Mornin' by Santino

Mornin' by Santino - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Every morning, before I check my phone, brush my teeth, or gripe about the assignments and tasks of the day, I make my bed. While pulling the comforter up and readjusting my pillow case is probably one of the simplest parts of my day, I believe it’s almost one of the most influential. Making my bed every day has had a large impact on my academic and personal life. Success is often defined by the major achievements in life: high grades, promotions, and surpassing milestones. However, while one’s success may be defined by their accomplishments, I believe it’s rooted in their consistency. For me, making my bed every day is the foundation for the consistency in my daily and personal life.
While important now, I didn’t always concern myself with the small routines. Many of my high school mornings involved me rushing out of a messy and disorganized room and telling myself that I would fix it later. But “later” rarely came. And throughout my day my mom’s voice would ring in my head, “Did you make your bed?”, “Why didn’t you make your bed?”. Making my bed was of little importance to me. I never understood why making sure my sheets laid just right should concern me. But, I realized that starting my day off messy meant the rest of the day would follow suit. While seemingly insignificant, leaving my bed unmade established my day as rushed and inconsistent. I believe that consistency is what drives success, and without it, it can become difficult to accomplish goals. However, I’ve come to understand that consistency isn’t solely rooted or developed in the big things; it starts in the small things. And starting off my day by making bed is one of those small things.
I believe that intentionality is what drives consistency. When intentionality is lacking, consistency will follow. By choosing to start my day off by making my bed every morning, I establish a sense of intentionality for the rest of the day. I believe that all aspects of life should be driven by intentionality. I don’t see how one can find worth or value in their actions if they don’t choose to be intentional about them. And I believe that choosing to be intentional about the small things in life has allowed me to find purpose in all aspects of my life. Whether it’s getting to class on time, finishing up homework, or simply making my bed in the morning, being intentional is what provides purpose.
In conclusion, making my bed every morning has helped me develop a life structured around consistency, intentionality, and purpose. While it’s a simple act that only requires a couple minutes, it has instilled a discipline in me that has allowed me to stay consistent not only in the grand things, but also in the minute everyday choices. This habit has structured my day around the small things. Eventually, the small things add up, and often lead to the most important accomplishments. In short, what may seem like a minor routine, has become a daily reminder that consistency matters. And while making my bed every morning doesn’t guarantee that my day will go as planned, it does guarantee that I start with one completed task. From there, every task that follows becomes much simpler.