Look Up: A Message to the Class of 2026

Speech delivered by Head of School Andrew Bishop at the Class of 2026 Senior Dinner on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026.

Before Thursday and Commencement—which will be shared with so many people—I want to speak directly to you, the Davidson Day School Class of 2026.

We have to look back in order to keep looking forward and getting better. So, in the spirit of reflection, I want to share a conversation I had with a college senior a few weeks back. I was on her campus at the apex of a stunningly manicured quad—trees in full bloom, campus buildings pristine, filled with resources and experiences. She told me about a senior tradition in which each student gets to put their name and a quote on a red brick that lines the courtyard.

I asked her what she had put on her brick. She said, "I put the phrase Look Up."

Quizzically, I responded: "Why? Say more."

Before I relay her response to you, I want you to know that I share this story as a call to action, a reminder—and I hope it stays with you as you prepare to leave Davidson Day and enter the colleges and universities that are so lucky to have you.

Back to the brick and Look Up—here is what she shared:

"It is no secret that our campus is beautiful. We are surrounded by perfectly placed red brick. However, all too frequently, I catch myself with my head down, staring at the bricks as I walk from one end of campus to the other. I do this subconsciously, when my eyes are glued to my phone, but also as a sort of comfort to avoid the anxiety that sometimes comes with social interaction.

Sometimes I wonder about the interactions or events I've missed from failing to look up on walks around campus—but I am mostly just grateful for the ones I have caught.

I think about times of randomly running into friends on the way to class. Spontaneously going to events because I just saw a poster. Meeting new people with shared identities or interests by joining clubs and organizations. After-class conversations with professors that really allowed me to get to know them as people. Trying new foods at pop-up stands around campus. The list goes on.

While these situations are all different, they share a common denominator: for each one, had I not looked up, it would not have happened. While our bricks are beautiful, yes—the social interaction, cultural immersion, and learning opportunities that occur when one truly looks up are even more beautiful than that."

So, Class of 2026, here is what I want to share with you. As we move into the final moments of this year—and as you step into everything that comes next—look up.

Look up and see the beauty that has surrounded you all along.

Look up and say yes to the opportunities that will shape your life.

Look up and move boldly toward the dreams that once felt distant, but now stand waiting for you.

And tonight, and on Commencement—look up.

Look up into the eyes of a parent, a grandparent, a sibling—the people who carried you, believed in you, sacrificed for you—and thank them. Not just for what they did, but for never letting you forget who you could become.

Look up and embrace the friends beside you—the ones who know your story, your struggles and sadness, your joys and dreams. The ones who walked these halls with you and helped turn ordinary days into memories you will carry forever.

Look up and see your teachers—the mentors who challenged you, pushed you, and believed more was inside of you than you sometimes believed yourself. And know this: when they cheer for you, when they tear up watching you cross that stage, it is because your success became personal to them.

And when you walk across that stage on Thursday, look up. Look up and smile at all you have accomplished, as individuals and as the mighty, memorable Class of 2026. A class marked not only by achievement, but by heart.

Look around this room tonight and understand something profound: every person here is here because of you. Because your life, your effort, your character, your spirit must be celebrated and applauded. Do not take that for granted.

So wherever life takes you next—in moments of uncertainty or triumph, when the road feels impossible or the future feels wide open—remember this simple charge:

Look up. Look forward.

And if you ever need a little motivation, you can always look back. Look back at your time at Davidson Day—your friends, your teachers, your memories—as the tailwind, the wellspring of goodness and hope. Look back and know that we will always tell you to look up and look forward, because you are already on the path of greatness, and we are so proud of you.

Class of 2026, you have made Davidson Day a better school and a stronger community, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Thank you, and goodnight.