Thank you, President Crawford. Distinguished guests, faculty, staff, parents, and fellow graduates. Good afternoon!
I realized during my time here that I can’t control every moment (shocking, I know) For that reason, I use a grounding phrase — a statement that reminds me how I want to show up: Be the beacon of joy.
My name is Ian Antonio, and I stand here before you full of joy and gratitude. It is an honor to be here with you on this momentous occasion. Over the course of my education here at the University of Puget Sound, this campus has become a second home. After serving in the Army, I spent the last 5 years on these grounds completing my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and now my Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Before I continue, I’d like to take a moment to recognize a few people who made this journey possible. To my parents, Alvin and Rosalyn, who braved immigrating to a foreign country to provide my siblings and I opportunities that they never had. Thank you for your sacrifices and for creating the opportunities that led me here today.
To my in-laws, my second parents, Mike and Amber, thank you for welcoming me into your family, for your kindness, and for your support throughout this journey.
Lastly, to my wife, my rock, Hannah — thank you for your unwavering love and support, thank you for being my constant through every high and low. I am grateful to share this journey with you.
Class of 2026, we did it! Today marks the pinnacle of our time here at the University of Puget Sound. We may all come from different departments, and our journey to this moment may differ, but we have all earned our place here today. We have all put in the work to call ourselves no longer students, but graduates. This new identity comes with great pride and accomplishment. This also means we can now finally delete Canvas from our phones.
Earlier, I shared a grounding phrase: be the beacon of joy. I know it sounds silly and cheesy, but I believe that the joy and purpose in life come from the small differences we can make in the lives of others — being kind, sharing a smile, and choosing to bring light, especially in challenging times.
As physical therapists, our days are often dictated by schedules. I learned early on that it can be challenging to bring the best version of myself consistently when life doesn’t slow down — and we still need to keep showing up for others.
That’s where my grounding phrase comes in, a small reminder of who I am beneath all of the noise.
I had the opportunity to practice this in our pro-bono clinic here on campus. Even with the stress of coursework in the background, I used my grounding phrase to stay present in our neuro and pediatrics clinic. When working with kids who are in an unfamiliar medical environment, I realized that no matter how stressful life felt, I could still choose what I brought
into that space.
So I made it a goal to bring a smile, or maybe even a laugh, to the people around me. To be okay with being vulnerable. To act a little silly when it helped. And at the same time, to do what I needed to do as a physical therapist — making sure our sessions were both meaningful and fun. If you happened to be in Weyerhaeuser last fall on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, you would know. And I apologize — we were quite loud. It’s all fun and games until an 8-year-old realizes they can pull you full speed while on a scooter board.
Moments like that made me start reflecting more on my time here. I’m sure if I asked you to think of a memory that shaped who you are today, one would come to mind.
One of those moments for me was a lecture on therapeutic presence. It made me realize the importance of being present. If you think about our journey to get to this moment, we’ve spent years focusing on deadlines or what comes next: the next test, the next paper, the weekend. We were always hurrying forward, sometimes rushing past the moments that mattered most. Meeting people who started as strangers and have now become your closest friends, celebrating the wins, struggling together, real conversations with your professors and mentors, and of course, the late-night food runs because we know that studying for an exam or writing a paper at the last minute builds character.
In all seriousness, these are the moments that shape us. Staying in the present does not mean ignoring the future; staying present means celebrating how far we have come.
Over time, that idea became something I carried with me. I needed a simple reminder of how I wanted to show up, even on challenging days.
Even graduation can feel like one of those challenging days, a lot of excitement, a bit overwhelming, maybe uncertain about what comes next.
Standing in front of all of you, feeling the weight of this moment, I found myself returning to my grounding phrase.
I challenge you all to find your own.
Because the truth is, life won’t slow down for us. If anything, it will speed up even more. No matter where you go, there will be another goal, another responsibility. But if we are always focused on what’s next, we risk what’s missing right in front of us. Appreciate the moment you are in. You will look back and realize that these were the moments that mattered the most.
Ladies, Gentlemen, and non-binary pals, this is one of those moments.
During our time here at UPS, we have had incredible learning experiences that have shaped us as humans and stewards of our professions.
Graduates, we stand on the edge of something new, surrounded by people who walked along this journey with you.
Step boldly into your next chapter with confidence in yourself and the foundation that you have built here. Find your grounding phrase, the words that remind you who you are beneath all of the noise. We won’t control every moment, but we will always control how we show up.
Congratulations, Class of 2026.
