the floors of airport

terminals

then i went out on the road for radio

tour which sounds

incredibly glamorous

but in reality

it consisted of a rental car

motels and my mom and i pretending to

have loud mother-daughter fights with

each other during boarding so no one

would want the empty seat between us on

southwest

as a kid

i always thought i would go away to

college imagining the posters i would

hang on the wall of my freshman dorm

i even said the ending of my music video

from my song love story

at my fantasy

imaginary college where i meet a male

model reading a book on the grass and

with one

single glance we realize we had been in

love in our past lives

which is exactly what you guys all

experienced at some point in the last

four years right

[Applause]

but i

really can't complain

about not having a normal college

experience to you

because you

went to nyu during a global pandemic

being essentially locked into your dorms

and having to do classes over zoom

everyone in college during normal times

stresses about test scores

but on top of that

you also had to pass like a thousand

cova tests

i imagine

the idea of a normal college experience

was all you wanted to

but in this case

you and i both learned

that you don't always get all the things

in the bag that you selected from the

menu

in the delivery surface that is life

you get what you get

and as

i would like to say to you

wholeheartedly you should be very proud

of what you've done with it

today

you leave new york university

and then go out into the world

searching what's next

and so will i

[Music]

so as a rule

i try not to give anyone

unsolicited advice

unless they ask for it

i'll go into this more later i guess i

have been

officially solicited in this situation

to impart

whatever wisdom i might have

to tell you things that have helped me

so far in my life

please bear in mind that i in no way

feel qualified to tell you what to do

you've worked

and struggled and sacrificed and studied

and dreamed

your way here today

and so

you know what you're doing

you'll do things differently than i did

them

and for different reasons

so i won't tell you what to do because

no one likes that i will however

give you some life hacks i wish i knew

when i was starting out my dreams of a

career

and navigating life

love

pressure

choices

shame

hope and friendship

the first of which is

life

can be heavy

especially if you try to carry it all at

once

part of growing up and moving into new

chapters of your life

is about catch and release

what i mean by that is

knowing what things to keep

and what things to release

you can't carry all things

all grudges

all updates on your ex

all

enviable promotions your school bully

got at the hedge fund his

uncle started

decide

what is yours to hold and let the rest

go

oftentimes the good things in your life

are lighter anyway

so there's more room for them

one toxic relationship

can outweigh so many wonderful simple

joys

you get to pick

what your life has time and room for

be discerning

secondly

learn to live

alongside

cringe

no matter

how hard you try to avoid being cringe

you will

look back on your life

and cringe retrospectively

cringe

is unavoidable over a lifetime

even the term cringe might someday be

deemed cringe

i promise you

you're probably doing or wearing

something right now

that you will look back on later and

find revolting and hilarious

you can't avoid it so don't try to

for example

i had a phase where for the entirety of

2012

i dressed like a 1950s housewife

but you know what i was having fun

trends and phases are fun

looking back and laughing is fun

and while we're talking about things

that make us squirm but really shouldn't

i'd like to say i'm a big

advocate for not hiding your enthusiasm

for things

it seems to me that there is a false

stigma

around eagerness

in our culture of unbothered

ambivalence

this outlook perpetuates the idea that

it's not cool to want it the people who

don't try are fundamentally more chic

than people who do

and i wouldn't know because i've been a

lot of things but i've never been an

expert on chic but i'm the one who's up

here so you have to listen to me when i

say this

never

be ashamed

of trying

effortlessness

is a myth

the people who wanted it the least

were the ones i wanted to date and be

friends with

in high school

the people who want it the most

are the people i now hire to work for my

company

i write i started writing songs when i

was 12.

