Sal Khan to Johns Hopkins graduates: 'Invest in what gives you meaning'

Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan, Johns Hopkins University's 2025 Commencement speaker, shared three pieces of advice with the class:

"First, don't just follow your dreams, have dreams and take them seriously."

"Second, curate your worries … If you can do something about it, do it. If not, let it go."

The third piece of advice from the entrepreneur behind the popular online educational nonprofit was to chase meaning and contentment rather than material comfort and recognition.

"There's no Forbes list of the 500 happiest people on Earth," Khan said. "If there were, I suspect most of them would be people we've never heard of, but they've had a few things in common. A strong community of friends and family, a sense of purpose, a way to express themselves creatively. They'd feel appreciated. They'd laugh often, they'd see the glass half full and not take themselves too seriously. Many would have basic financial security, but plenty would have far less material wealth than most of us. So as you build yourself in the traditional sense, also invest in what gives you meaning."

A superstar among today's graduates, many of whom turned to Khan Academy for tutoring help over the years, Khan addressed the Class of 2025 during the ceremony after receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters alongside three other distinguished individuals. He spoke about focusing on the things today's grads can control in order to help others. Khan shared the story about how his company has its origins with him playing the role of "tiger cousin" by tutoring a young relative in math. She was living in New Orleans and he was in Boston, but through his remote tutoring, an idea was born.

"Word spreads in my family that free tutoring is going on, and before I know it, I'm tutoring five, 10 cousins and family, friends all over the country. To support them better, I start experimenting with videos and software," Khan said. "Then something unexpected happened. People from all over the world began using those same tools. I was very gratified to see it was many of you as well."

Khan encouraged the Hopkins Class of 2025 to "think in epic terms".

"I hope my story gives you permission to find joy in small human wins, even as you dream audaciously in this time of extraordinary change. There is one big difference between you and Frodo Baggins carrying the One Ring or Harry, Ron, and Hermione taking on Voldemort," Khan said. "The odds are not stacked against you. You are equipped for this moment. You are not alone. The roughly thousands of you who are graduating today are the vanguard of an army of millions ready to push the future forward while staying grounded in what makes us human."