This doesn't have the serenity of a dawn simulating alarm clock, but when you absolutely, positively HAVE to get up, use a Clocky alarm clock. It's the only thing that can rouse my 18 year old son. That boy has slept through the house alarm going off right outside his bedroom door, but the Clocky actually wakes him. It sounds like R2-D2 on crack. lol It varies the sounds it makes, so you don't get used to them and continue sleeping. It also has wheels, so after you hit the snooze button that first time and the alarm goes off again, it rolls off your nightstand, forcing you to get up out of bed and chase it down, beeping madly as it goes. (Movement can be disabled, though, if you prefer.) Although beeping isn't the right word. Like I said, it sounds like R2-D2 on crack. To put it mildly. ;)

My son swears by it. It's worth every penny.

Here you go (there's a video review there, so scroll down):

http://www.amazon.com/Clocky-Alarm-Clock-Wheels-Almond/dp/B000PWLTNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297316831&sr=8-1

Just a thought!

Kathy