This year’s summer commencement ceremony at the Ukrainian Catholic University was a special occasion for 641 graduates. Among them was Daryna Kolmyk, a graduate of the Master’s in Marketing Management program at the UCU Business School, who was chosen as the valedictorian of the ceremony—the person who addressed the entire community with closing remarks on behalf of the student body.
Daryna had previously earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCU. During her time as a student, she ran for the Student Government, sang in the choir, led the student podcast organization “Podcatch,” and actively participated in building community and university life. She worked as a project and program manager in the UCU Development Department, specifically with the “DoNation” scholarship fund, and today she is the curator of the “Believe in Yourself Space” intellectual space and a project manager at the Institute of Religion and Society.
Below is the text of her speech.
“Your Excellencies, Reverend Fathers, distinguished representatives of the Senate and the Rector’s Office, faculty members, dear fellow alumni, parents, and guests! Glory to Jesus Christ!
A lot of insightful things have already been said today. Ms. Olena was right—standing here is a bit nerve-wracking, but I’m among my own people, so I can breathe a sigh of relief.
As a marketer, I should start by highlighting the university’s achievements. But since you’ve already entered the UCU “funnel” and have become its most enthusiastic audience, there’s no point in “selling” the university to you—you already know it all. So today, I propose we talk not only about what UCU has given us, but also about what each of us can now give to the world.
Life is fleeting, and everyone wants to leave a mark. One of the earliest testimonies to the human desire to create is the handprints in the caves of Africa—living proof that the desire to mark one’s presence in time is an authentic human need. Over the years at UCU, each of us has left our mark: in our responses during seminars, in volunteer projects, in the embraces of friends, or in helping others. Today, our role is changing: now we will have to leave these marks on a larger scale—even in places where we may not be very welcome.
Last year, journalist Pavlo Kazarin noted that there were significantly fewer adults worldwide. So, there’s a vacancy that every UCU graduate is capable of filling—to become that very adult and continue to grow.
At first, we may be seen as newcomers, “the smallest ones in the room.” This feeling of incompetence is familiar to many, but as my advisor says: “Sometimes it’s worth feeling like the smallest one, because that’s exactly how curiosity, a spirit of inquiry, and ideas—which are usually hidden beneath a shell of expertise—are awakened.” The university became a training ground for us, where we “built up our research muscles,” shed our feelings of inferiority, and reframed our knowledge in new ways. We learned, made mistakes, and corrected them. Now it’s time to carry this experience forward, taking on the role of an “endless marathon runner.”
A successful Ukrainian entrepreneur once told me that his actions are guided by a single word: “podilchivist”—the ability to share. The etymology of the word “university” means “wholeness,” “everything.” And if over the years we have diligently gathered our “everything,” now is the time to share it: to make decisions, create projects, and move forward. After all, it’s impossible to leave a mark while standing still.
Earning a degree is only half the battle. Our education does not end today. The real challenge is to convince others of the value of our knowledge and invite them to collaborate. Isolated footprints leave only narrow paths, but when we walk together, we can pave entire roads.
It will be difficult for us. At times, we’ll miss one another, and we’ll want to return to our St. Sophia. In moments of despair, let’s remember our source of strength—the community that has become an alma mater for each of us and is always waiting for us.
The world may be treacherous and wild, but we’ve been well-equipped with knowledge here. We’ve found our people, and some of us have strengthened our faith. We have everything we need to make the world a place worth living in.
Look around: your strongest allies are sitting right next to you. Wherever you are, remember: our greatest asset is our ability to share. Let’s take the first step forward, and the path will unfold before us.
With God, we can do anything!”
