Valedictorian Gloria Yu ’26 Reflects on Compassion, Curiosity, and Community

After receiving their diplomas on Sunday, May 24, members of the Class of 2026 heard a Commencement address from Valedictorian Gloria Yu ’26, who reflected on the value of a Lawrenceville School education and encouraged classmates to embrace uncertainty and remain open to the possibilities that lie ahead.

Watch a recording of The Lawrenceville School 2026 Commencement ceremony on Vimeo. Additional images from Commencement will be available on Lawrenceville's Flickr page shortly. 

I first stepped onto Lawrenceville’s campus in fourth grade, during the winter of 2018. Upon seeing the fairytale assortment of red brick buildings and wide lawns, I was struck by a feeling of wonder that I’m sure many of us had when we first arrived here. There was something about this place that drew me in, something I couldn’t quite describe. As I watched students laugh and chat on their way to class, I told my parents, “I want to come to school here.”

At that time, attending Lawrenceville felt like a dream out of my reach. I had lived in Hangzhou, China, my entire life, so I possessed little to no knowledge of an American education. I didn’t know how I could get into a school like Lawrenceville, and I only chanced upon its campus because my family visited New Jersey that winter. Yet, life finds a way, and now, I am graduating from here alongside my fellow classmates. This is truly a big moment for all of us, our diplomas a testament to our hard work, resilience, and growth over the past few years.

Today, I want to reflect on the value of a Lawrenceville education, which is something that I’ve thought a lot about over my time here. At Lawrenceville, our busy schedule of classes, athletics, clubs, and social events often leaves little time for us to step back and ask ourselves why we do what we do. Likewise, as a society, we constantly chase the enticing ideas of progress and upward mobility. But what does progress actually mean, and what is the ultimate purpose of learning?

Recently, I came across an intriguing line in my physics textbook that describes science as “an asymptotic series of progressively better approximations to the ultimate truth—if there even is an ultimate truth.” Often, we characterize our learning as a search for “the truth,” whether it involves solving the mysteries of the human mind through literature or uncovering the mathematical equations that model the universe. Yet, no matter how much we think we know about ourselves or the world, we may never truly grasp the origin of life, the laws governing molecular interactions, or the creation of the cosmos. All we can do is propose educated guesses that hold until proven otherwise. I believe that knowledge, therefore, should not exist as an end in itself, but rather as a means to serve our society.

In Mr. Martin’s English class junior year, we discussed the difference between goodness and greatness, and how goodness is for the other while greatness is for the self. While everyone in my class claimed to value goodness over greatness, we frequently tread the fine line between the two. In a society where we constantly measure ourselves against each other, where we all hope to find success and to be remembered, it’s easy to overlook that the world is indeed big enough to hold all of us and to allow each of us to make our own mark.

After all, even though we have made enormous strides over the course of our history, creating languages, developing moral codes, establishing social structures, curing diseases, and venturing into space, our world remains far from perfect, our work far from done. Our time at Lawrenceville has shown us just how much of the world still needs healing, but also the change we’re capable of creating, whether it’s in the classroom, on the sports teams, in our houses, on the KAC stage, or in the larger community outside of campus.

Time and time again, our empathy and compassion for one another have proven to be our greatest virtues, propelling us to grow both as individuals and as a collective. In fact, this past winter in Dr.  Williams’ class, we read an excerpt from Stephen Pinker’s book, “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined,” which discusses the Humanitarian Revolution. Pinker argued that the invention of the printing press and the subsequent increase in literacy are what led to a decrease in institutionalized violence in the 17th and 18th centuries. The core of Pinker’s reasoning lies in reading’s power to foster empathy. When we open a book, we step into the life of someone from a different background and view the world from their vantage point. Whether knowingly or not, we surrender our physical selves and undertake the emotionally charged journey of a stranger, who could be fighting in a war, creating a space colony, or navigating a midlife crisis.

Consequently, by challenging us to engage with different perspectives at the Harkness table and outside of the classroom, Lawrenceville has allowed us to view each other not only as classmates, but as people. This care that we have nurtured for one another is, on the macro-level, why I believe we continue to live on as a human civilization. It is also, on a micro-level, why we choose to stay at Lawrenceville despite the challenges we’ve faced, mistakes we’ve made, and tears we’ve shed during nights when we thought that we had reached our breaking point, only to wake up the next morning and realize that there are still people who love us and care for us.

So, to the underclassmen, treat those around you with compassion and celebrate each other’s successes because the world does offer enough sweet pie for everyone to share. Enjoy Lawrenceville while you can. Take advantage of your classes, sports, and clubs to better yourself and those around you. Forgive yourself when you make mistakes, allow yourself to take breaks, and be kind to yourself.

Additionally, I want to share with you a passage from “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand, which is one of my favorite books. “The Fountainhead” explores the contrasting characters of Howard Roark and Peter Keating, the former an architect who refuses to compromise his creative vision and the latter someone who pursues architecture for money and fame. At the end of the story, the usually reserved Roark offers his opinion on Keating, remarking, “What was his aim in life? Greatness—in other people’s eyes. Fame, admiration, envy—all that which comes from others...The second-hander acts, but the source of his actions is scattered in every other living person.” Thus, whatever you do, make sure you are doing it out of love and for your own fulfillment. I promise that you can and will succeed in whatever you put your heart into.

Now, to my fellow graduating classmates, while our high school journey is coming to an end, we are also opening the door to the next unwritten chapters of our lives, where many more explorations and discoveries await. Every once in a while, the world undergoes a major shift that lifts us from our status quo and places us in a new cradle. Nevertheless, the empathy, care, and adaptability that Lawrenceville has fostered in us will allow us to make the most of whatever the future hands us. No matter which path we choose, as long as we trust in ourselves and our vision, we can blaze our own trails and shine. Fix the part of the world that needs healing, do not fear the impossible, and do not think that anything can hold you back; because at the end of the day, if fourth-grade me has learned anything, it is to believe in the power of dreaming.

Finally, I want to end with thank yous. First and foremost, to my mom: thank you for always being there for me and for being my No. 1 believer. I would not be standing here without you. To my dad: thank you for your love, compassion, and wisdom. Growing up, you have always encouraged me to notice problems and solve them, and to find what I truly love. Your words are ingrained, and I will continue to live by them. To my teachers: thank you for your incredible generosity, kindness, and care. You have pushed me to rise from failure, to build confidence, and to become a better version of myself. To my friends: thank you for bearing with me through the smiles and the tears, for the lunch conversations on the state of the world, and for the semi-formal social gatherings where we studied and chatted. To Carter: thank you for being my home for the past three years. I will miss you all so much. To everyone whom I’ve met: thank you for being part of my journey here.

And finally, to the Class of 2026, thank you for making my four years at Lawrenceville worthwhile. I will be forever grateful to all of you. You have inspired the best in me, and together, we have sought the best for all. Congratulations! We’ve made it out. Thank you so much!

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.