What "Follow Your Dreams" Misses | Harvey Mudd Commencement Speech 2024

[@6c3333]

Wow, the animation in this one was crazy realistic!

[@A3Kr0n]

Grant is an A.I. bot programmed in Python.

[@manojkaware]

Yes

[@ihmejakki2731]

The latest Manim library update

[@orcishhorde]

Especially the tassel physics

[@goldnutter412]

lmao well played, you win a chocolate cookie !

[@iamthirdyt]

FINALLY someone who acknowledges survivorship bias of their success and recognize the luck of their timing in addition to their hard work.

[@pianoplaynight]

Bo Burnham did it too on Conan. Really had an impact on me at a crosspoint between a career in computer science and one in music.

[@brandall101]

The 12 year old book "Too Good They Can't Ignore You" is largely based on this idea.

[@luisfilipe2023]

I think the only danger with this survivorship bias thing is making you believe you can’t achieve something which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy

[@uberpaht]

Dave Grohl raises the same point numerous times in his autobiography.

[@arunkarthikma3121]

​@@luisfilipe2023 That's not what survivorship bias means

[@jimmytaco6738]

Maybe it's just me, but after hearing Grant's voice without seeing his face for so long, I find it super weird that that guy at the podium has the exact same voice as 3Blue1Brown.

[@jordanwait7264]

I think you might be onto something

[@eh8164]

That's just the android they use to allow non-corporeals to hold speeches.

[@LmaoDed-haha]

He is onto Tacos

[@neotoico5846]

his hair is hidden (and I don't like that)

[@atulmathur84]

I am still waiting for an animated graph

[@MattsPS]

His "video narrator" voice is so clear and relaxing, but after watching this speech... IS THAT JUST HIS REGULAR VOICE?!

[@drako3659]

Maybe it wasn't and it is now?

[@cassiek6531]

It sounds a lot like my "giving a speech" voice - presentations and lessons get the same one, casual conversation sounds very different. (Like when you hear someone drop into customer service voice!) Definitely I would use the same voice to give a commencement speech and to do a video lesson.

[@nikhilchouhan1802]

@@cassiek6531 tbh his voice sounded the same in the lex fridman podcast as well.

[@roylim1169]

Now that's a assuming he didnt start teaching on youtube with his regular voice

[@chriss3404]

I maintain that 3b1b narrated over this guy's speech.

[@Op68rules]

One of the best commencement speeches I've ever heard.

[@joshuabrittain5919]

By far the best I've ever heard.

[@aktchungrabanio6467]

Not really, no.

[@morbiusfan3176]

Y'all simp way too hard for this guy.

[@mythbuster6126]

​@@joshuabrittain5919looks like this is the only speech you heard

[@rapus007]

have a look at the one from mark Rober. both shine in a way that they are grounded in their thoughts to be conveyed

[@Sciencedoneright]

I know that you get comments like this regularly, but I cannot state in words the importance you have played in my life in terms of math and the sciences. You were singlehandedly the only person who actually fueled that very passion you were talking about, and currently I am at a fork in the road of my life, confused on what I'll do in the future. This advice might actually help. Thank you yet again for all the wonderful things you've made and posted on this platform. You are deeply loved and appreciated by your community you have built here on KZbin. ❤

[@etz_RacingDog]

yus i love him so much ...never ever liked someone like this

[@Sciencedoneright]

@@etz_RacingDog I hope your comment was made in a platonic sense

[@nitecomet]

@@SciencedonerightCapital P Platonic, like the solids.

[@3blue1brown]

I'm touched to hear it. Best of luck with whatever fork in the road you face. One of the aims of the talk was to get those passionate about something purely academic (like math) to not necessarily pursue a purely academic path. Don't be afraid to take some time trying something completely different than you otherwise might, as long as it centers on adding value to others.

[@etz_RacingDog]

@@Sciencedoneright in both ways.

[@girri]

This is awesome. Some takeaways: - Following your passion is important, but it should be balanced with pragmatic concerns and a focus on adding value to others. - Success after college is more about making a difference and contributing to others than just personal growth and learning. - If you don't have a defining passion, seek opportunities where your skills intersect with adding value to others, and passion will follow. - Be aware of survivorship bias when considering advice to "follow your dreams," as success often depends on timing and external factors. - Recognize the influence you can have on shaping the dreams of those younger than you. - Expect and embrace change, both in the world around you and within yourself, and remain adaptable to new opportunities. - Treat passion as a fuel and a starting point, rather than a fixed destination, and be open to changing direction based on the forces around you.

[@ArinNagarwalme22b107]

I love you for posting this

[@noahlederer8587]

🗿 for making this comment. One takeaway I had was the 10 year before now and 10 year after now thing. Helped me to put my dreams into context

[@trevorfranks69]

Others... others... others... just call it people pleasing at this point.

[@crisantoe5057]

👍

[@jdcaporale]

I just finished my PhD at over 30 years old and am a bit vectorless. This speech hit home and matches so much of my experience. Good luck class of 2024!!

[@jon-williammurphy9780]

Find the flow of the vector field, try to anticipate the curl and divergence, you are a sentient particle, not everything is possible but your solution set is infinite

[@baptistebeardwood]

@@jon-williammurphy9780 what he said

[@supervaka9584]

​@@jon-williammurphy9780beautiful!

