Hill School Chapel Talks
Attending Chapel is one of The Hill’s most treasured traditions. Sixth formers and faculty take to the lectern each week and offer the community the most inspiring, reflective, insightful, and sometimes comedic talks. Most are posted here on our website for all to enjoy. Take a listen - you won’t be disappointed.
Resisting the “Box": A reflection on important aspects of my life and how they have taught me to embrace my multiple identities.
Life Is Not a Solo Performance: Through my time at Hill, I have lived the phrase “find the good.” Sharing my experience dancing, I have learned that you truly will find the good within the people whom you surround yourself with each and every day.
Changed for the Better: Lessons I learned through connections, music, and perseverance.
Speaking Up: An exploration into the importance of speaking your mind and the fears that cause us not to do so.
We Are Only Human: We are too often restrained by the past because of the notion that we are only the sum of what we have done. My talk seeks to share my perspectives and experiences on the importance of releasing ourselves and others from the tethers of mistakes and past events.
The Power to be Present: Connecting memories of my late father and my personal experiences at Hill to demonstrate the importance of staying present.
Melanin: How our differences are ultimately irrelevant.
Depression and Mashed Potatoes: A recounting and analysis of my struggles with clinical depression and anxiety, this talk is not about me. I hope to arm listeners with the ability to support those who need it and the empathy required to do so. I explain that depression is a multifaceted illness that affects lives in a myriad of ways so it is prudent that we, as a community, are adaptive in our response to it.
Why do you love? This year's experiences made me realize I only like things I am good at. How do we combat this, how do we challenge ourselves to try new things and not give up just because we don’t feel good enough?
Be a Cockroach: A reflection on resilience, pride, passion, and identity, and how to look at failure, rejection, and hatred.
My talk delves into the concept of time, in particular as it pertains to my legacy as a 25-year educator. It further explores that the notion of time is linked through the generations at a place like Hill. That which I do and create is done on the backs of the teachers and coaches who came before me. Finally, the legacy that we leave as educators at a place such as Hill is a life worthy of our consideration.
Legacy: Trying to make a lasting impact on institutions such as Hill can be difficult, but we're not doing it alone.
The Memory Gap: What do we remember? Memory is fickle, filled with holes, and not always what it appears to be. So, how should we prioritize the things we hope to remember?
Second Chances: In my chapel talk, I tell a few stories about my mistakes from when I was younger and the second chances I was given. I talk about how these second chances brought me where I am today by giving me opportunities to grow. I also talk about how perfection is impossible, and why Hill is the best place to fail because here you are supported by those who want to see you succeed.
What We Can't Measure: Regardless of where we are right now and where we want to go, push yourself and others to seek meaning in the things that we do, not just the end result.
Ecosystems: Always and Everywhere: A look at the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, its inhabitants, and how you may not be much different than an oyster yourself.
Social Anxiety and Doing Hard Things: What’s hard or easy for you might be very different from what is hard or easy for your peers.
We Get To vs. We Have To: How I learned to change my mentality to appreciate what we get to do rather than what we have to do.
SGA Co-Presidents offer Family Weekend Chapel Talks