By Adam C. Rohdie
Over the past three weeks, all over Greenwich, tents have popped up, and gymnasiums have been decorated; we have made our way into graduation season. At these important events, speakers offer words of wisdom to guide those moving forward. Graduates are told to follow their passions, reach for their dreams, and be kind people– all great advice. My advice this year is a bit different; a simple request. My advice to the high school graduates of 2023 as you head off to college or career is—don’t hit the snooze button.
I remain convinced that the snooze button is an evil invention and is actually a perfect metaphor for the challenges awaiting all of our graduates. In my mind, hitting the snooze button represents a certain lack of discipline, which leads to many more missed opportunities to grow and learn, and experience life at its fullest.
Graduates, you are about to enter a new reality, one in which you will be handed more freedom than you have ever had. It is the freedom to hit the snooze button as many times as you want. The freedom to choose to skip class, stay out late at night, party too hard, eat nothing but junk food, ask AI to write your paper, or put off nurturing your relationships. And while you will have the freedom to make choices like these, it is my hope that you will not.
Having discipline means you will do the hard things, the things you do not really want to. It is so easy to hit that snooze button to get ten more minutes of sleep…and hit it again…and again…and again. We all do that now and then, but if you make it a habit, you will miss life-fulfilling and life-affirming opportunities. Speaking literally, you may miss the opportunity to exercise or eat breakfast, keeping your mind and body fit; the opportunity to catch up on the news, keeping informed on issues that may impact your life; the opportunity to meet a friend for coffee before class, deepening that relationship; or you may miss a class altogether, or be late for work.
How do you begin? Can you possibly kick the snooze button habit? You can. Start by making your bed!
Retired Navy Seal —Admiral William McRaven gave a graduation speech at which he told
the graduates at the University of Texas to make their beds every morning. He shared the simple wisdom behind the act of making your bed, “if you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.”
And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”
If you want to change the world, don’t hit that snooze button– put your feet on the floor when the alarm rings and start off your day by making your bed.
When you muster up the discipline to take your life into your own hands a whole new world will open up for you. You can take courses that challenge your thinking. You can move out of your social circle and meet new people from places and backgrounds that are different from yours. You can join a study group or meet with your professor during office hours to develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the content. You can start an exercise group and learn to meal prep, so you maintain your mental and physical health. You can volunteer in service to others. You can say no to unhealthy choices. And it all starts with the simple act of getting your day going– snooze free!
Now, the good news is, the Class of 2023 graduates from Greenwich high schools are well prepared for this new freedom. You have already been tasked with a level of responsibility for your school work, your service work, and your jobs – that has prepared you for the discipline you need to take full advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you—and even to create new opportunities for yourselves. Don’t hit the snooze button on your life. You’ve got this! Congratulations! Your Greenwich community loves you.
Adam C. Rohdie has been Greenwich Country Day School’s Head of School and Grade 8 History teacher for nineteen years.
