Q&A with Delaney Durbin, 2025 Afternoon Graduation Ceremony Student Speaker

Delaney Durbin (BA '25, Music Business) talks about why she got involved with NYU Welcome and the NYU Writing Center, and she shares her advice for managing stress.

Tell us about yourself! What did you study at NYU Steinhardt? What kind of extracurriculars were you involved in?

At Steinhardt, I studied Music Business, with a minor in Leadership, Spirituality, and Social Innovation [offered jointly between the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and the NYU Silver School of Social Work]. 

Outside of that, one of the most meaningful things I spent time on while I was at NYU was NYU Welcome. I joined as a student leader the summer after my freshman year, then quickly found myself getting involved as much as possible. The next year, I became a captain, and last year, I was one of the two student chairs. It’s one of the most welcoming communities I’ve ever been a part of (no pun intended), and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get more involved. I also worked at the NYU Writing Center as a Writing Partner and Senior Tutor, which was a really cool way to engage with other students.

What is your favorite memory from your Steinhardt experience?

One of my favorite memories from my Steinhardt experience was the first Music Business class I had as a first-year student. It was a class that everyone in my year had to take, in room 879 of the education building, and it's where I got to know the people in Music Business and create some of the friendships I still have today. And then, in all of our final semesters, we had another class together in that same room. It has been such a cool, full-circle moment to experience this with some of the same people I first met four years ago, and seeing how far we've all come has been so special.

Any plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in three years?

No concrete plans yet, but in three years, I hope I’m working with artists and musicians to help them bring their visions to life and give them the support they need to keep creating. I also hope to keep creating music myself. But who knows! Getting super into spelunking is never out of the question.

What advice do you have for students in your field or program?

My biggest piece of advice is to learn how to ask for what you need! This is a really tough industry with lots to juggle, and it can often feel really stressful, but learning how to take care of yourself and get what you need is vital. And asking questions is not a sign of weakness!