[@richardaversa7128]

It's not vectorless, it's just the zero vector - pointing in all directions. May your magnitude grow large, my friend.

[@icantollie]

A zero vector does not point in any direction because its dot product with any unit vector in any direction would be zero

[@iainmackenzieUK]

I am 64 this year. Still teaching Physics and still inspired by this speech. :)

[@dsi476]

are u still alive?

[@NordicPeace-ev]

@@dsi476 no

[@randominternetguy4357]

"Action precedes motivation" I feel like this quote is too good. Speaks volumes and resonated a lot with me (and I assume quite a few other people too). We were always meant to believe that we are sipposed to "dream big" and "become successful". However, that's setting too high expectations and aiming for "failure".

[@rawmango1321]

Yea when I was a student I always found that getting better at the subject gave me even more motivation to do it

[@SeamusHarper1234]

That's not exactly true. If you have a clear vision on an impossible goal (and I absolutely stress impossible), you set your mind in a state where growth is accelerated. As an example from the business side, if you strive to double your sales, you can achieve it by simply adding more effort, maybe hiring someone to do the same you do. That's a common road to burnout. If you strive for 10x, you simply cannot do it by doing the same things that got you to where you are. You need to think about what NOT to do, drop maybe 80% of what you did and do something entirely different. The most important thing is, that you don't measure your success by your vision, which is unobtainable. You measure your success by looking behind, what you have accomplished and how you grew and changed.

[@garrettmillard525]

It's also quite literally how our neurobiology works. A task can seem daunting and insurmountable, or even just boring or painful until we start it. Once we do so, dopamine is released, and not only do we become confident in our capacity to finish it, laugh at anxiety we held prior, but often we can end up enjoying it. The dishes are a chore until I'm singing along to myself, getting that scrub a dub dub on, feeling satisfied with myself and my space.

[@DAMfoxygrampa]

It's kinda completely obvious when you think about it. How can you be passionate about something you haven't done before?

[@realizbac4624]

If you like that I recommend reading “teaching the actuality of revolution” by Derek Ford

[@rhettorical_]

Phenomenal speech. I've now spent a decade in corporate America - while success is not guaranteed proactively being useful, making others lives easier, helping the next up and anticipating change stacks the odds significantly in your favor and is the advice I provide new hires at our firm.

[@andrewharrison8436]

Agree, perhaps I would add "learning from others" to your list and then point out from my several decades of experience it applies in the UK as well.

[@trevorfranks69]

How's that different than people pleasing?

[@trevorfranks69]

And then you get replaced by an indian

[@realvedant_1]

I started as a chef. Loved food to death. Realised that its just a mere love and passion for the thing and not what I want to do in life. I wasn't even aware of your channel when I decided to go for masters in mathematics but what you've said is spot on and reflects my life's decisions and choices in more ways I can imagine. Thank you for putting my feelings into words. And thank you for the little pieces of advice you've had in the speech.

[@Yashodhan1917]

Grant is such an eloquent speaker. Never once did he need to use filler words like "erm, uh, like". His speech flowed so smoothly and he has a comforting voice.

[@cameronschyuder9034]

I don't want to deny this but also it seems he is reading from a script on the podium. It's commonplace nowadays and it's a long speech so I am not saying that as a negative, more to correct that it is much easier to read something without filler than to say on the spot or have it memorized even

[@Yashodhan1917]

@@cameronschyuder9034 yes I know, but he's not reading it verbatim and it's still difficult not to fumble even if you are

[@yun-z]

@@cameronschyuder9034 he wrote a fantastic script

[@flamethrower883]

​@@cameronschyuder9034 Indeed but he seldom looked at it. He was engaging.

[@LoloOli-hk9ov]

In even live stream in his Channel he never fumbled (see lockdown math Live streams) he is naturally very good speaker and singer also ​@@cameronschyuder9034

[@HarveyMuddCollege]

Thank you, Grant, for inspiring our graduates!

[@gordon.sarratt]

woah y'all just appeared in the comments damn

[@AliZegler]

This college got a youtube channel

[@tonyennis1787]

"Just because you have a passion for something doesn't mean you don't suck at it" - Mike Rowe on following your passion

[@lvn5609]

I firmly believe that those who follow their passion for something will inevitably get better at it, unless their passion is to suck at their craft and complain.

[@CRMcGee2]

How true, he ‘sucks at it’ with his political views, his choice of supporting the coup, and the liars. There’s an old saying about ‘thicker than pig shite’ that describes him, the former pig farmer. He became wealthy playing at other people's dirty jobs for a few days. The people who everyday have to get up and go work a dirty job who watch that show; how does it feel to help make him a multimillionaire? The guys work between 35 and $45 million a real average man of the people.

[@0xDEAD_Inside]

​@@CRMcGee2 Which new LLM AI is this?

[@protone2012]

@@lvn5609 take example in online gaming. There are very "passionate" and emotional people on lower percentile ranks but they play for years in those places. The ranked system is a zero sum game; and I think the world is the same. Especially for passion the number of viable places is much smaller than a number of passionate people for it. In the end everything is solved by competition; and you end up in situation where passionate people competing with other passionate people and some or even most are inalienable to not succeed.

