Ayush Vyas

Thank you, Dean Pirkul, Vice Dean Jacob, Graduate Dean Powell, family members, friends, professors, advisors and everyone who played a significant role in getting us here today. I am very excited and grateful that my parents and sister made it to our graduation ceremony today. Hi Maa, hi Papa, hi Di. Thank you for all the support, love and values that made me who I am today.

Many congratulations to the Class of 2022. We finally made it! It is a day to remember all the sleepless nights, long group project calls, late-night “MasterChef” competitions and endless job applications.

This was the most exciting journey I could ask for. The insightful professors in the master’s in finance program have equipped me with sufficient knowledge to land a progressive opportunity and provided me with a platform to share my ideas and participate in nationwide competitions. The resources offered on campus have played a significant role in our personal and professional development. We have over 300 student organizations that allow us to explore different cultures, skills, art forms and social causes. These organizations offered us an opportunity to test our leadership skills and prepare us for future opportunities.

As for me, a student ambassador for the master’s in finance program and president of the Graduate Finance Management Council, I was able to create an impact by giving back to the incoming Comets, providing them opportunities for professional development and networking. Then, we have the Finance Lab at JSOM, which provided us with a plethora of resources comprising financial databases and certifications. And of course, the TA/RA programs, various scholarships and on-campus jobs through which we could save and make some extra money.

Along with these resources, there are so many people we should be thankful for; I am mentioning a few, but we are equally grateful to all. First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the professors who have worked hard to make education easy for us — especially those who were easy on grades. I would also like to thank the wonderful people working in marketplace, cafeterias, tech center and finance lab. I distinctly remember a kind lady named Heidi for always treating us with the utmost kindness and graciously helping us through our dilemma of what to eat. I also want to thank the Facilities Management and janitorial services teams for keeping the campus spotless and protecting us amid this pandemic. And last, I would like to thank my friends for always cheering me up, shouting the loudest possible and always showing up to my performances. I don’t know what l would have done without you all.

Let’s take a moment and consider our existence on this wonderful planet. We are a tiny part of billions of galaxies, many discovered and undiscovered planets, seven continents, all these countries and billions of people. There could be two interpretations of our existence; one is that we are one of many, so we should always stay humble about our knowledge and wonder about the quantum of things we can learn and experience in this constantly evolving universe. Second, although we are one in the billions, we are so unique; we all have different stories, we all come from different parts of the world, and we can never be the same. Isn’t that amazing?

Before concluding, I would like all of you to perform an exercise today once you get home. Look into the mirror and pat yourself on back; it would look funny but try it anyway. And greet yourself with these three sentences:

• I am proud of where I am today.
• I am proud of who I am becoming.
• I have everything to convert my dreams into reality.

I hope your eyes shine when you say that.

We all stand here to celebrate a milestone and the exciting journey ahead. We can and will conquer the world with compassion and self-belief, not to rule or exploit the power but to create more opportunities for those in need.

To make this world a better place, you do not need to take extraordinary actions; you can start by offering help to your colleague by sharing your skillset, you can help your friends in getting a job during such unprecedented times, you can be a good listener. These small acts of kindness might cheer people up and give a ray of hope to someone during their darkest times.

Remember that many people dream of being at our place right now, so let’s be grateful and promise to give back to the community.

Trust me when I say, “There is space for us all to succeed.”

Thank you!

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Ayush Vyas came from India to join The University of Texas at Dallas to pursue his master’s and passion for finance. Before his master’s, he helped organizations in financial planning and business development. During his graduate term, he served as the president of the Graduate Finance Management Council, student ambassador for the master’s in finance program, student assistant at the JSOM Finance Lab and interned at Allegiance Capital Corporation. Post-graduation, he wants to develop his career in business valuation. He believes the sense of service is the most vital road to self-development and a better world.