Taylor Swift, an American pop icon, receives a PhD from New York University.
The American singer Taylor Swift will now be known as Dr. Taylor Swift after receiving an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa) from New York University in the United States.
In her 2022 graduating speech at New York University, 11-time Grammy Award winner Dr. Taylor Swift explained that her success is a direct result of her experiences of rejection.
“Looking back, it really feels like those moments were as important, if not more crucial, than the moments I was told ‘yes,'” Swift added in her address, referring to the times she was told ‘no,’ or that she wasn’t included, chosen, won, or made the cut.
The 32-year-old singer, who began her remarkable musical career at the age of 15, stated that she received numerous warnings from executives, interviewers, the media, and more senior members of the music industry since she was the youngest person in every room.
She was therefore constantly extra cautious to avoid making mistakes, but as a young adult, she realized that mistakes are normal and that they are what led to the best experiences in life.
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She said, “It was not a great way to date in my teens and 20s to have the world treat my love life like a spectator sport in which I lose every single game, but it taught me to protect my private life fiercely.”
Growing up, Dr. Taylor Swift benefitted from the support of her parent, mentors right from kindergarten to her time at Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School in Pennsylvania up till the moment she moved to Tennessee, USA to pursue her music career fully. Dr. Taylor Swift emphasised to the graduates of New York University that dismissal moments are very important, recalling that as a kid she’d internally simmer after not getting invited to sleepovers. However, working on her music and herself – instead of dwelling on being told “no” – paid off.
“You will unavoidably miscommunicate, put your trust in the wrong person, overreact, underreact, and cause hurt to those who didn’t deserve it.”
“[You will] allow the guilt to consume you until you reach your lowest point, face the hurt you caused, attempt to do better the next time, rinse, repeat.”
Dr. Swift stated that navigating those rejections and mistakes can help you “chart your own path.”
