Graduation marks a major life transition, and for some Taylor Swift fans, it comes with a personal touch from the global superstar. One such fan, Ashley Silvers, still remembers the day she received an unexpected gift from Swift herself.
Back in 2017, as she was preparing to graduate from the University of Central Florida, Silvers sent Swift an invitation and photos through fan mail. She didn’t expect a response. But on the day of her graduation party, a massive bouquet of calla lilies and roses was delivered to her home — from Taylor Swift.
“The flowers were the size of my door,” Silvers recalled. The bouquet included a handwritten note with a drawing of the New York City skyline — where Silvers was headed for graduate school. The note read in part: “Hi love! I’m so sad that I can’t make it to your graduation party… I’m so proud of you… I’m very lucky that a girl like you cares about me.”
Silvers, who studied advertising and public relations, has since framed the note and keeps it displayed alongside a photo with Swift.
While the singer hasn’t recently made personal gestures public, her team has been actively celebrating new graduates online. Taylor Nation, Swift’s in-house marketing account, has shared photos on X (formerly Twitter) of fans decorating their graduation caps with lyrics and quoting Swift’s speeches. Many expressed how her words helped them through challenging times.
The team also marked the third anniversary of Swift receiving an honorary doctorate from New York University. “CongraTS to the class of 2025 grads,” Taylor Nation posted, highlighting a quote from her 2022 speech: “We are led by our gut instincts… and you will screw it up sometimes. So will I… We will recover. We will learn from it. We will grow more resilient because of it.”
Even members of her tour family are achieving academic milestones. Backup singer Kamilah Marshall recently earned an online degree from Berklee College of Music, all while touring with Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour.
Reflecting on her own graduation, Silvers says one Swift quote continues to inspire her: “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”
Swift’s ongoing support for fans and her message of kindness and resilience continue to resonate with graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