[@CRMcGee2]

@@0xDEAD_Inside So, if it's more than a few words, it can't be an actual person providing a real comment. I guess it has to be simple for the pig shite watchers.

[@diobrando8979]

I remember watching your commencement speech "Ego and Math" around a year ago when I was finishing my second year of undergraduate math and had clear ideas of getting into academia and continuing to study math, actually left a comment there talking about it. Funny enough, finishing my third year now and I'm thinking of doing a full 180º and doing something completely different once I finish my degree, and I think it's mainly because of the little voice in my head that's been there since I started college telling me that math isn't even close to being an optimal field to spend time on if I want to help others and advance the causes I believe in (which I think is what will bring me real joy). It's been difficult battling all of the inner convincing I did that academia was the only and best way for me, where I'd put best use of my skills, and that I would regret it otherwise. At the end, the feeling that won was that of wanting to make other people's lives better. I like that both speeches hover around the same topic. It means it's really something important for you or at least has been in the last year, and it just makes me more reassured in my current thoughts about it

[@3blue1brown]

Well articulated! It probably has less to do with my own life in the last year than it does with reflections on where I was as a college student, given the target audience here. That speech at Stanford, and at least part of the one here, were both meant to encourage students, especially those who've achieved clear success in STEM fields in school, to step back to ask seriously what they'll feel best doing with those talents. Continuing with academia is a common default, and while there's clear value to basic research done well, it's a shame if clever students follow that path due to inertia if a little reflection could instead result in them landing elsewhere in the world where there's a greater vacuum in mathematical prowess.

[@Fizikakaalda]

didnt known that Dio also likes math

[@kabutothe8578]

This video will comeback in 11 year

[@strawberry_cake1703]

Hi future commentators

[@מיכאלניצן-ק4ח]

Hi me from the future, did we make it? Was it worth it? I hope you still know how special and loved you are regardless of how society sees us. Do we have a good job? A place that feels like home? Do we live as who we really are? Are we finally free? In which country are we in? Do you still have our old things? I trust in you, and she believed in us, so you must be in a better place than I am. Be proud of that, bitch🖤 I'm sure that this moment feels like lifetimes ago, and it literally is, but you were here, and now you're yourself, you survived somehow. You'll be through serious shit, but you've already been through enough shit to know you'll thrive❤

[@מיכאלניצן-ק4ח]

B

[@ahsansajjad9991]

we are one of those who saw it when it happened.

[@maymkn]

In case you're seeing this in the future, I'm letting you know I was here!

[@roshanrane3112]

He's so right and well articulated, as always. TL DR: 1. When looking for a career, focus on "how can I add value to others life" rather than "what would make me famous" 2. Passion is just a fuel, not a destination. Don't follow just dreams but also opportunities. Keep an eye out for what opportunities your times are offering and keep experimenting with what your passion is and how it can contribute. The world keeps changing fast and the changes are unpredictable, so we have to be nimble. 3. Action precedes Motivation. Ex: you become interested in regular exercise AFTER u start exercising regularly for few weeks. 4. Understand that you have a lot of influence on the younger generation that follows you as they follow your actions. Guide them. PS: I didn't know I learnt most of my math intuitions from this guy who was born 1997 😂

[@abel3557]

My issue with the video is the title. If it's about following your dreams, why does he make his points fully centered around jobs and careers? While to many, it may not seem like a big deal, but in truth, many people have dreams that have no connection to a career/job. Dreams are not so insignificant such that they can be easily changed/stray from what you initially wanted. A dream to many is a culmination of their very being. If passion and motivation is the fuel to keep you going towards your dream, your dream itself(to many) is the fuel that keeps you alive. In a metaphorical sense, its your second heart. It may come out of my own personal bias, but I wholey feel that mine and all other people's dreams should come first. This isn't some mere wish upon a shooting star, it is the heart that powers my very being and the being of others. So to simplify this down, I feel that the speaker conflated wishes and goals with dreams. He also made it seem as if dreams solely revolved around careers and jobs. And I feel that this tainted his entire speech

[@Nyltiac14]

As a grad in the audience that day, your speech was incredibly powerful in person and with each re-watch! Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom and for marrying realism with optimism! Graduating from college and moving into the real world has its share of stressors, but your words brought a welcome reality check! It was also so lovely meeting you in person! Thank you for all you do!

[@reisman33]

Incredibly profound. I encourage all recent grads to rewatch this video in 10 years to appreciate how spot-on Grant's advice is. His perspective is relevant to people at all stages of life.

[@vatsalsaxena2092]

Although, I am going to graduate in June 2025. I can surely say this is the first and the best commencement speech I have heard. I also owe to my LUCK that I found this superb Channel in my early teenage years. Also, luckily KZbin recommended this 5 month old video on my KZbin home. This is a huge opportunity for a person who may not get to listen to this otherwise if KZbin and 3blue1brown didn't exist...Thanks and best wishes from India. People like you are really needed for the upcoming generation to flourish and enjoy practical advice...

