If you want to cross the river of life, you're gonna get wet. And that's not a bug — that's a feature.
failure resilience growth
Mark Rober
MIT Commencement 2023, 2023
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.
speech graduation authenticity
Taylor Swift
New York University Commencement 2022, 2022
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.
speech graduation failure
Taylor Swift
New York University Commencement 2022, 2022
The scary news is, you're on your own now. But the cool news is, you're on your own now.
speech graduation independence
Taylor Swift
New York University Commencement 2022, 2022
By reading, you can have lunch with Ben Franklin, or every great personality in the history of the world. You can in fact have a very long lunch with them.
speech graduation curiosity
Warren Buffett
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Commencement 2020, 2020
Nobody wants to be stuck behind a locked door, but nobody wants to live in a hallway either.
speech graduation purpose
Pete Davis
Harvard University Commencement 2018, 2018
In this age of Infinite Browsing Mode, we should pick a damn movie and watch it all the way through — before we fall asleep.
speech graduation purpose
Pete Davis
Harvard University Commencement 2018, 2018
When you hear someone longing for the 'good old days,' take it with a grain of salt. The 'good old days' weren't that great.
speech graduation wisdom
Barack Obama
Rutgers University Commencement 2016, 2016
An answer can only be as good as the question asked.
speech graduation curiosity
James Ryan
Harvard Graduate School of Education Commencement 2016, 2016
Always ask the turtle.
speech graduation empathy
Gloria Steinem
Bennington College Commencement 2015, 2015
It is okay to encourage others to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. But if you do, just remember that some people have no boots.
speech graduation empathy
Neil deGrasse Tyson
UMass Amherst Commencement 2015, 2015
It's okay to map out your future — but do it in pencil.
speech graduation wisdom
Jon Bon Jovi
Rutgers University-Camden Commencement 2015, 2015