Roger Federer, often regarded as the best tennis player of all time, delivered an inspiring commencement speech to the 2024 Dartmouth College graduates. Federer captivated thousands with remarkable eloquence and articulate delivery, ultimately revealing three crucial principles drawn from his career. Throughout the speech, he dismantled the image of him being a perfect tennis player by continuously drawing parallels between the experiences in tennis and broader life lessons: that “effortless” is a myth, it’s only a point, and life extends far beyond the court.

Before sharing his advice, Federer reflected on his own educational path, noting his decision not to attend college after leaving high school to pursue tennis. However, during his speech, the famed athlete effectively connects with the students by comparing their transitory phase out of college to his uncertain journey after concluding his tennis career.

“Retired… The word is awful. You wouldn’t say you retired from college, right? Sounds terrible,” Federer says. “Like you, I’ve finished one big thing and I’m moving on to the next. Like you, I’m figuring out what that is.”

After reflecting on his transition, Federer goes on to make his three points. Scroll down for the breakdown of each lesson.

“Effortless is a myth.”

“People would say my play was effortless. Most of the time, they meant it as a compliment,” the decorated tennis star explains. “But it used to frustrate me when they would say, ‘He barely broke a sweat!’ Or ‘Is he even trying?’ The truth is, I had to work very hard… to make it look easy.”

Federer's tennis career, marked by a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, two Olympic medals, and numerous other achievements, exemplifies not only his dedication to the sport but the immense effort required behind the scenes.

In his speech, he explains how achieving a sense of effortlessness was the pinnacle of his career. He shares how criticism from everyone, including his rivals, motivated him to refine his initial lack of discipline emphasizing the importance of self-trust and relentless effort over mere talent.

“Yes, talent matters,” Federer admits. “I’m not going to stand here and tell you it doesn’t. But talent has a broad definition. Most of the time, it’s not about having a gift. It’s about having grit…Trusting yourself is a talent. Embracing the process, loving the process, is a talent.”

“It’s only a point.”

Federer’s second lesson teaches the importance of quickly putting setbacks behind you. While he acknowledges that in life, just like in tennis, there will be losses, he emphasizes the need to adapt and move forward.

The Swiss sportsman broke down the notion of his athletic perfection, noting that despite winning almost 80% of his matches, his point-win percentage is only 54%. Losing almost every other point teaches you not to fixate on each shot.

“You teach yourself to think: OK, I double-faulted. It’s only a point,” Federer says. “OK, I came to the net and I got passed again. It’s only a point. Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN’s Top Ten Plays: that, too, is just a point.”

“Life is bigger than the court.”

In the last lesson Federer imparts on the audience, he recognizes the importance of never forgetting where he came from but still desiring to see the world. He admits that maintaining a rich life with friendships and family is likely why he had a lack of burnout in his career.

“Even when I was just starting out, I knew that tennis could show me the world… but tennis could never be the world,” Federer shares.

At the age of 22, he started the Roger Federer Foundation to provide quality education opportunities to youth in the Southern region of Africa and Switzerland. Federer expressed a deep sense of honor and humility in his philanthropic efforts, claiming that philanthropy is not just donating money to a cause.

“Contributing your ideas… your time… and your energy… to a mission that is larger than yourself. All of you have so much to give, and I hope you will find your own, unique ways to make a difference,” the athlete says in his moving speech.

Finally, Federer concludes with additional tennis metaphors: “Whatever game you choose, give it your best. Go for your shots. Play free. Try everything. And most of all, be kind to one another… and have fun out there.”

h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: Roger Federer Shares Powerful Life Lessons in Dartmouth Graduation Speech

MYSTERIOUS MONOLITH!

We see a lot of weird things when people go hiking like not being prepared for the weather, not bringing enough water… but check this out!
Over the weekend, @LVMPDSAR spotted this mysterious monolith near Gass Peak north of the valley. pic.twitter.com/YRsvhJIU5M
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 17, 2024

A new monolith emerged in the Las Vegas desert, prompting the question: could it have been aliens or something much more human? For many, the sudden and ominous appearance of this reflective structure triggered memories of similar perplexing art installations in the past.

