Derek Jeter Inspires Graduates with Message About Embracing Failure

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter delivered a powerful commencement speech to the graduating class at the University of Michigan on Saturday, May 3, emphasizing the importance of embracing failure. Jeter, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, addressed the crowd of 70,000 graduates, faculty, and family members at Michigan Stadium.

Jeter opened his speech with a blunt assertion: “If I can promise you one thing for certain, you will fail.” He encouraged the graduates to see setbacks as opportunities for growth and to remain committed to their dreams. “The bigger the dream, the bigger the risk,” he said, urging students to not let fear of failure prevent them from pursuing their goals.

Reflecting on his own career, Jeter shared a personal anecdote about his early days in professional baseball. He revealed that during his first season, he committed an astonishing 56 errors, drawing laughter from the audience. “I failed publicly, I failed miserably. There were days I literally cried because I was so bad,” he recalled. “But I wouldn’t have had the success without those failures.”

The Hall of Famer’s message resonated with the graduates, as he called on them to view obstacles not as roadblocks but as speed bumps on their journey to success. Jeter concluded his speech by reminding students that dealing with failure is a universal experience. “You, me, every one of us has to learn to deal with failure,” he said.