John Legend is the latest celebrity to be given an honorary degree. The “Ordinary People” singer was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree at the University of Pennsylvania’s 258th commencement ceremony on Monday (May 19).
In addition, Legend delivered a 20-minute commencement speech. In his speech, the Grammy award-winning singer encouraged the graduates to “go all-in” and approach professional and personal pursuits with passion as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
He also touched on love and hate. “We’re taught when we’re young that the opposite of love is hate, but it’s not,” Legend said. “Hate is a byproduct, hate is a result. Being a hater isn’t cool — nobody wants that. But hate comes from one thing: fear. Fear is the opposite of love.”
Legend graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in English, concentrating in African-American literature and culture.
Watch John Legend’s commencement speech below.