and since then

it's been the compass guiding my life

and in turn

my life guided my writing

everything i do

is just an extension of my writing

whether it's directing videos or a short

film

creating the visuals for a tour

or standing on a stage performing

everything is connected

by my love of the craft

the thrill of working through ideas and

narrowing them down and polishing it all

up in the end

editing waking up in the middle of the

night throwing out the old idea because

you just thought of a new or better one

or a plot device that ties the whole

thing together

there's a reason they call it a hook

sometimes a string of words

just

ensnares me and i can't focus on

anything until it's been recorded or

written down

as a songwriter i've never been able to

sit still

or stay in one creative place for too

long

i've made and released 11 albums and in

the process i've switched genre from

country

to pop to alternative to folk

and this might sound like a very

songwriter-centric

line of discussion

but in a way i really do think

we are all

writers

and most of us

write in a different voice for different

situations

you write

differently in your instagram stories

than you do your senior thesis

you send a different type of email to

your boss than you do your best friend

from home

we are all

literary chameleons and i think it's

fascinating

it's just a continuation of the idea

that we are so many things

all the time

and

i know it can be really overwhelming

figuring out who to be

and when

who you are now

and how to act in order to get where you

want to go

i have some good news

it's totally up to you

i have some terrifying news

it's totally up to you

i said to you earlier that i don't ever

offer advice unless someone asked me for

it and now i'll tell you why

as a person who started my very public

career

at the age of 15 it came with a price

and that price

was years

of unsolicited advice

being the youngest person in every room

for over a decade

meant

that i was constantly being issued

warnings

from older members of the music industry

media interviewers executives and this

advice

often presented itself

as thinly veiled warnings

see i was a teenager

at a time when our society was

absolutely obsessed with the idea

of having perfect

young female role models

it felt like every interview i did

included slight barbs by the interviewer

about me one day

running off the rails

and that meant a different thing

to every person who said it to me so i

became a young adult while being fed the

message

that if i didn't make

any mistakes

all the children of america

would grow up to be perfect angels

however if i did slip up

the entire earth would fall off its axis

and it would be entirely my fault and i

would go to pop star jail

forever and ever

it was all centered around the idea

that mistakes

equal

failure

and ultimately

the loss

of any chance at a happy or rewarding

life

this

has not been my experience

my experience has been

that my mistakes

led to the best things in my life

and

being embarrassed when you mess up

it's part of the human experience

getting back up

dusting yourself off

and seeing who still wants to hang out

with you afterward and laugh about it

that's a gift

the times i was told no or wasn't

included

wasn't chosen didn't win didn't make the

cut

looking back it really feels like those

moments

were as important if not more crucial

than the moments i was told yes

not being invited

to the parties and sleepovers in my

hometown

made me feel hopelessly lonely

but because i felt alone i would sit in

my room and write the songs that would

get me

a ticket somewhere else

having label executives in nashville

tell me

that only 35 year old housewives

listened to country music

and there was no place for a 13 year old

on their roster

made me cry in the car on the way home

but then i'd post my songs on my myspace

and yes myspace

and i would message with other teenagers

like me who loved country music but just

didn't have anyone singing from their

perspective

having journalists write in-depth

oftentimes critical pieces about who

they perceive me to be

made me feel like i was living in some

weird simulation

but it also made me look inward

to learn about who i actually am

having the world treat my love life like

a spectator sport in which i lose

every single game

was not a great way to date in my teens

and 20s

but it taught me

to protect my private life

fiercely

being publicly humiliated over and over

again at a young age was excruciatingly

painful

but it forced me

to devalue the ridiculous notion

of minute by minute

ever fluctuating social relevance and

likability getting canceled on the

internet

and nearly losing my career

gave me an excellent knowledge of all

the types of wine

[Applause]

i know i sound

like a consummate optimist but i'm

really not

i lose perspective all the time

sometimes

everything

just feels completely pointless

i know the pressure

of living your life through the lens of

perfectionism

and i know that i'm talking to a group

of perfectionists because you are here

today

graduating from nyu

[Music]

[Applause]

so this

might be hard for you to hear

in your life

you will inevitably

misspeak

trust the wrong person

under react

overreact hurt the people who didn't

deserve it

overthink

not think at all

self-sabotage

create a reality where only your

experience exists

ruin perfectly good moments for yourself

and others deny any wrongdoing

not take the steps to make it right feel

very guilty

let the guilt eat at you hit rock bottom

finally address the pain you caused try

to do better next time

rinse repeat

[Applause]

and i'm not gonna lie

these mistakes

will cause you to lose things

i'm trying to tell you

that losing things

doesn't just mean losing

a lot of the time

when we lose things

we gain things too

now you leave the structure and

framework

of school

and chart your own path

every choice you make leads to the next

choice which leads to the next and i

know it's hard

to know

which path to take

there will be times in life where you

need to stand up for yourself

times when the right thing is actually

to back down and apologize

times when the right thing is to fight

times when the right thing is to turn

and run

times to hold on with all you have

and times to let go with grace

sometimes the right thing to do is to

throw out the old schools of thought in

the name of progress and reform

sometimes the right thing to do is to

sit and listen to the wisdom of those

who have come before us

how will you know

what the right choice is in these

crucial moments

you won't

how do i give advice to this many people

about their life choices i won't

the scary news is

you're on your own now

but the cool news is

you're on your own now

[Applause]

i leave you with this

we are led

by our gut instincts

our intuition

our desires and fears our scars and our

dreams

and you will screw it up sometimes

so will i

and when i do you will most likely read

about it on the internet

anyway hard things will happen to us

we will recover

we will learn from it

we will grow more resilient because of

it

and as long as we are fortunate enough

to be breathing

we will breathe in

breathe through

breathe deep

and breathe out

and i am a doctor now so i know how

breathing works

i hope you know

how proud

i am

to share this day with you

we're doing this together

so let's just keep dancing like we're

the class of 22.

[Applause]