Best Commencement Speeches, Job Numbers, and a New School
Also: dressing for an interview
This year’s commencement speeches did not disappoint. Even after watching dozens, I still tear up as the camera pans to the hopeful students and proud parents. The messages to a new generation centered on humanity, open-mindedness, and perseverance.
Commencement Speech Roundup
Jon M Chu | USC Commencement Speaker
Jon M Chu, film director of Crazy, Rich Asians and Wicked, gave a beautiful speech to the graduates of USC. His message focuses on leaning into humanity in an age of machinery.
Quotes that stuck with me:
“The old stories of who we are and what we stand for are breaking down. It feels like fear, blame, and division dominate our airwaves-- overwhelming the space where our dreams used to live. When the old stories fall apart, it’s time to write a new one.”
“Your job isn’t to “solve” yourself. Your job is to learn to play your notes with increasing honesty and complexity.”
Maggie Rogers | NYU Tisch Commencement Speaker
Singer and songwriter, Maggie Rogers shares her perspectives on artistry, perseverance and dreams.
Quote that stuck with me:
“There are all these “almost exits.” Things that people will never see. Moments when it almost didn’t happen or I missed the window. That’s the thing I always remember about what’s so special about standing on stage at Radio City. When the spotlight hits you and the house goes dark the only thing you can see are the exit signs….I don’t know any artist that hasn’t considered quitting but you didn’t get here because you wanted to do something easy. You got here because you wanted to do something great….Your artistic faith will save you. The unflinching belief and constant recommitment to your singular gifts and to your unique timing.”
Clary Doyle | Northwestern Commencement Speaker
Doyle served as the student speaker. She pulled from her education in philosophy to encourage fellow students to sit with unknown and revel in doubt.
Quotes that stuck with me:
“The Athenians sentenced Socrates to death for “corrupting the youth” because he taught his students to question and to doubt and while they did succeed in killing Socrates, they could not keep his wisdom from spreading. Thousands of years later, we still read the Socratic dialogues and we still believe that there is wisdom in not knowing.”
“Graduation speeches usually end with a call to change the world but the truth is this world will change whether or not you do anything about it. So instead, I encourage you to do something much harder. Something more important. And that is to change your mind.”
Recently Reading
Nobody Has A Personality Anymore
Freya India | Girls Substack
India’s essay is about therapy-speak, a topic that has long fascinated me. About 8 years ago I noticed a shift in how young people described their lives. Words like toxic, boundaries, defiance disorder, people-pleasing, gaslighting, red flag, triggering, trauma, emotional labor, codependent, anxious attachment, overstimulated, and regulate/dysregulate became common phrases in my interviews with young people across geographies, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
A quote from the essay that has stuck with me:
“We are thinking about ourselves enough. We don’t need more awareness or answers. My worry is that after a lifetime spent trying to explain themselves, solve their strong feelings, standardize their personalities, and make sense of every experience, a generation might realize that the only problem they had, all along, was being human.”
US Workers See AI-Induced Productivity Growth, Fed Survey Shows
Alexandre Tanzi | Bloomberg
A new paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Vanderbilt, and Harvard confirms what many of us already sensed: People are getting significantly more done when using AI. Among workers who used generative AI every day in the previous week, 34% said it saved them four hours or more. On average, workers are 33% more productive in each hour that they use generative AI.
This productivity bump will have downstream effects. Unemployment for those ages 22 to 27 rose to 5.8 percent in March, a four year high. Ford CEO Jim Farley spoke candidly at the Aspen Ideas Festival, noting that AI is poised to displace a significant number of white-collar workers, potentially leading to a great focus on skilled trades and hands-on jobs.
A good friend of mine who works in AI told me he isn’t putting money in 529 accounts for his kids (!!??) because he doesn’t think 4-year degrees will be “a big thing”in 15 years. (This is not investment advice. Just sharing an opinion from a smart friend).
Speaking of education disruption…
Alpha School Review
Astral Codex Ten
The Alpha School is an AI-powered, teacher-free, accelerated learning institution. This review is fascinating because it’s written by a father who moved his family to Austin, TX and enrolled his kids in the school for a year. He offers a detailed description of how the students learn, how the faculty (“guides”) operate, and how incentives shape the learning process. Along the way, he shares astute observations about where our education system could be headed.
What I’m Working On
Features
I was recently interviewed by Becky Malinsky, legendary stylist and fashion writer, for her column in The Financial Times about what to wear to a job interview. We talked about how the concept of authenticity shapes so many aspects of work, including fashion.
Hiring managers have shared stories of entry-level candidates showing up to virtual interviews with messy backgrounds, poor lighting, casual attire, and—in one case—from bed. When I ask young people what they wear when working from home, I often hear:
“I’m not going to put on a blazer and pretend I’m not in my childhood bedroom. I’m going to be myself.”
I can see both sides. But in a tough job market for early-career workers, I think erring on the side of formality is better than the alternative.
Research
Three years ago, I worked with Zak Dychtwald, Dr. Eliza Filby, and Vivian Marwha on the architecture for an ambitious global study and it’s been interesting to see it come to life. Congratulations to Marcie Merriman and the EY team for bringing this to the finish line. In my next newsletter, I will break down this study and share what I believe are the most interesting insights. The full report is now available.
Speaking
In June I spoke in Minneapolis, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Washington DC, and New York. This month I’ll be in Chicago and West Virginia.
/Misc
I hope you all had a great 4th! We kept the girls up way past bedtime and have been paying for it ever since :)