On Monday, June 17, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) shared the new sighting of the monolith on X (formerly Twitter). According to the LVMPD, their Search and Rescue Unit (LVMPDSAR) discovered this structure a few days earlier on the Gass Peak trail north of Las Vegas. It stands 77 inches tall and each side is 13 inches wide. As the LVMPD later explains, “It was made out of reflective sheet metal folded into a triangle and secured with rebar and concrete.”

The original social media post issuing a statement about the monolith sparked a range of reactions. Some users proposed science fiction theories, while others dismissed it as a cheap and obvious stunt. The structure has also been viewed as a striking piece of art, with calls for its protection from potential vandals. However, many consider it a form of vandalism against the natural landscape.

“Littering. Hope you fine whoever dumped that…. Might as well be an old TV or mattress,” wrote one user in response to the post on X. Many comments, however, reminisce about the monoliths discovered a few years ago, remembering the same intrigue and mystery they inspired.

In November 2020, amidst a desert canyon in Utah, staff from the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) discovered a monolith. The silver pillar, distinctly less reflective than the one found in Las Vegas, was soon sensationalized. While the DPS didn’t disclose its exact whereabouts out of safety concerns, individuals soon found its location using Google Earth and publicly posted the coordinates. Many vehicles ventured off-trail to reach the remote structure, causing controversy over the impact on the natural surroundings.

Less than two weeks later, four individuals removed the monolith. According to a photographer who witnessed the scene, one of the men remarked, “This is why you don’t leave trash in the desert.” The Utah monolith’s origins remain a mystery. Speculation suggests that it could be the work of John McCracken, who passed in 2011, or a tribute to him due to the similarity to his minimalist sculptures.

Since the first monolith appeared in Utah, these mysterious structures have emerged across the globe in various countries on almost every continent. Individuals have reported monoliths in over 20 states in the United States and more than 15 European countries, including notable monoliths in Romania, the Netherlands, and Wales. In many cases, local authorities swiftly removed these structures.

A few monoliths break this trend. In Pine Mountain, California, the artists behind them are metalworkers Travis Kenney, Randall Kenney, Wade McKenzie, and Jared Riddle. A local English designer, Tom Dunford, claimed he had left the one on England’s southern coast, inspired by the Utah monolith.

These revelations disputed supernatural claims and confirmed that instead of one group creating these anonymous structures, the Utah monolith likely sparked a trend of mostly anonymous, randomly appearing rectangles.

Several users posted detailed instructions on reaching the Las Vegas monolith to those unfamiliar with the trail and area. However, on June 21, the LVMPD announced that they helped remove the monolith and that it is “being stored at an undisclosed location while public authorities determine the most appropriate way to dispose/store the item.”

A new reflective monolith appeared near Las Vegas, creating supernatural intrigue and artistic inspiration in its wake.

While the internet gets to work on this mystery, remember: when enjoying our incredible outdoors, use the TRAIL acronym: pic.twitter.com/M5ghlTRPF6

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 17, 2024

It joins the pattern of monolith emergences that began in late 2020, when the first mysterious block was discovered in the Utah desert, inspiring many similar structures to appear around the world.

 

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The newest monolith near Gass Peak has since been removed by the Search and Rescue team, though it's still unclear how it got there in the first place.

It is being stored at an undisclosed location while public authorities determine the most appropriate way to dispose/store the item. It is 77” tall and each face is 13” wide. It was made out of reflective sheet metal folded into a triangle and secured with rebar and concrete.

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 21, 2024

The LVMPD discourages anyone from venturing off marked trails or leaving objects and items behind. This poses a danger to you and the environment.

⚠️As a reminder, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, encompasses over 1.6 million acres.

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 21, 2024

Visitors to the refuge are welcome, but those wishing to explore the refuge should be mindful of the environmental impact of their visit and should be prepared to navigate rough 4×4 roads without cell phone reception or access to water.

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) June 21, 2024

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: Website | Facebook | X
h/t: [IFL Science, CNN]

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READ: Mysterious Monolith Pops Up in Las Vegas Desert and No One Knows Who Put It There