Commencement Address by Robert Koenigsberger P '13, '16, May 29, 2016
Thank you. Good morning to Mr. Casertano, the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, parents, family and friends, and of course the Millbrook Class of 2016!
Hey, HaHa, it's Robert!
To the Millbrook Class of 2016, this is your day. But in true Millbrook , Non Sibi Sed Cunctis fashion, I ask you to recognize those that partnered to ensure your graduation today, and your certain readiness for what lies ahead. As Mr. Casertano always says, "in no other time of your lives will so many people have been united for your well being." As such, please thank your parents, other family members, and Millbrook faculty and staff with a LOUD, round of applause!
It is an honor to be your commencement speaker. When I was asked to stand-up here today I must admit my first two thoughts were: why me and what will I ever say? However, upon reflection it became quite clear that I should do what any self respecting 51 year old man would do; ask his daughters! Of course when I did, both Amber and Ilayda suggested that I should shout them out, but I would never do that! Instead, we agreed that I should pass along what I wish others had passed along to me when I stood in your shoes. Perhaps they did and I didn’t pay attention or I simply forgot. Rumor has it that this happens with age! Anyways give me a few moments of your time and I will do my best.
First and utmost, you are Millbrook graduates, and remember what makes Millbrook, Millbrook. No, I am not talking about spotty cell service and intermittent WIFI. Rather, the key qualities of Millbrook that should never be lost upon you. As you move to the next chapter of your journey keep Millbrook with you by:
- Continuing the simultaneous pursuit of best self and common good.
- Perpetuating the tradition of service and environmental stewardship that was the centerpiece of your time here a Millbrook.
- Continue seeking leadership opportunities wherever you can.
- Keep doing community rather than simply doing community service.
- Continue pursuing curiosity and the commitment to academic excellence while maintaining respect for oneself and others.
- Forge ahead exploring perspectives that challenge your own, rather than simply looking for evidence that you are correct.
- As Mr. Pulling said long ago, "keep taking responsibility to learn responsibility."
Now that you are alumni, remember that Millbrook alumni always look out for each other. The bond and commitment to one another’s success and living non sibi stays with you wherever you go. So, keep non-sibi with you because more than anything that’s what makes Millbrook Millbrook.
As you move on, continue looking for and embracing those Millbrook moments. You know, those split seconds when someone encouraged you to study something different, pursue a different interest, or quite simply pushed you out of your comfort zone. Perhaps it was a tap on the shoulder in the classroom, a laboratory, a sports field or stage. These Millbrook moments are where you will continue to find your growth, transformation, pride and progress; moments that happen that will continue to shape who you will become.
You are far too young to believe or say that you can’t do something. As you leave here today, please consider the following advice: break the cycle of entitlement. Consider gratitude over attitude. The best employees I have are the ones who feel privileged not entitled to be there. Remember that in your new schools, classes, internships, and eventually your careers. Lose the focus on self. Try to recall what you were doing before all those selfies and do it again! Iphones, Instagram, and Snapchat are not community, rather community is what you have experienced here at Millbrook over the past several years. So please put the phones down from time to time. Multitasking and oscillating between the online world and your physical state will most certainly decrease effectiveness and competency. In your desperate attempts to never miss anything you are missing everything that’s right in-front of you.
Keep an open mind and push in any direction you want. Keep looking for those Millbrook moments.Do what you love and love what you do. And don’t be constrained by your perception of your age. Consider that Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook his sophomore year of college. So bet on yourself. Take risks and get out of your comfort zone. Opportunity comes not only from victory, but more often from defeat. Success is bouncing back from failure. Understand that there are huge opportunity costs in not taking risks, and more lessons are learned from set-backs than triumphs. If you did not risk falling when you learned to walk, then you would never have learned to run, play sports or drive a car. You would still be crawling to class! You will have more regrets about things you don’t do than those you do.
I must warn you that some of your worst days lie ahead, but rest assured your best days will be catalyzed by those experiences. And When you feel completely lost or defeated draw upon the values and experience gained here at Millbrook. If you do, I have no doubt that you will recover and find your way.
When I went off to college I had a decent GPA and even a major in mind. After my first semester, I had 3 surfboards, a motorcycle, and a set of grades that took me 3.5 years to recover from. Even worse, it took me until my second year to realize that UC San Diego didn’t even have my desired major, and that surfing was not an approved minor. So, do as I say and not as I did, and spend some time this summer getting intentional about the next four years. Please don’t wait until your junior year of college to start thinking about what lies ahead. Now is the time to ponder about what career or further studies you may want to pursue, and where you may want to live when you graduate in 2020 (yes, in 4 years, we aren’t paying for years 5 and 6).
Consider how you fare relative to that aspiration and then spend the next four years moving in an intended direction, tactically laying the bricks and completing the necessary steps to get you there. Identify the classes you will want to take, the internships you may want to pursue, the advisors and advice you will want to seek, and the extracurricular activities that will move you toward your desired outcome. Give yourself deadlines and list all of this out. You will soon realize that you will be quite busy the next four years but with a map in place you wont be spinning your wheels rather you will be heading in an intended direction.
Given how busy you have been here the past four years, you will think that you have a lot of free time next year. However, just recall, that this time is not free rather opportune moments to work your four-year plan.
I know I am supposed to tell you to go out and do great things. However, I am going to be less aspirational, and I hope more impactful. Just don’t mess things up. You can simply change the world for the better by not changing it for the worse. This will come easy through the continuation of the simultaneous pursuit of best self and common good that began right here on the Millbrook campus.
Lastly, I represent all your parents, extended families and the entire Millbrook family when I say: we are so proud of you. We are so excited for what lies ahead for each and everyone one of you. Congratulations, good luck and God Bless the Millbrook Class of 2016.
