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 the trustee and members of the board, NYU’s president Andrew Hamilton, provost Katherine 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 V. 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 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—or 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, dad, and brother Austin for the sacrifices they made every day so I could go from singing in coffeehouses to standing up here with you 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.