[@melvin6228]

This speech is super therapeutic. This will change my life, thanks. Finally SOMEONE is making sense about this topic and giving some valuable advice that I had blindspots for. Things that stood out: * How can I add value to people their lives? That's the game you're playing in society. It goes hand in hand with growing, but now is the time to add value and grow to add more value. * Action precedes motivation * Find an upcoming wave and ride it * Gratitude + channel growth helped Grant to make more videos. Grant had passion for math but not for videos or for teaching. Grant was lucky with the timing. If he'd be born 10 years ago or 10 years later he'd have a lot less reach. * What is possible now that wasn't possible 10 years ago, which might get harder 10 years for now? * Encouragement is sometimes enough to find passion, so you could develop passion about anything as long as you get enough encouragement "you're really good at this, you should consider majoring at math." * You can shape the dreams of the people behind you (in age)

[@swiss_sailortv4740]

I remember watching your videos for the first time in 9th grade at the age of 14, and how mysterious and amazing I thought the results were. Fast forward 6 years, and I am now in the 4th semester of physics at the University of Heidelberg, with the opportunity to live out my passion and study interesting fields like differential geometry. It is safe to say that your videos have changed my life and had a lasting impact, as that’s how I truly discovered math and physics. You have a huge impact on the math community, and even here in Germany at uni, everybody knows your videos and loves you. Thank you so much.

[@aayusharya6899]

As someone who stumbled on Grant's KhanAcademy math lessons during high school, and is currently in 4th semester of master's at University of Mainz (not far from you): Hi there! I have a similar feeling about him too.

[@christopherramsey7027]

I love how this speech wasn't just generic enthusiasm or entertainment. He gave some genuinely, really good advice, as well as the reasoning behind it, that they probably wouldn't have heard otherwise.

[@styyber]

You're a legend in my university, so much so that people learn most basic algebra concepts rather from your videos than the teaching material. You definitely added a ton of value to us.

[@incianali]

Hi! I'm a 2023 graduate, and I got to listen to you last year at the Moody lecture, which was as amazing as this talk! I'm so glad you came to HMC, and I'm so glad to have met you. Thank you for all the wonderful advice you've given! :)

[@e-dragon4691]

"Never underestimate just how much influence you can have on others" This is so true, just one simple action, advice or direction you give can change entire lifes and I've seen that happen so often by now. And what's more important, this applies not only to just a career, but also pretty much anything else in life.

[@LeVraiPoio]

This is sweet. To me this especially resonates as a call to everyone, but most of all to teachers and grownups : Never stop encouraging others. I wish someone given that mission to my father, maybe he wouldn't have crushed my willpower to dust. (If that rings a bell, seek help, talk, it helps. And finally, learn to do beautiful meaningful stuff with said dust.)

[@emilysha418]

glad you're growing, healing, and encouraging others!

[@michaelmartin7790]

What an incredible orator. Your voice and cadence are simply exquisite. The content of your speech is equally as impressive!

[@kevinelezi7089]

What an incredible vector

[@pendragon7600]

The single most eloquent speaker I've ever heard. I'm forever grateful for your wisdom. I know you're aware of the massive influence you've had on people's lives, but you would not believe. Quite literally, you have completely changed the entire course of many people's lives for the better, including my own. By the definition of success you outlined in this speech, you're among the most successful alive. And what a good definition that is.

[@DevinFriske]

I have a slight disagreement here - a great speaker’s eloquence comes from when the audience is assumed to be eloquent listeners 😉 so we should thank Harvey Mudd for graduating smart cookies. I felt he spoke briskly. My school’s commencement had some CEO talk about how a poor GPA doesn’t matter since you just need to know the “right people”. Grant’s worldview aligns more closely to how I was back then, so I would have much preferred Grant’s speech then. But now… as an average worker bee, sadly I see why knowing the right people is important.

[@DeJay7]

The legend, the man that used his, as he put it, fortunate situation to positively influence the lives of whoever he can, making the most he possibly can out of everything. It's undoubtedly very difficult to put in words how impressive what he has done is. Getting so so many people to appreciate mathematical ideas is a crazy achievement, and I am glad his community knows that very well. So, very simply, thank you Grant, for you granted me and a lot of other people the opportunity to be taught and to grow by a person this passionate about our growth, you.

[@Raaawrrrrr]

Amazing speech. This a gem. No need to read entire books. He gave amazing, well-thought, well-articulated pointers to a very tricky question. This for me is worth more than gold. Thank you, bright mind. May you illuminate us with your knowledge ever more.

[@فاطمةمشفق]

This is the best commencement speech I've ever heard It is the perfect time to watch it while studying for final exams in the final semester of Computer Science major The info's about passion, dreams, adaptability with change, success ... etc so valuable Thanks

[@xylxylxylxyl]

Excellent speech. Adding value to other people's lives is the best thing any entrepreneur, phd student, or office worker could hear.

