Roger Federer Gave a Moving Graduation Speech at Dartmouth
This weekend on the grounds of the Green, the main lawn of Ivy league university Dartmouth, Roger Federer gave a humorous, yet poignant commencement address on Sunday to the graduating class of 2024.
Although the Swiss athlete was taken out of high school at age 16 to focus on tennis, and although this is his second time to "ever set foot on a college campus," Federer received the honor of a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Dartmouth. Accordingly, the ex-professional tennis player laughed at the idea of naming himself "Dr. Roger."
Federer began his commencement address by lightening the atmosphere, joking about the uncomfortable material of the graduation regalia and asking the students to "keep in mind" that he has "worn shorts almost every day for the last 35 years." He retired from professional tennis in 2022, and his final days as a tennis player are about to be a new documentary on Prime Video, Federer: Twelve Final Days. Watch a trailer for that here:
In his speech, Federer spoke about how college graduation parallels his experience to "graduating tennis." The 20-time Grand Slam winner spoke about strongly disliking the word "retired"—we wouldn't speak of college graduation as retirement, he argued, and so the same shouldn't be said of tennis. Since Federer "graduated tennis" in 2022, he has embraced three essential tennis lessons and applied them to his life, and he shared them with Dartmouth's Class of 2024:
1. "Effortless" is a myth.
Federer's tennis may look effortless, but there are myriads of effort behind the technique and discipline. In other words, he says, "effortless is a myth." Talent is important too, he contends, but talent means many things—it means discipline, patience, self-trust, love for the process, and being able to manage your life—all those attributes count as talent. "Some people are born with them. Everybody has to work at them," Federer declares. Dartmouth alumni may look effortlessly accomplished, but Federer insists the graduates understand the effort they have put into arriving at this moment.
2. It’s only a point.
Even though he won frequently, Federer has dealt with loss. Tennis is simple in that manner: one player wins, and the other "gets back on a plane, stares out of the window," and contemplates how they lost. Although Federer won almost 80% of all matches he played during his tennis career, he won only 54% of the points. In other words, "even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play." Loss and defeat is essential, he tells the graduates, the important lesson is to move on and focus on the future. "You accept it. Cry it out if you need to... then force a smile."
3. Life is bigger than the court.
Federer explains that was just starting out, he understood that tennis was only a component of his life. Living a rewarding life that includes family, friendships, culture, and travel is a lifelong necessity. Federer tried to never forget this essential lesson: "I knew that tennis could show me the world... but tennis could never be the world."
Federer emphasizes the same goes for any college graduate, or person at all, telling them that they must never take for granted how much effort it took for their communities to shape them. "And more important, that we are here for each other every day," he reminds the graduates.
The retired tennis player adds that when one is given an opportunity—such as graduating from an Ivy League school—one has a duty to give and make a difference, in their own way.
"All of you have so much to give," he says, "and I hope you will find your own, unique ways to make a difference."
Watch Federer's full commencement address here:
His remarks were wise, earnest, and moving. Even from his position as a celebrity and record-breaker tennis player, he is sincere in his gratitude: "Dartmouth, this has been an incredible honor for me." And, he adds, do not forget the most important lesson of all: "And most of all, be kind to one another... and have fun out there."
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