Good evening. I am Yubo, your salutatorian for the Class of 2025. It's an incredible honor for me to address the distinguished GSMST faculty, the loving friends, and my fellow graduates. Because y'all worked incredibly hard, let's take a moment to congratulate the Class of 2025.

To tell you how I got here, I would like to take you back to four years ago. Just a few months before our first year, I arrived in this country with one suitcase and no English. Naturally, when I got to GSMST, my energy to break out of my academic shell remained at zero, and , by Newton's First Law, a body at rest stays at rest. But this community became the external force that shaped me and transformed my hesitation into momentum that matters.

I was shaped through Katie Chen's Quizlet sets to acclimate to English, teaching me phrases that no textbook could explain—for example, “lock in.” I was shaped at Mu Alpha Theta meetings, where we learned that " pie" represents both an irrational constant and something that Mehek Saha would later smash into my face. I was shaped by Ms. Rachkovskiy at computer science competitions, where Max Lee introduced me to the unique American tradition of coding with waffle fries and milkshakes.

In physics, momentum is the product of mass and velocity, the integral of force over time. For us, the Class of 2025, our collective momentum is the accumulated sum of four years of education—a force that propels us forward with both purpose and direction. If you ask a physicist, they'll tell you hollow spheres have the highest moment of inertia—they resist change to rotational motion better than any other shape. Our shared moments these past four years have shaped us precisely into these ideal forms, making us uniquely stable and perfectly designed to carry GSMST's momentum into tomorrow's world.

This momentum comes from "GSMST's own Bill Nye," Mr. Burmester, transforming static formulas into electric demonstrations with the lightning between Van de Graaff generators. This momentum comes from Dr. Cossen , who showed us through the Happiness Index that some nations are quantifiably happier than GSMST students—a truly high bar to clear. This momentum comes from our belo-ved Mr. Andrews, who never failed to make us laugh despite our fear of being cold-called via his popsicle sticks, and reminded us that all stress could always be overcome with a quick walk around GSMST's own "quadrangle"—which was really just the locker bank. Indeed, our mentors, each in their unforgettable way, showed us that the true lesson was often found not just in the curriculum, but in the laughter, the shared moments of discovery, and the art of making even the most daunting knowledge feel approachable and alive.

The beauty of momentum is that once established, it continues unless acted upon by an external force—the challenges against evidence-based thinking in our world. From Ms. Milsted we learned about the traps of confirmation biases and cherry picking. From Dr. Cox we learned about the cruel realities of science funding and environmental degradation. We, who have received exceptional training, now bear the greatest obligation to use it wisely. Therefore, let us carry forth the beauty of momentum, powerfully painting its promise upon the world in two ways:

First, maintain a childlike heart. Stay curious. Stay ambitious. Whether pioneering foundational research, developing new technologies, or reimagining systems, may we always preserve our genuine curiosity and carry our momentum through the inevitable obstacles that innovation presents. This means we must resist the comfort of complacency and narrow pursuits of wealth. From rethinking legal frameworks to developing precision medicine, from revolutionizing artistic expression to designing renewable energy, our world urgently needs those of us with sustained momentum to propose innovative solutions. Standing on this podium, I want to salute a few idealistic pioneers. Consider Galileo, imprisoned for his heliocentric truth, yet his discoveries continue to guide every astronomer today. Consider Madam Curie, poisoned by the radium she discovered, yet her legacy illuminates every cancer treatment room. The unwavering commitment to innovation may be the most valuable momentum that we carry from GSMST.

Second, put knowledge into practice by championing the truth. While innovation is the engine of progress, its power is only fully realized when its findings are clearly communicated and its integrity fiercely defended. This means actively working to bridge the gap between complex discoveries and public understanding. In an era where falsehoods travel faster than facts, we must become amplifiers of evidence and gladiators of truth.

Finally, allow me to adapt the words of JFK: Ask not what society can do for you—ask what you can do for society. We stand on the ruins of an old world, and you all must have the courage and vision to build a new world as it should be—more compassionate, more equitable, and more sustainable. GSMST has given us our initial momentum, and now Class of 2025 it's time to calculate the optimal collision angle and transfer this momentum to the world. Let us say farewell in the most GSMST way possible—not with "goodbye," but as programmers do when their code finally runs correctly, let's say to each other: "Hello, World!"

Thank you.