[@mythtech]

Influence can play a great deal into life as a whole. A few words said can cause small decisions to change, that start a chain reaction, changing the path your life was going towards. Teachers have arguably one of, if not the most, important role in deciding the future of our world, as what they say and the way they teach can change immense things in this world. I can guarantee you, every single one of you reading this comment would have had a time in the past where you would have regretted something or done something as a coin-flip, but in the present day, you would be glad things progressed the way they did, as otherwise they could have altered major things in your life where you would not have that thing any other way. Like Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future", and this is something I stand by, as despite my relatively young age, I have faced the same sort of chain reactions that have made my life the way it is today, and I am glad things happened the way they did. Great speech, Grant. I wish I get the chance to meet you in person someday.

[@primeirrational]

Even as someone who’s about to graduate from med school, your speech hits home. All careers are ones where you get the honor to use your knowledge to help other people. And I will think about “action precedes motivation” for a long time. I’m absolutely certain that thought will make the tougher days ahead a bit more bearable.

[@a.b3203]

I was going to study a useless university major I had no interest in (European Law), but now partly thanks to you I’ve gotten my maths and physics diplomas and I’ll begin studying electrical engineering in September. Thanks for all you’ve done.

[@davidestfanous9362]

speaking from experience is very honest, the tiny smiles on the profs' faces explain how deep and enjoyable the words are. you helped me so much during my journey thanks man and happy to see your face for the first time.

[@dylancam812]

Thank you Grant this was an awesome speech. Couldn’t have asked for a better commencement speaker for my graduation. I don’t think there’s a single member of our graduating class that hasn’t been profoundly impacted by your videos. If there was, surely they would be by this wonderful speech

[@chemfunman]

Your speech is a must-watch for anyone from age 8 to 88. I thank you for the genuine and inspiring sharing. Spot-on, candid, and motivational. Action precedes motivation. I teach chemistry in person and on KZbin for a decade. I look back at my training at the university and what I did during the summer vacations, and how & what I am doing impact others around the globe, so thank you!

[@Sulerhy]

This is much related to the Japanese methodology called "Ikigai". I took 2 years after graduation to try to get my dream job, but it turned out that I failed because no company wanted to do hardware design. After 3 years I quited my job as an software engineer, and soon I realized I love software than anything else just after I quited. I grow up and found out the success when I was doing software is the most valuable thing for me. I love doing it after many challenges with it. Truly thank you, for connecting my dots backward.

[@trevorfranks69]

How is it going? Still a salaryman?

[@SymbioticSense]

I have to say, the impact you have had on my life is immense. Over the course of the past few years, I went from hating math to it being one of my favourite things in the world. I left formal education to pursue vocational studies when i was 17, and if it wasn't for these videos, I would probably have never thought about math again. Now I spend all of my free time learning it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do, words simply cannot state how much you have helped me and so many others. Much love ! Rowan.

[@andreguimaraes7503]

Hi Grant, I know you probably won't read this, but this speech just made me cry. It resonated with me so much. I am wrapping up my Physics degree in Brazil and really having a hard time deciding my near future. Your advice was great for helping me shift the way I am dealing with this situation into a positive frame. Just a great speech, really thankful for you being one of the great academic role models nowadays :)

[@BecozPro]

Summer 2017 I did a research internship in my uni's maths department looking at Riemann's Hypothesis, and Grant's video on the topic cured my cluelessness. Two summers later, I graduated with my MSc in Maths and started my PhD shortly after. Tomorrow I graduate for my PhD in Maths and have found myself fortunate enough to be in a job where I provide value to others. Thanks for everything you do Grant, I always look forward to your videos :)

[@jcortese3300]

One of the things I needed to hear at that stage of life is NEVER brought up: How well do you like the other people who do this? If you do X for a living, but you don't much care for the people this will compel you to hang around with, for f*ck's sake, FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. It wasn't until I got into grad school for physics that I realized that no matter how good I was at it nor how highly I placed in my quals, I would sooner get my gall bladder removed with an oyster fork than be locked in a building full of physicists for the next 40 years of my career. I got out and found out how to apply my gift in a direction (similar to Grant's) where few people applied it, and it's resulted in an excellent, lucrative career. Also, even if you are passionate about something, I can guarantee that there are nonetheless parts of the job that you won't like. There is some sh*t-shoveling involved in every single career or ambition. Expect that and don't be surprised by it. You may love teaching, but no one in their right mind loves grading. You may love music, but no sane person loves Hanon.

[@IMaginatory7232]

Hey now, grading can be alright! It might be repetitive, sure, but depending on the nature of the assignment and the mistakes people make it can be a little like bug-fixing in computer science. Investigate what you have until you find out where the student went wrong, and think of the best feedback for the situation. Sadly the volume of work that grading often represents stops graders from getting to the interesting part...

[@ichdu-fk6xc]

I love how: physicist are insufferable is a global truth

[@Lonely_Wiz]

@jcortese3300 can you enlighten me a little more? i live in a very poor place here in Brazil, and my biggest dream was always to become a physicist, more specifically applied physics. I've been for the past 7 or so years trying to get my life back on the rails just so i could apply for some college and leave this absurd place once and for all, and i really thought that following what i love the most would be good, no matter who i would be facing. Is it for nothing? should i really find something else to do now? i feel like I'm one of the most determined persons i know in person, and at the same time i feel like i dont have reason behind my goals, i feel kinda lost after reading so many comments and listening to videos like this one. I guess it's just a consequence of working to pay the bills and not having any savings ever, but I'm really tired of keeping moving on you know

[@fischmann1746]

​@@Lonely_WizI can tell you, I studied physics and it was the best thing I could ever have done. I so fricking love my field. And honestly the people there were really nice, too. Of course there isn't a 100% chance, that you will like it, but just because one person made a bad experience with physics, doesn't mean you will too.

