- From the first moment I arrived in Hanover,
I immediately understood why Dartmouth is so special.
I loved everything, from the sunrise hikes on Moosilauke,
to the late nights at Novack Study Rooms.
But the one thing I didn't get was pong.
(audience quietly chuckling)
My first game, I almost got golden tree'd,
losing without hitting a single cup,
and was so embarrassed
that I didn't play again until my sophomore year.
Four years later, however, I've come around on pong,
and I now count it
as among the many Dartmouth traditions that I cherish.
Now you may be wondering,
is this guy really going to talk about pong?
Yeah, why not?
(audience laughing, cheering, and applauding)
For myself and many of you graduating today,
Pong really isn't about alcohol.
Athletes and scholars play with water,
and this year's Senior Matches winner
has never drank in his life. (laughing)
(audience cheering)
Any beverage works, because no matter what's in the cup,
a sink is a sink.
Now, jokes aside,
the thing that makes Pong memorable
is the people you get to play with.
It facilitates friendships all across campus
with amazing people.
Even when we have no other activities or classes in common,
we can still bond over teamwork, cooperation,
or calling out the spin on a serve.
Some of my closest friendships have started
from coming back from a tree,
or gutting it out half-half
against a close opponent that I just met.
Pong also is not specific
to any particular Greek affiliation or location.
Many of the most entertaining games
occur inside living rooms or off-campuses apartments,
between friends who are playing honestly,
hitting high and making good conversation.
This spirit of inclusivity and creativity
is what drives the emotions that we feel
during other Dartmouth experiences as well.
For example, homecoming.
It's not remembered fondly because there's a big fire.
We remember it because it's an opportunity
to find a common ground,
no matter how different our backgrounds, friend groups,
or academic interests may be.
This mindset is what turns our exciting
and mundane experiences alike,
into uniquely Dartmouth experiences
worth remembering for the rest of our lives.
Dear President Hanlon, faculty, and the Board of Trustees,
I'm done talking about pong.
(audience chuckling)
It's just one of many traditions that unite us.
Our best college moments were forged in communities
like the performing arts, sports, and religious spaces.
We'll all remember going on trips,
meeting friends during O-week,
and walking around the bonfire,
doing the Lou's Challenge at the end of a hard exam week,
Winter Carnival and Green Key,
Jardi Season once the snow melts,
pretending to study with our friends on FFB.
These traditions seem silly to people outside of Dartmouth,
but they're the things that we'll miss most dearly.
And now, as we leave these traditions
and embark on our separate journeys beyond these walls,
let's cherish the memories we've made
and the friendships that we forged.
Let's reflect on the many things to be grateful for.
Dartmouth has introduced us all
to incredible people and communities.
To Coach John Turner in the Dartmouth Forensics Union,
you were the first community that embraced me as a freshman.
I'll never forget competing across the country on weekends,
and spending hundreds of hours
on the second floor of Robinson Hall.
I'm forever grateful that you continue to welcome me,
even when I took a break after COVID.
To Fidel,
this is where I met
some of my closest friends at Dartmouth.
Thank you to our mysterious house advisor, Jidge,
and members of our Need One Good Chat.
To the '24s, I know you'll all have an amazing senior year,
and I hope that you continue to welcome others
like seniors welcomed me as a freshman.
To the '25s, please do what Martel couldn't.
To the Computer Science and Math Departments,
thank you for challenging me to think more deeply.
In particular, Deep C,
you're the best teacher I've ever had,
and thank you for introducing me to algorithms
and advising my research.
You embody the rigorous, logical thinking
that we all need more inside this world
and I hope to continue applying what I've learned
into my future work in CS.
To Pastor Craig and the Wellspring Church community,
thank you for providing a space
for me to grow in my faith and walk with God.
Also, thank you to Rosie
for introducing me to this great community.
Lastly, to my family.
Thank you, Casey and Sean, for being my siblings.
(audience quietly chuckling)
Thank you, Umma and Appa, for your unwavering support
and teaching me to always strive for excellence.
Thank you, imos and harabeojis,
for reminding me that it's not vain
to have faith in God and His guidance.
To the rest of the world,
the diplomas that we're about to receive
will symbolize the excellent education that we received.
But for us, Dartmouth is much more
than just four years of lecture halls and exams.
Here, we've cultivated a spirit
of intellectual curiosity and community
that can and should be spread beyond Hanover.
So as we step into the next phase of our lives,
let's remember the importance
of building and nurturing communities wherever we go.
Seek out those who inspire you,
who push you to grow,
and who make you feel like you belong.
Remember to check in with each other frequently,
especially amidst their recent losses.
It's through these connections that we'll continue to learn,
to thrive, and to make a difference in this world.
Remember to hold onto the spirit of Dartmouth.
Stay curious, embrace challenges,
and build pong tables in your apartments.
(audience quietly chuckling)
It's been an incredible four years,
and I hope that everyone after graduation
can create communities like the ones we found at Dartmouth.
If you ever see me on campus again,
don't hesitate to send me a need one.
Thank you, Dartmouth,
and congratulations to the class of 2023.
We did it.
(audience clapping and cheering)