American Pop Superstar Taylor Swift is now Dr Swift after receiving an honorary degree from New York University (NYU) at the Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
The ‘22’ signer was presented with a Doctorate in Fine Arts before addressing the graduating class of 2022.
“I was a teenager at a time when our society was absolutely obsessed with the idea of having perfect young female role models,” Swift told the new graduates. 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 perfect angels,” she stated.
“However, if I did slip up, the entire Earth would fall off its axis, and it’d be entirely my fault,” she added.
“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.”
Dawned in a black cap and purple gown, Swift, 32, was beaming with pride as waved and blew kisses to the Bronx crowd while walking on the to accept her award.
In a 25-minute keynote, the singer encouraged the new grads to feel free to try new things and not be fearful of making mistakes.
“I imagine the idea of a normal college experience was all you wanted, too. 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 service 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,” she expressed.
“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,” the Shake It Off singer added in her speech.
“I have some good news: It’s totally up to you. I have some terrifying news: It’s totally up to you.”
Swift is the latest high-profile person to receive an honorary NYU degree.
Others include 18-time Grammy winner Aretha Franklin, former president Bill Clinton, civil rights leader John Lewis, and actor Billy Crystal, who also graduated from the university with a bachelor of fine arts degree.
