Commencement Speech – Class of 2025
Honorable Guest:
His Excellency, Deputy Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi
Reverend Father Bechara Khoury, President of NDU
Members of the Board of Trustees
Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors of NDU Branches
Administrators, Faculty, and Staff
Good evening, beloved family members and friends,
And most importantly, the Graduating Class of 2025,
I’m truly honored to be standing here with you, celebrating this special moment. If today proves anything, it’s that we don’t need perfect conditions to move forward.
We’ve all gone through difficult times recently and have been deeply impacted by the situation in our country. And yet—we’re still here. Still standing. Still growing. Still dreaming. We kept moving forward, writing our own stories one page at a time, with courage in our hearts and faith lighting the way.
And now, a new chapter begins. One that often comes with a lot of expectations: that you should have your next steps already planned, that you should know exactly where you’re headed.
But let’s be honest—most of us are still figuring it out.
I say this as someone graduating with a second degree in a field completely unrelated to my first. People often assume that means I have it all together. When in reality, like most people, I’m still figuring things out as I go—one choice at a time. And that’s not only okay—it’s exactly what this time in our lives is meant for.
This is a time to explore. To let go of who we thought we had to be, and slowly become who we want to be. It’s a time to follow our curiosity, take chances, and find the things that make us light up and want to get out of bed every morning.
Having a sense of purpose in life is our reason for being. It’s what grounds us when our future seems uncertain. As I step into this next chapter, my goal isn’t to have everything mapped out, but to take small steps toward a life that feels true to me. To forge a path that is truly my own.
And along that path, I remind myself of a very important thing:
Life isn’t just about accomplishments and grades. It’s about so much more.
Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, surrounded by the people you love—the ones who make us happy, those who make us feel at home, those who turn everyday moments into lasting memories. They are what make life truly meaningful.
And today, as we celebrate an incredible achievement, I want to take a moment to thank the people who helped us get here. Because while each of us stands proud, none of us made it here alone.
To our professors, administrators, and staff—thank you.
Thank you for equipping us with an outstanding education to take on the challenges ahead. Thank you for your dedication, your patience, and your belief in our potential.
I’d like to thank the Department of Computer Science, in particular Dr. Hoda Maalouf—the first person I spoke to about pursuing a second degree. It was a difficult decision, but with your guidance, nothing ever felt out of reach. Your support gave me the confidence to continue, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.
A special thank you to the wonderful team at the Career Center. You’ve been incredibly resourceful and kind in connecting me to several opportunities—even in the field of the degree I pursued before getting here. Please know that your work doesn’t go unnoticed. You make a difference, more than you know.
And finally, I want to thank the people who have been there since the very beginning: our parents and families.
Thank you for your countless sacrifices, your unconditional love, and your belief in us—even on the days when we doubted ourselves. We carry your values, your hopes, and your strength with us into everything we do, and can only hope to make you proud.
Mom, Dad, thank you for always showing up and standing by me through every high and low. You’ve been my anchor through it all.
“Yev tsezi shad shad g sirem” (which means “I love you very, very much” in Armenian).
So, Class of 2025—this life is yours.
There’s no checklist to follow, no path you must take just to meet expectations. Dream boldly. Stay curious. And above all, live a life that is true to who you are.
By grace, we’ve made it this far.
And by grace, we’ll go even further.
Class of 2025—congratulations!
Thank you.
Serge Roussialian, Valedictorian of the Class of 2025, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.