An old video of biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s high school graduation speech has gone viral just days after former President Donald Trump announced Vivek Ramaswamy’s appointment to his administration. Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is seen in the video delivering a reflective and thoughtful commencement address at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2003.
In the speech, an 18-year-old Vivek Ramaswamy speaks of his high school journey, poignantly saying, “I have been racing my entire high school career, but now, when we are finally crossing the finish line, I wish I could have stopped, just a little earlier, and catch a breath of the fresh air that has surrounded me the whole time.” His introspective words, paired with an appreciation for his high school years, have resonated deeply with viewers, who see the speech as a prescient glimpse into Vivek Ramaswamy’s reflective and analytical nature.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s speech is rich with literary references, including a line from his English class, “It is better to travel than it is to arrive,” capturing the mixed feelings he held about graduation. He admits, “How am I supposed to feel right now?” expressing the uncertainty of moving forward from one life phase to another. This existential questioning adds depth to his address, resonating with the audience and leaving a lasting impression.
The young Vivek Ramaswamy also explores the duality of the word “commencement,” noting its origin from the French word “commencer,” meaning “to begin.” He reflects, “So, what is it really? The climactic ending to it all, or the launch pad from which we now embark.” Vivek Ramaswamy’s exploration of endings and beginnings left many viewers reflecting on their own journeys.
Vivek Ramaswamy shares personal memories from his time at St. Xavier, a private Catholic high school, as a non-Catholic Hindu student. Navigating a new faith community, he recalls feeling out of place at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, uncertain of the rituals around him. However, he notes that his high school years helped him build a unique sense of spirituality, one that blended elements from both Catholic and Hindu traditions. He sees this personal journey as a defining experience of his high school years and predicts that for his classmates, these personal discoveries might eclipse the more conventional achievements in the long term.
Vivek Ramaswamy, whose parents emigrated from Kerala to the United States in the 1970s, graduated from St. Xavier in 2003 and has since built a notable career in biotechnology and entrepreneurship. In Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, he is expected to play a significant role in government efficiency reform alongside Elon Musk, drawing on his vision and analytical approach first seen in his high school speech.
