May 29, 2026 3 min read

As another school year comes to a close, we wanted to offer some words of wisdom to our new high school and college graduates.

We looked to a few notable keynote commencement addresses for inspiration. Some are poignant, others, irreverent, but all are memorable.

– From the late Steve Jobs to the 2005 class at Stanford University:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition … Stay hungry, stay foolish.”

– Denzel Washington, to the University of Pennsylvania Class of 2011:

“Fall forward. … Reggie Jackson struck out 2,600 times in his career, the most in the history of baseball. But you don’t hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs. Fall forward. Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn’t know that because the 1,001st was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

– Taylor Swift, to New York University’s Class of 2022:

“Hard things will happen to us. We will recover. We will learn from it. We will grow more resilient because of it. As long as we are fortunate enough to be breathing, we will breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out.”

– Oprah Winfrey, to the 2013 class at Harvard University:

“There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.”

– Kermit the Frog, to the 2025 graduates of the University of Maryland (alma mater of muppet creator Jim Henson):

“Life is not a solo act … It’s a big, messy, delightful ensemble piece, especially when you are with your people. Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together.”

– Kamala Harris, to the 2022 class at Tennessee State University:

“I look at this unsettled world and, yes, I then see the challenges, but I’m here to tell you, I also see the opportunities. The opportunities for your leadership. The future of our country and our world will be shaped by you.”

– Idina Menzel, to the 2023 graduates of the University of Pennsylvania:

“While perfection is elusive, humanity is certain, and it will get you where you want to go, where you need to be.”

Take the messages to heart. Choose what resonates with you and embrace it.

And remember, inspiration lurks in unlikely places and things – even muppets.

It’s up to you to recognize it.

Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2026.