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Sal Khan to Johns Hopkins graduates: ‘Invest in what gives you meaning’
The Khan Academy founder urged the Class of 2025 to chase meaning and contentment rather than material comfort and recognition.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 23, May 2025
- 00:55 EDT
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Sal Khan. / John Hopkins University
Sal Khan, the Indian American founder and CEO of Khan Academy, urged graduating students at Johns Hopkins University to prioritize purpose over prestige during the university’s 2025 commencement ceremony held on May 22.
In a speech, Khan encouraged the Class of 2025 to think beyond material success. “There’s no Forbes list of the 500 happiest people on Earth,” he told the crowd at Homewood Field. “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… So as you build yourself in the traditional sense, also invest in what gives you meaning.”
Khan, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the ceremony alongside three other recipients, is known for his online nonprofit that has helped millions of students around the world. For many in the audience, he was more than a commencement speaker — he had once been a virtual tutor during high school algebra or AP physics.
He shared how Khan Academy began as a personal effort to help his younger cousin with math while she was living in New Orleans and he was working in Boston. “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,” he said. “To support them better, I start experimenting with videos and software. 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.”
Speaking directly to the nearly 9,000 graduates, Khan offered three pieces of advice: “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.”
His final point emphasized seeking fulfillment over external validation. “Many would have far less material wealth than most of us,” he said, referring to those who live meaningful lives. “They'd laugh often, they'd see the glass half full and not take themselves too seriously.”
In closing, Khan urged graduates to face the future with imagination and resolve. “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,” he said. “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.”
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