Hobart and William Smith Colleges

COMMENCEMENT 2026

Randy Hong '26
Senior Speech
May 17, 2026

Good morning HWS, and to everyone joining us in this moment of celebration! I am grateful for the opportunity to be here.

Commencement fosters many emotions—too many to adequately describe in a couple minutes. It also brings together people from all corners of the globe—the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This shared moment of accolades unites us, despite all our differences, in solidarity to celebrate with each other.

Amidst the stories that converge at commencement, I wish to highlight one that is particularly meaningful to me. I am joined by my father in the audience who flew to be present for this occasion. This moment is particularly special for me because I can share this success with him.

I am a son to a family of Vietnamese refugees. Whereas I became a college graduate at the age of 22, my parents instead became refugees and were displaced from their homes. In an attempt to rebuild his life in the United States, my father worked laborious jobs for the next four decades to build a better life for his child than the one he encountered. 

I recall a story once shared to me by my father regarding his early days as a refugee in the United States and his efforts to pursue a college education in a foreign land. My father and I share a deep passion for learning. He had ambitions of learning how to program. And despite the campus being located an hour away, he walked the distance under the Californian sun, unless fortunate enough to find spare change for the bus. He persisted in his studies despite the challenges of learning in a language he lacked fluency in. But while these hurdles didn’t stop his desire to learn, financial strain at home forced him to abandon his studies entirely to find money.

Despite not finishing college, his efforts culminated into his son surpassing these dreams and carrying his hopes into graduate school. This accomplishment—graduating college—is one that I share with him. I am inspired by the grit my father displayed against the numerous obstacles that he encountered. One day, I hope to live up to his example and find half the strength he did when building a better life for his child than the one he encountered.

To the parents in the audience, I want to speak to you directly. I know that my father’s experiences are not unique. This story might sound too familiar—a parent embedding their dreams into their child with hopes of forging a better future. This story is repeatedly visible—amongst the parents who sent their child far away for an education; amongst the parents who think about their child’s success constantly at night; amongst the parents who work tirelessly to fund their child’s education; and amongst every parent who hopes to see their child live a happier and more prosperous future. These moments represent the best of us—the love and trust captured in the spirit of commencement that unites us together in celebration. 

So to the class of 2026—as I walk across this stage today, I will think of the people I credit this moment to: my mentors, my family, my friends, my partner, and my loved ones. And as you walk across this stage, I urge you to reflect upon the actions of the people who loved you enough to invest their efforts into your success. As you move forward to greater heights, find greatness for the sake of the people who want you to succeed the most, if not for yourself.

I want to leave you with a Vietnamese proverb that best captures the sentiment I have shared today. It states: “Uống nước nhớ nguồn.” When drinking water, remember the source from which it came. Let us live by these words as we all continue to greater heights. Thank you and congratulations to the class of 2026. Bless you all.