Hank Green urges MIT graduates to embrace human connection and resilience

In late May 2025, Hank Green, a prominent YouTuber and author, served as the keynote speaker at MIT's commencement ceremony for the graduating Class of 2025. During his address, he reflected on the remarkable accomplishments of the graduates, emphasizing the various projects they built, such as robots and startups. Green highlighted that the graduates expressed their hope not in material achievements but in their connections with people, revealing a preference for human relationships over objects in their pursuit of success. Furthermore, Green shared his concerns regarding pervasive issues affecting society, such as attacks on free speech, science, and rights within higher education. He acknowledged the acceleration of artificial intelligence, which causes uncertainty for many individuals. To address this, he provided practical advice drawn from a survey of graduates. Among his recommendations were to prioritize collaboration, practice resilience, and start with addressing problems rather than jumping immediately to solutions. Green's speech celebrated the uniqueness of human life and urged graduates not to lose sight of the opportunities for creativity and experimentation. He emphasized the need to remain curious and engage with the diverse challenges in society. Green reminded attendees to be aware of systemic issues driven by powerful forces and to stay attuned to everyday problems faced by regular people, encouraging them to strive for impactful solutions. In conclusion, Green urged the Class of 2025 to venture forth with purpose, not only for their own success but also to contribute positively to the world and to honor the meaningful relationships they cherish.