[@alansmithee419]

I had a similar thing with the field itself, rather than the people. Physics is great. Academia... eh... I'd rather use the skills I've learned for something else. Something with programming. Simulation, data handling, video games, whatever.

[@nathanaelvetters2684]

I've never heard a commencement speech with as much novel and actionable advice as this one, which is both amazing and sad, because that's exactly what should be in any commencement speech. Excellent job and what lucky graduates to get to hear this when they need it most.

[@CorrectHorseBatteryStaple472]

I love Grant's humbleness and honesty. He's incredible at what he does but is very real about how that's still not enough to achieve the success he's had.

[@nccamsc]

This speech has the wisdom of several best-selling 'self-help' books, but is concise and most important - it is backed by personal experience.

[@jasonbentley439]

first time I heard someone say "Don't follow your passion, follow opportunity. But, take your passion with you" is Mike Rowe several years ago on a youtube ad lol. Turns out it is great advice. I had/have a passion for physics, but took the opportunity of electrical engineering, and brought my passion with me. Now I am gainfully employed with a entry level salary higher than what I would have hoped to earn towards the end of my career in my previous field (culinary arts). I am now a complete advocate for that advice!!!!

[@keylime6]

I watched your videos throughout high school, and now I’m starting my math major in less than 2 weeks. Thank you for all of the videos, I’ll probably need them soon!

[@AstroPatel]

Your speech resonates with me, even though I am several years out of undergrad. I pursued physics as a passion derived from many positive feedback loops in my childhood, coupled with the delight of perceptions. I grew to enjoy the beauty and intricacy of the mathematics that underly our universe and my passion blossomed into a phd track at a big university. Then it all came... crashing down. I mastered out last year. Pragmatic concerns, as you put it, were something that I ignored and my ambitions were more self serving that I had cared to admit up until that point. I loved physics, I still do. I'm still good at it. But I could not give it the proper treatment and take a step back to realize that I really should not have gone straight into grad school. The self-serving nature of my ambitions made it difficult to speak to the masses, and I found myself in a position where I didn't add much benefit to others. I love teaching, I love science, and I love data. But I haven't been able to tie that into a profession. Now I am learning the hard way that I should have tried to do that all along, and it would not have detracted from my love for these things. Anyways, your speech was brilliant. It tore through the veil of platitudes and communicated essential truths with grace and humor. I appreciate the time and thought you put into this, more people deserve to hear it

[@ourmuse]

i did the same and you are not alone

[@AstroPatel]

@@ourmuse appreciate that. What do you do now?

[@ourmuse]

@@AstroPatel i did physics during undergrad, now pursuing biomed engineering but still read and study physics every weekend lol. i could never leave my passion for physics. so i think you don't have to feel bad for doing that since your passion is still there, that's more important i think.

[@kmym5709]

As a class of 24 who graduated early only to realize I was following passion as a goal and only beginning to understand how to add to others (while working my first job...), this is exactly what i needed to hear. Beautiful speech, as educating as ever.

[@HarryPotter-nj3mf]

01:57 Following your dreams requires more than just passion. 03:54 Following your dreams requires pragmatic concerns beyond inspiration. 05:51 Transition from personal growth to adding value to others 07:48 Action precedes motivation in finding a career you love 09:45 Survivorship bias affects the advice of pursuing high-risk, high-reward paths. 11:42 Success is a function of the value you bring to others 13:39 Influence the dreams of others and be adaptable to change 15:30 Adapt to a changing world and treat passion as a fuel, not a destination.

[@Doomsdaymanx]

I was so excited to get to see you speak in person and you didn't disappoint. Wonderful speech that really resonated with me as someone who found success and passion long after graduating from college. (Very much by following small interests until that action grew into motivation and eventually passion, and by focusing on the things I was good at that also helped others)

[@Megamain6]

man this nearly made me cry. I graduated high school in 2020 but didn't go to college. I've been feeling very lost and hopeless. thank you, thank you, thank you

[@ketz_165]

There’s always time to make a difference buddy, get after it

[@turolretar]

did you do anything yet

[@hisao1291]

Life-changing speech AND he made sure that the end of speech applause is not for him. You are a beacon of humanity.

[@eikosato5297]

Excellent speech! I wish I had someone like you to give a commencement speech on my graduation day. Your advices are exactly what I would give to newly grads, but you articulated them so well. The cliche “follow your dreams” advice only works for someone with a predictable future (usually because of their inherited social status) in a predictable and stable world. I was very confused when I was given this kind of obsolete advice again and again back in college. Your previous speech on “math and ego” also resonated deeply with me. I think what makes your math videos stand out from others have a lot to do with your deep understanding into the correlations between math, ego, passion, and pursuing goals. Your channel remains my favorite after many years. Looking forward to being inspired by you yet again! ❤

[@yoelioo]

Thanks!

