— As prepared —

Good morning everyone,

It is an honor and a privilege to speak to you all today. To represent an institution that has stood for nearly three centuries — it is humbling beyond words. Even more so, to the graduating seniors, I am so proud to stand in front of you.

As we all prepare to part ways and chart new paths in life, it is customary for the valedictorian to offer some words of reflection on the Princeton experience, and dare I say, words of wisdom for the future. Now, I could regale you all with explanations about why uranium is the coolest element on the Periodic Table or what the most important skills are that one acquires in a well-rounded college education (i.e., precision tossing ping-pong balls into Solo cups). Instead, I thought I’d be a bit more philosophical and offer the seniors some words of reflection on my understanding of the University’s informal motto: “In the nation’s service and the service of humanity.”

To serve one’s nation is an admirable goal: to work hard to improve the lives of those around you. But to serve humanity, now that is a far loftier and more intangible goal. Humans, we are a curious species on this earth. Our emotions are messy, and our actions and convictions are complicated. We are capable of astounding good and unfathomable evil. Yet, in spite of these contradictions, in just a few thousand years, we have accomplished truly incredible things. We have constructed great civilizations and wide webs of commerce and communication, charted our genome, and bent the very forces of nature to our whim. All of these things, we have done together.

The great physicist Max Planck once said that “New scientific ideas… [spring from] an individually inspired researcher who struggles with his problems in lonely thought….” Respectfully, I think he was full of it. Creativity and determination might be uniquely individual, but we find the will to struggle and the will to succeed because of the people around us. To think, how many success stories hinge on the passing encouragement of a teacher or mentor? How many great leaders stand on the shoulders of their parents’ and grandparents’ sacrifices? How much adversity has been overcome thanks to the kindness of a spouse or a friend?

Simply put, the success of the human race is built on a mountain of small deeds. Now, you all will go on to become great doctors, scientists, and teachers, pioneers in business and law, as well as talented journalists and renowned artists. Of this, I am sure, and in these ways, you will push humanity forward. Amidst this success, though, remember that one of the greatest services to humanity that you all can engage in is to be kind. It is cliché, it is easier said than done, and so often we all fall short. But it is something we should nevertheless strive for. The consequences of our empathy, our small acts of compassion and everyday generosity, are far greater than any of us can possibly imagine. In that vein, my first act of kindness will be sparing you all any further philosophical rumination on my end.

After four years of exams, papers, and whatever was going on with Dean’s date this year, I’m sure many of you are exhausted, some are a bit anxious, and many more simply excited to begin the next phase of life. Incredible opportunities await outside our little orange bubble — opportunities to pursue lifelong passions, to develop meaningful careers, and to raise families. I know that I’m incredibly excited to teach and further pursue science in the next few years. I hope that in this moment you all can find something, whatever that may be, to be excited about. Not to be corny, but passion for your craft really is one of the greatest things about a Princeton student.

I also want to acknowledge that, for all its good memories, Princeton has been far from easy. Sometimes, people assume that being on this stage, or even the mere fact of attending this University, comes with some aura of effortless perfection. I’d very much like to drop that pretense. College, and certainly college here, is hard. This is a time of incredible flux in life: socially, professionally, and psychologically, and the universe is seldom shy about kicking you in the teeth. Those challenges are seldom obvious to the outside observer. So, whether you have juggled research in a lab or the library, 20-hour practice weeks in the boathouse, midnight dance rehearsals with Bhangra, or any number of personal struggles, you should all be immensely proud of yourselves and deserve an earnest congratulations.

Likewise, I would also like to take this moment to thank everyone who has helped us along the way. As I’ve mentioned, even with the strongest will, to have made it this far requires support, whether it comes from family, friends, communities of faith, professors or other mentors. I myself would like to thank my parents, grandparents, brother and my friends for all the support they have offered me in the past four years. I could not have done it without you all. I’d also like to thank the faculty, with a special shoutout to Erik Sorensen and MTK, for all their hard work in providing us with a world-class education, as well as my research mentors, Erin and Hanning, for their invaluable guidance and support. I’d also like to give a special thanks to the seniors of the Princeton Tower Club — you all have been a truly wonderful addition to my life over the past two years of college. Honestly, though, part of me is surprised I’m still here. The first time that I walked out of a 10:30 p.m. final and it was 35 degrees and raining, the transfer application to UMiami was ready to go on my laptop. The Florida man in me was not built for this, but, nevertheless, we persisted.

To close us out here, I thought I would stay true to the meaning of the word valedictory — that is, to say farewell. Farewell to my dear friends, old and new, to classmates and roommates, and to the brothers and sisters we found along the way. Farewell to the great class of 2025. I wish you all nothing but the best. Thank you.