Back
Hey, HaHa, it's Robert!
To the Millbrook Class of 2016, this is your day. But in true Millbrook , Non Sibi Sed Cunctis fashion, I ask you to recognize those that partnered to ensure your graduation today, and your certain readiness for what lies ahead. As Mr. Casertano always says, "in no other time of your lives will so many people have been united for your well being." As such, please thank your parents, other family members, and Millbrook faculty and staff with a LOUD, round of applause!
It is an honor to be your commencement speaker. When I was asked to stand-up here today I must admit my first two thoughts were: why me and what will I ever say? However, upon reflection it became quite clear that I should do what any self respecting 51 year old man would do; ask his daughters! Of course when I did, both Amber and Ilayda suggested that I should shout them out, but I would never do that! Instead, we agreed that I should pass along what I wish others had passed along to me when I stood in your shoes. Perhaps they did and I didn’t pay attention or I simply forgot. Rumor has it that this happens with age! Anyways give me a few moments of your time and I will do my best.
First and utmost, you are Millbrook graduates, and remember what makes Millbrook, Millbrook. No, I am not talking about spotty cell service and intermittent WIFI. Rather, the key qualities of Millbrook that should never be lost upon you. As you move to the next chapter of your journey keep Millbrook with you by:
- Continuing the simultaneous pursuit of best self and common good.
- Perpetuating the tradition of service and environmental stewardship that was the centerpiece of your time here a Millbrook.
- Continue seeking leadership opportunities wherever you can.
- Keep doing community rather than simply doing community service.
- Continue pursuing curiosity and the commitment to academic excellence while maintaining respect for oneself and others.
- Forge ahead exploring perspectives that challenge your own, rather than simply looking for evidence that you are correct.
- As Mr. Pulling said long ago, "keep taking responsibility to learn responsibility."
Now that you are alumni, remember that Millbrook alumni always look out for each other. The bond and commitment to one another’s success and living non sibi stays with you wherever you go. So, keep non-sibi with you because more than anything that’s what makes Millbrook Millbrook.
As you move on, continue looking for and embracing those Millbrook moments. You know, those split seconds when someone encouraged you to study something different, pursue a different interest, or quite simply pushed you out of your comfort zone. Perhaps it was a tap on the shoulder in the classroom, a laboratory, a sports field or stage. These Millbrook moments are where you will continue to find your growth, transformation, pride and progress; moments that happen that will continue to shape who you will become.
You are far too young to believe or say that you can’t do something. As you leave here today, please consider the following advice: break the cycle of entitlement. Consider gratitude over attitude. The best employees I have are the ones who feel privileged not entitled to be there. Remember that in your new schools, classes, internships, and eventually your careers. Lose the focus on self. Try to recall what you were doing before all those selfies and do it again! Iphones, Instagram, and Snapchat are not community, rather community is what you have experienced here at Millbrook over the past several years. So please put the phones down from time to time. Multitasking and oscillating between the online world and your physical state will most certainly decrease effectiveness and competency. In your desperate attempts to never miss anything you are missing everything that’s right in-front of you.
Keep an open mind and push in any direction you want. Keep looking for those Millbrook moments.Do what you love and love what you do. And don’t be constrained by your perception of your age. Consider that Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook his sophomore year of college. So bet on yourself. Take risks and get out of your comfort zone. Opportunity comes not only from victory, but more often from defeat. Success is bouncing back from failure. Understand that there are huge opportunity costs in not taking risks, and more lessons are learned from set-backs than triumphs. If you did not risk falling when you learned to walk, then you would never have learned to run, play sports or drive a car. You would still be crawling to class! You will have more regrets about things you don’t do than those you do.
I must warn you that some of your worst days lie ahead, but rest assured your best days will be catalyzed by those experiences. And When you feel completely lost or defeated draw upon the values and experience gained here at Millbrook. If you do, I have no doubt that you will recover and find your way.
When I went off to college I had a decent GPA and even a major in mind. After my first semester, I had 3 surfboards, a motorcycle, and a set of grades that took me 3.5 years to recover from. Even worse, it took me until my second year to realize that UC San Diego didn’t even have my desired major, and that surfing was not an approved minor. So, do as I say and not as I did, and spend some time this summer getting intentional about the next four years. Please don’t wait until your junior year of college to start thinking about what lies ahead. Now is the time to ponder about what career or further studies you may want to pursue, and where you may want to live when you graduate in 2020 (yes, in 4 years, we aren’t paying for years 5 and 6).
Consider how you fare relative to that aspiration and then spend the next four years moving in an intended direction, tactically laying the bricks and completing the necessary steps to get you there. Identify the classes you will want to take, the internships you may want to pursue, the advisors and advice you will want to seek, and the extracurricular activities that will move you toward your desired outcome. Give yourself deadlines and list all of this out. You will soon realize that you will be quite busy the next four years but with a map in place you wont be spinning your wheels rather you will be heading in an intended direction.
Given how busy you have been here the past four years, you will think that you have a lot of free time next year. However, just recall, that this time is not free rather opportune moments to work your four-year plan.
I know I am supposed to tell you to go out and do great things. However, I am going to be less aspirational, and I hope more impactful. Just don’t mess things up. You can simply change the world for the better by not changing it for the worse. This will come easy through the continuation of the simultaneous pursuit of best self and common good that began right here on the Millbrook campus.
Lastly, I represent all your parents, extended families and the entire Millbrook family when I say: we are so proud of you. We are so excited for what lies ahead for each and everyone one of you. Congratulations, good luck and God Bless the Millbrook Class of 2016.