[@cnh007]

This was so inspiring and beautiful to watch ! So much wisdom, delivered with such grace ,elegance & simplicity ! 1. adding value to others 2. action precedes motivation 3. whats possible now that was not, 10 years ago 4. remain adaptable to a changing world

[@davidallyn1818]

Grant - just awesome!!! "...passion... as an initial velocity..." I love that. I graduated with a degree in broadcast production, but I'm now a Dir, Business Intelligence at UCLA. Where I am today is the sum of all influencing forces on my life. And, the craft that I practice did not exist in 1992. You are quite literally a scholar and a gentleman. So well said!!

[@winklerd]

This reminds me of part of Tim Minchin's commencement speech, he talked about the passionate pursuit of smaller, short-term goals rather than having a huge life goal. That advice has always stuck with me.

[@karthikbhat93]

I would like to comeback to this video every year❤ Let my passion becomes a starting point and drive towards unknowns with curiosity to add value for the people and to eventually become extraordinary.

[@knotwilg3596]

When you asked for that final applause, you demonstrated it is not about yourself but about others. Masterful!

[@vari1535]

The well-rounded, thorough consideration and treatment of survivorship bias and various uncontrollable life factors stands out.

[@oleksandrboiko9076]

It's great to finally see your face, to see the person behind all these unimaginably cool videos. Frankly, I thought that's a whole team behind the channel. Sometimes I can't even imagine the complexity of separate frames and transitions, let alone the complexity and variety of topics you mastered.

[@anguszou3477]

This man really is breaking all the things at the surface down and showing us the truth about life, just like the way he does to the math.

[@user-awrssadk]

احب سماع صوتك وشرحك للمسائل المعقدة ولم ارى صورة لك من قبل واليوم رأيتها وعرفتك من صوتك كم أنا سعيد برؤيتك وسماعك من جديد أيها الرائع، سر إلى الامام ❤

[@kirbosomething]

I was shocked that he had the same eloquent voice in real life, i dont know why i thought that it would be different

[@turolretar]

I’m not gay but good lord, Grant is so handsome and smart I can only admire him

[@Samantha-vlly]

I never had a dream my whole life until I reached in senior high school and started thinking about what careers to take. This is incredibly a helpful speech and I won’t take it lightly.

[@hankseda]

He's a good role model in more ways than one 👏

[@ddoverbey]

Yo that’s me!! I never thought I’d see myself in one of your videos :D Wow!! I can’t believe you spoke at my graduation. Thank you so much for everything. I loved the speech a lot :)

[@salmonsushi47]

Oh my god its the Pi man :D

[@thescientist7753]

Just a small comment that I'm not sure you'll ever see, but I would not have started my math major without your videos! They helped me find something beautiful in life that I had been missing. I graduated this May, and I'm starting a PhD program next semester, but there are so many variables that I am not totally confident I'll stick with it. I really enjoy what I do, but I'll admit that I'm stressed about what the future holds for me. Thank you for the wonderful video as always, and never forget the impact that you have on others :)

[@AlexanderPeterson-cf9nd]

Thank you, 3blue1brown! You were probably the one who sparked my curiosity for math.

[@shubhadrapatil3387]

So much wisdom in this which actually made me realise many things and specifically it’s ok not have a goal which actually makes me think about myself as failure in times when people are so much sure about they want to do and being competitive about it . When I started my undergrad I was one of them (that’s what I thought) but until the end of my undergrad I became complete opposite of it by thinking am I really worthy doing it when I am so bad at it compared to everyone else . Hence lost a lot of focus and became lazy to work hard. But now I kind of got back the essence and madness I had back then. And now listening this gave me a lot more confidence and motivation to work harder with all due honesty and enjoy the process of it…

[@alexiopatata4048]

just wanted to thank 3b1b, for helping me find my love in eaching. im not that of a math guy, but i love chemistry and i hope to be a chem teacher. thank you so much!

[@northernlight1000]

I can’t reason why/believe so many of these people in the crowd look so depressed and bored, If Grant came to do this speech for me at my university it would be the greatest most exciting thing!

[@stephanieparker1250]

It’s a very long day for anyone, especially for young people. They just get tired of sitting and listening to speeches lol

[@slmnemo]

i went to this commencement for two reasons, to see my friends graduate and to see 3blue1brown's speech. i guarantee you everyone i spoke with after commencement was really excited and happy with the speech, our school just burns us out really hard and the seniors have dealt with 4 years of hell.

[@Benjy45RS]

I remember a good few of my buddies were hungover at graduation😂 also it can be hot out in May!

[@nuklearboysymbiote]

You're lucky that you don't understand why.💜

[@arnelarboleda2870]

I'll bet none of them is suscribe to this channel except for that one faculty member that invites him. Lol

[@lennyuniverse]

"In the vector space of all possible advice, if you consider the 'follow your dreams' vector, i wanna explore its orthogonal subspace." Gold!

[@defSpidey]

May the father of understanding guide us

[@priestofgames]

I think you're in the wrong video

[@defSpidey]

NOPE, 3blue1brown is our father of understanding

[@CRMcGee2]

May you someday know books other than those with ancient fairy tales.

