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By Matt Schmit

Austin High School Principal

As we approach graduation day on May 30, I want to take a moment to congratulate the Austin High School Class of 2025. You have reached a major milestone, and you should be incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished. This is a time to celebrate your hard work, your growth, and the many achievements that have brought you to this moment.

But as we celebrate your success, we must also acknowledge an important truth: no one gets here alone.

Behind every graduate is a team, parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, mentors, family members, and community members who have played a part in shaping your journey. From a word of encouragement at just the right time, to countless hours spent guiding and supporting you, each person’s contribution has helped build the foundation on which your success stands. Every interaction, no matter how small, has made an impact. And collectively, those moments have made you who you are today.

This idea reminds me of the story of British Cycling. For nearly a century, the British road cycling team struggled. Since 1908, they had only won a single Olympic gold medal, and they had never won the Tour de France. That changed in 2003 when they hired a coach named Dave Brailsford, who believed in what he called the “aggregation of marginal gains.” His theory was that if you improved everything you do by just 1%, the cumulative impact would be extraordinary.

The team began making small but meaningful changes: redesigning bike seats, using heated shorts to maintain muscle temperature, even testing which pillows and mattresses led to better sleep. The results were astounding. Just five years later, the team dominated the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning 60% of the available cycling gold medals. By 2012, they broke Olympic and world records in London and began a run of five Tour de France victories in six years.

Success didn’t come from one big change, it came from countless small efforts, all adding up.

To the Class of 2025, your success is much the same. It is the product of every effort, every sacrifice, every encouraging voice that helped push you forward. May 30 will be a day to honor you, but today, I want to honor everyone who helped you get there.

Seniors, take the time to say thank you to those who made a difference in your life. It may seem like a small gesture, but I promise—it will mean a great deal. And as you step forward into your future, I hope you’ll also reflect on how you can be that difference-maker for someone else.

Personally, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors and supporters who believed in me. I am deeply grateful for their impact on my life.

Congratulations, Class of 2025—and thank you to everyone who helped make this moment possible.