When I arrived to Hyde School in August of 2009, I was a boy without much direction. When I left three years later I was still a young man largely uncertain of where life would take me. I had many passions and I wasn’t sure how to step into adult life at 18 years old. 

In 2022, ten years after graduating from Hyde, I look back at my time there and try to articulate the valuable life lessons I learned which define me today. A decade later, I am a Professional Alpine Climber and Himalayan Expedition Leader. My life is a constant adventure: fear, joy, motivation, inspiration, excitement, anxiousness- these are the emotions of a human in remote high mountains. Danger, challenge, adversity, great responsibilities- this is what I deal with most days. Being cold, tired, wet, hungry- this is my life. 

How will we fare on the windswept ridge? What unlikely relationships will we form on the mountainside? When faced with great adversity, how will we respond? Can we overcome fear and perform at our best? After all, on a snowy mountain, the game isn’t over until we return safely to our family & friends. 

At Hyde, in hindsight, I learned to be a leader in my life. I learned that challenge & courage are intertwined and that the way to our unique potential is through trial and error. We don’t need to ace every test but pass or fail we must move forward and take the next exam. The road of my life is a series of successes and failures that ultimately yield growth. Our unique potential is defined by prolonged effort and it will change & evolve just as our bodies and our minds do. They say iron sharpens iron, I would say self sharpens self. 

Lastly, perhaps most importantly, at Hyde I learned that relationships are the key to moving forward & open the doors of opportunity in often the least expected directions. Be kind & pay attention to the world around you. The road ahead is not a straight line. 

If I could share one message to the community today, I would say that what we learn in the mountains, often in the cold lonely night - amongst blowing snow over lifeless rock & ice- “Stay in the Game.” Have the courage to work through the circumstances of today for the promise of tomorrow.