Last week, I had the honor of sitting on the platform for the NYU Class of ’22 commencement. It was a great experience that reminded me of why we are here. Our students have faith in us. They commit their time and their tuition and expect to receive an education that prepares them to achieve their goals in life. This is a lot to ask. Striving to meet this purpose is one of the most noble roles in society, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to play a part.
I had two takeaways from the ceremony. Taylor Swift gave a thoughtful and eloquent speech. Of the many “life hacks” she passed on to the class of ‘22 this one struck me. It’s good to try. She said that she wanted to date and hang out with the people who didn’t try when she was in high school. Now she hires the people who try. When you don’t try, failure is no big deal. Trying is caring. You expose yourself by trying, but you won’t accomplish much without trying and caring.
At the end, they showed video cameos from a number of NYU alumni celebrities. Billy Crystal who is both an alum and the parent of an alum said, “to all the parents out there, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Thank God I don’t have to pay for college anymore.” He was funny as he always is, but it did remind me that we have to be sure that every dollar we spend brings value to NYU.
I hope you feel the pride in NYU that I do. We are so fortunate to be part of this great institution and its noble purpose. We had a number of IT volunteers this year and I hope to see you at commencement next year!