Have you ever told yourself, “I’m just going to sleep for five more minutes, then I’ll get up and get ready for class”? Then you wake up 30–40 minutes later in a panic, heart racing, grabbing your phone to check the time? Whether you’re the type of person to jump out of bed on the first beep of your alarm, or the one who sets twelve alarms “just in case,” we can all agree on one thing: waking up in the morning is hard.
At Southern Nazarene University, the struggle is real. If you ask just about anyone, you’ll hear stories ranging from the one-alarm champions to people setting thirty and still pressing snooze until the last one. Payton Mitchell says, “I have seven alarms, actually. Three before I wake up, then the one I wake up to, and then three more after that.”
But beyond the snooze buttons and sleepy eyes, there’s something special about mornings at SNU. The soft hum of conversation in the coffee shop, sweet greetings from the ladies in the café, and the sight of friends meeting up to walk to class are all reminders that this campus hums with life — even before 9 a.m.
Students may not always wake up on time, but they wake up with purpose. Between late-night studying, early practices, and community events, SNU students embody resilience. Here at SNU, students quickly learn that true success isn’t about perfection — it’s about perseverance. Each morning, no matter how sleepy or how rushed, carries a quiet determination that fills the air across campus.
From the smell of freshly cut grass on Wednesday mornings to the taste of cheesy eggs in the café, there’s an energy that reminds everyone why they’re here. Even on the days when the alarm goes off a little too late, students still show up — with sleepy eyes and a readiness for class. It’s a blend of grace, grit, and community that keeps SNU students moving forward, proving that how you start your morning matters far less than the passion you bring into the rest of the day.
So maybe the real question isn’t how many alarms you set, but what makes you get out of bed. For SNU students, it’s more than just an obligation — it’s the chance to learn, serve, and grow. Whether it’s walking into chapel with your best friend, heading to practice before the sun rises, or showing up to class ready to learn, SNU students find motivation in the bigger picture. It’s not just about waking up — it’s about showing up. That’s something SNU does best, turning hard-to-wake-up mornings into mornings with meaning, where every sunrise brings a new chance to take on the challenges of the day.
Photo by: Ella Phillips