Alumni Corner: Words of Wisdom from Alex Schnablegger (Class of ’07)

2007 Alumni Alex S. joined Arborland at the Richard Nixon Library for the 2025–2026 Arborland Graduation Ceremony

Life Doesn’t Come with Instructions

Tell me how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Step one. Apply peanut butter to the bread. Wait, do I even have the bread out? Did I open up the jar of peanut butter? Did I take out a butter knife or am I applying the peanut butter with my fingers?

Hello, I’m Alex Schnablegger. I graduated from Arborland back in 2007. Thank you to Ms. Chen, Dr. Chen, the teachers, the families, and especially the graduates for having me.

The PB and J sandwich assignment was real. My elementary school teacher, Ms. Cynthia, took our class through it almost 25 years ago. At the time, I thought this assignment was silly – who would apply peanut butter and jelly to bread with their hands? Turns out the lesson stuck with me. I learned that instructions aren’t always clear. They might even be messy. And honestly, it doesn’t matter the path you take as long as you end up with a sandwich.

Graduates, congratulations on your achievements, whether it’s finishing kindergarten, completing sixth grade, or graduating eighth grade and heading off to high school. Here are a few things that stuck with me along the way:

Arborland introduced me to all kinds of things – music, art, culture, science. From recitals to science fairs to international culture days, each of these experiences gave me permission to be a beginner. This introduction to science led me to take a computer science class in high school, which turned into a minor in college. Today, I work in finance and the kid who got curious about computers is helping program them to do the mind-numbing, repetitive parts of my job. Graduates, take the class all your friends find boring, play the sport or instrument no one thinks you’ll be good at, sing even if you’re out of tune, and dance even if you’re offbeat. Be curious.

Alex (middle) poses with friends at Arborland’s field trip to Tanaka Farms (2002)

When I was sitting in your shoes, listening to a different graduation speaker pass on their wisdom, I thought to myself, “I’m already halfway through my education. I can’t WAIT until I graduate high school because I’ll NEVER have to learn again.” Boy, was I wrong. I’ve recently become a father, and it feels like I’m taking a high school health class all over again. Only this time, my teacher is two feet tall and screaming “DADA” at the top of his lungs. Maybe you’re learning derivatives in your calculus class or maybe you’re learning to change a diaper at two in the morning. School never ends.

Graduates, you’ve endured years of school. It feels like a lifetime. Because it is. It is your entire life so far. Those years are made of moments - time in classes, time in extracurriculars, time with your friends, time studying, time doing absolutely nothing. Most of these moments are ordinary. Some won't stay that way. One such seemingly ordinary moment for me was in senior year English class. The girl sitting next to me told me to download this new app called “Instagram,” and she became my very first follower. This

girl STILL sits next to me, including today. She is my wife and best friend. You never know which ordinary moments will matter. Notice them.

Graduates, you've made it this far. You're stepping into something new. The unknown comes with questions. Will my new teachers like me? Will I make new friends? Am I ready for what comes next? I still ask myself those kinds of questions. Am I choosing the right career? Am I being a good husband? Am I being the dad my son needs me to be? You may feel like you don't know what you're doing. Most people don't. Try taking it one step at a time because life doesn't hand you clear instructions. Most of the time, you have to write them yourself. And sometimes you'll get it wrong. And that's okay.

Arborland has taught you how to figure it out. So I won't give you instructions. Except one. Take out a butter knife. Or else you'll be making the peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your fingers. Which, honestly, isn't the worst thing in the world. You'll just end up with sticky fingers.