Kyzier Kelly: Speech for 2026 Commencement

Good morning President Crosby, members of the Board of Trustees, esteemed guests, faculty, staff, parents, family members, and friends, and of course, good morning to the graduating students!

My name is Kyzier Kelly, the Student Government Association President for the Class of 2026. I grew up in Jackson, New Jersey and yes its where six flags is. It is also where wrestling became my first love. Also where I grew to love volleyball. Growing up was full of challenges and this university was no exception. But I guess we made it to graduation.

So first, I want to give thanks to God for blessing me with the life I live. There have been moments where things didn’t go as planned, times when I didn’t understand why certain obstacles were placed in my path—but looking back now, I can see that every challenge had a purpose. Every setback helped shape me into the person I am today.

I want to thank my family. There’s no way I could have made it this far without your constant support, love, and belief in me—even during the times I didn’t fully believe in myself. You’ve been my foundation, motivation, and reminder of what truly matters in life. Everything I do is a reflection of the values you’ve instilled in me.

To my friends, thank you. Thank you for the laughs, the late nights, the real conversations, and even the tough moments. You’ve pushed me to grow, think differently, and become a better version of myself. You’ve been there through the highs and the lows, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.

To my brothers—the men’s volleyball team—we’ve been through so much together. From wins that felt like we were on top of the world to losses that tested our resilience, we stayed together through it all. That bond is something that goes beyond the court. That bond is built on trust, sacrifice, and shared struggle. I have nothing but love for each and every single one of you, and I truly believe that all of you are destined for greatness in this next phase of life.

As I stand here today, I can’t help but reflect on the journey. Not just mine, but ours. Because every single person sitting here has their own story—filled with challenges, growth, and moments that have defined who they are.

One thing that has stayed with me throughout my journey is a quote from my high school volleyball coach, Mr. Ulrich. He used to always say, “Control the controllables.”

At the time, it sounded simple. Maybe even repetitive. But over time, I realized just how powerful those words are.

“Control the controllables.”

There’s so much in life that we can’t control. We can’t control what people think about us. We can’t control unexpected setbacks. We can’t control every outcome.

But what we can control is our effort. We can control our attitude. We can control how we respond when things don’t go our way.

And that mindset changed everything for me.

There were moments in my college journey where things felt uncertain. Times when I faced adversity—physically, mentally, emotionally. Moments where I had to question myself and ask, “Am I strong enough to get through this?”

And the answer didn’t come from outside voices. It came from within.

It came from choosing to keep going. It came from focusing on what I could do, instead of what I couldn’t. It came from controlling the controllables.

That’s something I want everyone here to take with them as we move forward.

Because life after this—whatever path you choose—isn’t going to be perfect. There will be obstacles. There will be moments of doubt. There will be times when things don’t go according to plan.

But in those moments, remember this: You still have control over how you show up.

You have control over whether you quit or keep pushing. You have control over whether you let failure define you or teach you. You have control over whether you settle or strive for more.

And that’s where growth happens.

Being Student Government Association President has been one of the greatest honors of my life. It’s given me the opportunity to lead, to listen, and to serve. But more importantly, it’s taught me that leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about impact.

It’s about how you treat people. It’s about how you uplift others. It’s about how you leave a place better than you found it.

And I hope, in some way, I’ve been able to do that.

As I mentioned before, today is about all of our journeys. In some way, shape, or form, we have all had an impact on each others lives.

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve influenced someone. You’ve inspired someone. You’ve made a difference.

And as we step into this next chapter, I challenge you to keep doing that.

Keep showing up. Keep pushing forward. Keep believing in yourself, even when it’s hard.

Because where we’re going in life isn’t just determined by talent or opportunity—it’s determined by consistency, resilience, and mindset.

And if there’s one thing I know about this class, it’s that we are resilient.

We’ve faced challenges. We’ve adapted. We’ve grown.

And now, we’re ready.

Ready to take everything we’ve learned and apply it to the real world. Ready to chase our goals. Ready to create the future we’ve been working toward.

So as we leave this chapter behind and step into the next one, I want to leave you with this:

Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t be afraid of change. And don’t be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone.

Because that’s where life really begins.
Continue to control the controllables. Continue to believe in yourself. And continue to strive for greatness in everything you do.
I’m proud of all of you. I’m grateful to have been part of this journey with you. And I can’t wait to see the incredible things you all accomplish.

Thank you.