Swifty gets candid with 2020 grad class

Taylor Swift can “relate” to graduates missing out on traditional commencement ceremonies due to the coronavirus pandemic, because she had to skip her own cap and gown celebration.

The pop superstar was featured as part of YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 digital celebration for students recently, and in her pre-recorded clip, Swift sympathized with youngsters forced to forgo in-person events as a result of COVID-19 concerns, but urged them to “celebrate anyway.”

“I wanted to say congratulations to all the graduates this year,” Swift began her video. “I know this is probably not the graduation you thought you were going to be having. I relate to that in a lot of ways.

“When I was younger, I used to fantasize about high school graduation and being with all of your friends and (wearing the) cap and gown and the whole thing.

“Then when I got to that point in my life where graduation was coming up, I found myself on a radio tour with my mum in rental cars, sitting on the floors of airports, and I ended up being mailed my diploma. So it wasn’t exactly what I pictured, but I was still really proud of it.”

Swift’s early dedication to pursue her passion for music paid off, and although it cost the Shake It Off hitmaker many traditional childhood experiences, she has learned it’s important to recognize successes whenever they come — and she encouraged viewers to do the same.

“I guess one good lesson to come from it is expect the unexpected, but celebrate anyway,” she continued.