Class of 2025 Graduation Speech
To the 2025 Graduates of Bala Vihar,
I am truly honored to speak today on this momentous occasion—your graduation from Bala Vihar after 12 whole years. That’s right, many of you have given up more than 600 Sunday mornings to participate in Bala Vihar. While other kids were sleeping in, you were coloring pages with Hindu gods and goddesses, chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, learning the Manasa Puja, or engaging in discussion about Hinduism. That deserves serious respect.
Through this journey, you’ve been guided by a patient and heroic group of Aunties and Uncles. And I know that you don’t remember their names—because let’s be honest, you figured out early on that “Aunty” and “Uncle” work for everyone. But these teachers volunteered their Sundays, year after year, to pass on the wisdom of a tradition more than 5,000 years old. Teachers, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Now, we say this to every class, but it really feels true this time: you are graduating in wild, uncertain times. We’re asking some big questions: Who belongs in America? What rights belong to citizens and what rights belong to anyone in this country, regardless of their visa status? Should the government be a safety net—or just… disappear altogether?
Meanwhile, the economy is on a daily rollercoaster, we don’t know if the Environmental Protection Agency will still exist next year, and the climate crisis is like that group project where no one is doing their part. And in case we forgot, conflicts are erupting around the globe on a seemingly daily basis.
So basically—everything is totally fine…You guys got this!
In all this chaos, the teachings of Bala Vihar can actually serve as your compass. Let me remind you of four things we hope you carry with you:
1. We Are All One
When the world feels divided, it’s easy to look at the people that don’t believe what we do and make them into our enemy. They voted the wrong way, they don’t believe the same things we do, they want to take away our rights. “They” sound pretty awful, right?
But Sanatana Dharma teaches: we are all one. The same spark of divine consciousness exists in every being. Even in people who voted differently than you, or whose opinions make your eye twitch.
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone or accept that their opinion of who deserves rights is correct. But it does mean we can’t write people off as hopeless. If we believe in our own capacity to grow and change, we must extend that faith to others too. That’s how oneness works.
2. Do the Next Right Thing
We spend a lot of time in the highschool program drilling dharma into you. In fact, the answer to almost any question is “Do your dharma.” For example, should I study for this test or go to this party? Do your dharma. But life will hand you trickier choices—like, should I take a summer internship at a biotech lab or go work on a fishing boat in Alaska? (Parents: I know you think you know the answer to that one, but really, you don’t!)
In these moments, look inward. Ask yourself about your intentions. Are you choosing out of fear, or out of courage? Are you seeking meaning, or avoiding discomfort? Hinduism teaches us to act with integrity in the moment—without getting attached to how it all turns out.
3. Remember Your True Nature
One of the most profound teachings of Hinduism is that your true nature is bliss—sat-chit-ananda. Your true nature is not your GPA. Your true nature is not what college you go to. It’s not if you meet your parent’s expectation of success. When you remember your true nature is joy—not the fleeting kind, but the eternal kind—it can be easier to come back to yourself, no matter what happens.
There will be moments in the coming years when you feel lost. When the path ahead feels unclear. When everyone else seems to have it figured out and you’re just… refreshing your email and eating cereal at midnight. In those moments, I hope you can pause and remember this truth: You are not broken. You are not behind. You are not alone. You are made of something divine.
4. Find a Daily Practice
Look, I’ll admit it: as a kid, I thought pujas were long and confusing and—let’s just say—a test of stamina. And when I got to Bala Vihar, I found our emphasis on chanting Sanskrit a little bit annoying too. I mean, I have no idea what we are saying, it’s all really hard to pronounce, and it all kind of sounds the same, am I right?
But here’s the truth: all these practices are tools. Tools to help us quiet our minds and connect to something greater. Whether it’s puja, meditation, chanting, yoga, or selfless service—find one that works for you. Then do it. Every day. Because when the world feels like it’s spinning too fast, that daily practice can bring you back to center.
Graduates, it has been a privilege to teach you. We honor your commitment, your curiosity, and your many Sunday mornings spent at Bala Vihar. May your path be joyful.
Congratulations. Hari Om.