[@defSpidey]

@CRMcGee2 Have you heard of Zee's Quantum Field Theory?

[@morbiusfan3176]

​@@CRMcGee2 He wasn't talking about the Bible, he was talking about 3b1b

[@hc6157]

I’m so glad you came to our commencement!! It was amazing to be in-person

[@flamingowrangler]

You're a legend ❤

[@generalSarbina]

Your comment about the goal changing from growing and learning to helping other people after graduation has really helped me realize what some of the missing pieces were for me in my pursuit of grad school. I've been so focused on what it is that I'm passionate about that I didn't realize it needed to fit into a much larger puzzle.

[@SurajRajan]

It's hard to marry stern pragmatism and cautious optimism. And none other than a mathematician to do that so artfully. Thanks Grant! Sharing this to friends and family!

[@michiel2047]

The point about ask yourself how to add value to others is very powerful. I've done a number of jobs now, in consulting, in IT architecture, in product development, ... and across board the question "how do I help others" has always been very effective in producing the handy by-product of forwarding my own career.

[@ReDMooNTVV]

so much wisdom in this speech, so much to learn and ponder on

[@phillyphakename1255]

Man, I really appreciated the full speech. Im a few years into the working world, and am really taking that adaptability message to heart. Im paying attention to industry trends, considering how my skills and interests can interface with the job market. So far, its worked really well. I started doing electronics repair, a thing I love, found a way into a niche industry doing high value and critical repairs, but then felt the wind leaving the sails over the next dacade, and just got a job doing electronics R&D, with lots of room for growth and change as appropriate. I think I can find a way to blend my interests with a very promising field.

[@mickeyberg1387]

This video brought to tears. This is exactly the advice I need. Thanks

[@christophecarbonel3839]

Thank you so much: I have recently retired and you are one of the influences that made me embark this year on a BSc in maths. The transformation you speak about, I have experienced in my professional life. Giving to others: such decency is most welcome in today’s world.

[@jrodartec]

This speech makes it clear how one's reasoning can be improved by math and statical concepts. The way Grant brings up analytical concepts (such as biases, vectors, and ods) to assist in his thinking is phenomenal. Love the bit about "changing the optimization function" after leaving college, from growing towards generating value to others. That makes me fee truly grateful about my current job. Thanks!

[@lrdass]

Grant has an incredible skill of comunication. Even life advice is very pragmatical yet, beautifully explained.

[@senthilkumarm4063]

Thanks Grant for this advice! Probably the best commencement speech that I have seen after the terrific "2005 Stanford commencement speech by Steve jobs"

[@lunarloon7289]

That was one of the most relevant and practical perspective that I have ever heard. Unironically the best and most personally relevant advice I remember hearing was from my mathematics teachers - to clarify I am someone who has knocked my head over and over during my high school to understand why and how growth in a proper structure is generally better against any unplanned actions (As I had done in the past). I had lost the drive for progress during my Graduation course as I was well saddened by my lack of a singular passion that *everybody* seems to possess, fortunately I have come back to the gate of logic that controls the metaphysical nature of future potentiation and see a very different picture the explains how passions factor into a wider world. It brings me great relief and adds a cookie of confidence that my current views are an analogue to what you have developed in your life and what you have shared. I still consider myself a mess albeit an organized one. So, thank you for sharing your perspective and helping me organize more !!!

[@mohammednajl5950]

A wonderful speech. I've told myself to go into a particular field for a long time, but you've made me appreciate how allowing change to your dreams and passions can be better than a steadfast will in what you want. Thank you Grant, for this and everything else.

[@azheanda]

I’m so moved by this speech. Grant‘s message resonates with me so much. Follow your dreams went viral when Steve Jobs talked about it but it wasn’t well clarified until I watched this. A common excuse to tell oneself is, if I find my dream(the thing I’m passionate about), then I will have motivation, perseverance etc to do hard work and make a great living, and then go back to do things adding little to no value to others😂.

[@jjdawg9918]

Such a magnificent speech. It took me the better part of my career to come the conclusion that fulfillment in life is finding "the balance between being useful and being used". And it holds for both careers and relationships. Being useful can be as simple as making someone smile and being used can be a simple as working a job that you have no interest in just to pay the bills. Throughout life you will inventively bounce between the two.

[@clemdeqqpart4635]

I m a French student and we are a lot to appreciate your work, here in France. Ty 4 all

[@amihurtingyoureyes]

This video couldn’t have found me at a better time, thanks Grant for mathematics and love

[@Guidoev2]

I never felt this combination of love, respect and gratitude towards someone I don't personally know. I wholeheartedly believe that you, along with other brilliant minds on this platform, are the best thing that's happening to the world right now ❤

[@simplyspice9991]

That was such an amazing commencement speech (the best one I’ve heard). ❤👏🏾🙌🏾

[@hhttff11]

謝謝！

[@markusalonso3163]

Hi, I love your channel and you make the things you teach seem so intuitive and make them make sense so much more then it does when I learn it in school thank you (:

[@NickH-o5l]

@markusalonso3163 you've inspired me to make backwards smiley faces. i never thought of that