‘Allow Yourself to be Surprising’: Valedictorian Sulabh Katila Inspires St. Joseph’s Class of 2026

St. Joseph’s University, New York, celebrated its 107th annual commencement ceremony at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Brooklyn Campus valedictorian Sulabh Katila urged more than 1,100 graduates to embrace uncertainty and unexpected challenges.

Katila, an international student from Nepal who graduated with dual degrees in computer science and mathematics, delivered the address after being selected from a pool of five finalists. University officials said his selection was finalized by Executive Dean Phillip Dehne, Ph.D., ahead of the year-end commencement events.

Addressing an audience that included university administrators, faculty, families, and trustees, Katila used a pop culture reference to frame his perspective on professional and academic development. He cited the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, focusing on a scene in which the main character takes a “leap of faith” to discover his abilities.

“That question is about us, too,” Katila said. “It’s about becoming someone you could not have imagined yourself being yet. Miles had to jump in order to discover that he could swim. So my message to you is this: Allow yourself to be surprising, even to yourself.”

Katila emphasized that academic credentials in fields such as nursing, education, marketing, and computer science represent a foundation rather than a final milestone.

“We’ve earned that. But that’s not the ceiling. That is the floor,” he said, adding that graduates must be willing to step outside their comfort zones as future societal and professional demands evolve.

The address challenged conventional notions of preparation, describing unfamiliarity as a practical asset. Katila recalled the shared experiences of the student body since their arrival on campus 1,344 days earlier, noting that a lack of initial familiarity did not hinder their progress.

“The not knowing did not stop us — in many ways, that’s what carried us,” he said.

He referenced challenges faced by different segments of the graduating class, including student-athletes undergoing rigorous training, education majors managing full-time student-teaching assignments, nursing students entering clinical rotations, and science majors analyzing inconsistent laboratory data. He also acknowledged nontraditional students balancing multiple jobs and family responsibilities alongside their studies.

“If we knew exactly what was needed of us, we might not have even started,” Katila said. “We did it anyway, one step at a time. And in doing so, we became more than we knew we could be.”

Katila thanked faculty and staff members, including accounting professor Dr. Joseph Zelinger and Raymond Larson, executive director of wellness and dean of students. He also recognized the support of his parents, aunt, and brother.

Katila encouraged the Class of 2026 to continue taking calculated risks as they enter the workforce. “Keep jumping. Keep finding out that you can swim,” he said. “Allow yourself to be surprising.”