Hill School Chapel Talks

Bullying: Treat others how you want to be treated. 

This Side of Tomorrow: Everyone has their own vision of what tomorrow will look like, and everyone hopes that they will be more than they were today. My vision is cloudy, dark, and stormy, and that makes me scared. Before I face tomorrow, I'd like to reflect on today, and ready myself for the adventures that lie ahead.

Whatsoever things are true: What does it mean to believe not just in the First Amendment but in a radical dedication to truth in your daily life? What does freedom of speech actually mean, and how does its legal definition affect students? More importantly, is its legal definition the definition that actually matters?

Your hardships do not define you: Why is it so easy to focus on what we don’t have? Growing up with twin sisters who have special needs made it easy to view everything in a negative way. I share my experiences with my sisters and how I learned to turn negative comparisons into positive ones.

How to define a person: My reflection on identity, defining yourself, overcoming self-hate, and loving others.

What’s In a Name? Names are the greatest connection to our own identity and individuality. So let’s talk about why names matter. 

A reflection on how we interpret our perceptions and the importance of seeking to understand.

My Secret: My story on the struggle I faced with my greatest obstacle, and how I went from the inability to love myself to pronouncing my truth in front of the entire Hill community.

What makes you and I different? Why do we focus on other people’s differences? How can society get past that? We should celebrate and acknowledge our differences more rather than use differences to tear us apart.

Reaching the Peak: The story of my family and I climbing the great Mount Fuji is a metaphor for obstacles and adversity you will encounter in life. I shared my struggles with dyslexia and my journey in overcoming my learning difference. I concluded my talk by encouraging individuals to lean on others while conquering their mountains.
 

My Ingredients for Inclusion: What does it mean to be Inclusive? Sharing my experience of navigating my food allergy at Hill and how we as a community can better help each other to be inclusive of every member of our family.

Overcoming Obstacles: We're so quick to define ourselves by our obstacles that we forget to focus on what really matters, which is how you overcome them and the actions you take to overcome them. 

Hunting with my dad, a story of process over outcome: Hunting, just like life, is not always a question of results, but a question of process. When I first started hunting, I was focused on the result and that led me to not enjoy my experience. Over time, I have learned that the beauty of hunting relies on every single detail that composes it and that the outcome was more or less important. That thought process allowed me to enjoy my experience and to realize life is not always a question of results.

Embarrassment and Regret: A talk on the importance of embracing and learning from our most embarrassing moments. 

Everyone sees everything differently: Realizing there are different perspectives in life and the importance of acknowledging them. 

Saying I Love You Is No Small Thing: Mr. Lehman shares some advice on the importance of saying, "I love you" every day to those you care about, not just on Valentine's Day.  

The Only Way Out is Through: No amount of advice or cautionary tales can replicate the lessons learned through our own mistakes—and that’s a good thing. 

Why do I paint my nails?  A description of pushing gender barriers in a conservative country and a logical exploration of why we need every member in our community to pursue their true selves.

Caring about them while caring for them. Explaining my journey in caring for the people I work for, the elderly.