Maxx Miller, the Valedictorian of the Class of 2025, is, by definition, an excellent student. As Head of School Bill Taylor shared in his introduction, “what makes him an excellent student is not just his robust intellect. Rather, what makes him an excellent student is his overall commitment and dedication to hard work and his deep awareness that this work has value to living life.”
Reflecting on Maxx’s many strengths, Taylor remarked, “For some unexplained but actually remarkably fitting reason, the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius popped into my mind.” A follower of stoic philosophy — the belief that life is about virtue, managing what you can control, and not being fixated or distracted by things that you cannot — Aurelius once wrote, “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” In both mindset and action, Maxx embodies this philosophy. “Maxx does not take shortcuts,” Taylor said. “He approaches tasks, whether they be academically, athletically, or civically related, by putting his nose to the grindstone and getting ‘stuff done.’”
In his address to the Class of 2025, Maxx distilled his experience into three powerful lessons that he hopes his peers will carry with them beyond Trinity-Pawling.
First: Be prepared to be unprepared.
Maxx reminded his classmates that the real world won’t always come with the resources and support they’ve had at school. “We all have to be able to produce something from nothing,” he said. “We have to be able to create a path when no path has been made yet.” He urged them to build confidence and adaptability, no matter the circumstances.
Second: Don’t chase a title, a position, or physical success.
Reflecting on his own journey toward becoming valedictorian, Maxx admitted that early on, he chased the achievement rather than the experience. “I learned to value the process over the product,” he said. “A lion who loves to hunt will catch more than a lion who loves to eat.” The heart of his message: find fulfillment in the work, not the reward.
Third: Don’t be stubborn.
With humility, Maxx shared how he had struggled to take criticism and admit when he was wrong. Over time, however, he learned the importance of accountability and growth. “When someone holds me accountable, they are helping me grow,” he said. “Take this with you. Don’t be stubborn; be able to take advice and criticism, and apologize when you make mistakes. This will create strong relationships and facilitate personal growth.”
Maxx closed with deep gratitude for his classmates, thanking them for shaping his five years at Trinity-Pawling. “You seniors have made my time here incredible,” he said. “The world hasn’t seen the best of us yet.”
Maxx will continue his journey next fall at Washington and Lee University, where he’ll also join the wrestling team. His wisdom, work ethic, and steady leadership will no doubt continue to serve him—and inspire others—for years to come.