Graduating students Kendall Burks and Elijah Darden have encountered significant hurdles in their early lives, but both have flourished due to the affection and backing of their communities. On Monday, May 12, Burks and Darden will inspire the Class of 2025 to rely on their communities as they navigate life post-graduation.

In this context, Burks, who will obtain both Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from WashU’s Medical Scientist Training Program, and Darden, who is poised to receive a bachelor’s degree in psychological and brain sciences from Arts & Sciences, offer a glimpse of their speeches for the 164th Commencement at Washington University in St. Louis.

‘Seek out communities that will uplift you emotionally’

Kendall Burks has managed several considerable obstacles, beginning in middle school when her father lost his job as a copier salesman during the Great Recession, leading to their family losing their home in Texas.

However, at her school near Dallas, Burks recalled how her teachers and tennis coaches went out of their way to provide “fun and engaging activities to escape some of these stresses.” A significant influence for her was observing her father tirelessly searching for odd jobs to provide for the family.

During high school, Burks experienced the sudden loss of her mother due to septic shock from an infection at age 51.

“I couldn’t comprehend why the universe had to lose someone whose enduring message was, ‘It takes just as much energy to be kind as it does to be mean,’” she stated. “I was fortunate to receive assistance from numerous individuals at my school, especially my teachers and classmates. I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without a lengthy list of supporters.”

The hardships Burks faced as a adolescent have motivated the address she plans to deliver at Commencement.

“My objective for the speech is to empower my fellow graduates to believe they can achieve whatever they aspire to, even when it seems unattainable,” she said. “The pathway to surmount these barriers is to seek communities that will uplift you emotionally.”

A strong sense of community also inspired her to depart Texas after graduating from Rice University in Houston to pursue an MD/PhD at WashU. “I observed immense collaboration and camaraderie during my initial visit to the campus,” she said. “I wanted to be part of that.”

Community has also propelled her to achieve more than she ever envisioned. “As I gaze at my diploma, I will think of all the devoted faculty, staff, and students at WashU Medicine who supported me through the numerous challenges throughout my eight years in the classroom, lab, and clinic,” she remarked. “I am eager to utilize the unique sense of community cultivated at WashU in ways that will benefit patients through my future clinical and research endeavors.”

After graduation, Burks will relocate to Boston for an internal medicine and research pathway residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard University. There, she will continue her journey toward becoming a physician-scientist in cardiology. She plans to further explore pathways regulating fat metabolism in relation to heart disease.

This journey will pose challenges, but she intends to depend on community while also offering support to colleagues, friends, and family when they face difficulties. “Regardless of the challenges, I, along with the graduating class, must persist in pursuing our ambitions in both our professional and personal lives,” Burks emphasized. “We must uplift one another.”

— By Kristina Sauerwein

‘Communities flourish and endure despite the challenges’

Elijah Darden stands as a nonprofit CEO, certified emergency medical technician (EMT), cancer researcher, and future physician. Yet when he addresses the 3,600 members of the Class of 2025 — alongside their family, friends, and professors — during the 164th Commencement on May 12, he will share his college experience from a fresh perspective: music.

Darden, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychological and brain sciences alongside a minor in music from Arts & Sciences, has over ten years of experience in playing trombone, piano, and various brass instruments. He currently performs with WashU’s Jazz Band and has contributed compositions to several university ensembles. This speech marks a significant moment for Darden, who recalls writing about music in his personal statement when applying to WashU four years ago.

“It feels quite poetic to revisit that idea: to see how it has evolved over the years and how it aligns with our graduating class’s journey nearing completion,” Darden expressed. “Music, particularly composition, has held immense significance for me. It allows me to craft stories and share them with my community, expressing myself while also connecting with others.”

These are the messages Darden hopes to deliver to the audience: first, the chance for everyone to write their own stories, and secondly, the significance of community.

“Each of us has penned our story in unique ways. At times, it feels as though that narrative is composed by others, and we possess limited control over it. However, I sincerely hope that we all discover our stories and carve our paths,” he shared.

At WashU, Darden’s narrative has been shaped by his involvement in the Jazz Band, Rodriguez Scholars program, and the Emergency Support Team, alongside mentorship from faculty and staff across various academic divisions, research labs, and Student Affairs. He discovered community by embracing diversity and differences within his environments — encouraging others to do the same.

“Put yourself out there, even if it entails temporarily lowering your guard and allowing yourself to be open,” Darden advised. “Despite the uncertainties and difficulties over the past four years, there has also been unity. As an EMT on campus, I have interacted with many individuals, and when I respond to a call, bystanders are usually present. It demonstrates that, even in tough times, people come together. Communities endure and thrive regardless of external circumstances.”

The next phase of Darden’s journey will also center on uniting individuals. As a Gates Cambridge Scholar, he will pursue a master’s degree in population health sciences at the University of Cambridge. Upon his return to the U.S., he plans to enroll in medical school at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, merging his commitment to patient care with his passion for health equity.

“I aspire to combine the medical field with public health, education, and research, acting as a bridge between healthcare and the community,” Darden asserted. “We must connect these realms.”

— By Amanda Young

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