Chapel Talks

You Can't Tickle Yourself: No human being on earth can tickle themselves. It is a physiological impossibility. But what does that have to do with the people who shaped you at Hill? More than you'd think.

The Five People You Meet At Hill: Hill is a collection of relationships that change and stay with us long after we leave. Inspired by Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, this talk reflects on five people whose relationships transformed my four years at Hill, and the lasting lessons they taught me about friendship, mentorship, grief, and leadership that have shaped me into who I am today.

Staying Positive Even When Life's Plans Change: Having been a swimmer in some capacity for most of my life, trying XC upon coming to Hill third form year required me to take a leap of faith and step out of my comfort zone. Despite my initial apprehension, I soon discovered that running was right where I belonged. In your life, plans can change at any moment. Instead of being disheartened, it is imperative that you remain optimistic and stay open to new possibilities because you never know what you could learn.

Seeking Harmony Within Dissonance: True wisdom begins with the humility to recognize the limits of one’s own understanding. Total objectivity is impossible - we all argue from somewhere. To bridge the distance between people, we must recognize the limitations of individual perspectives and listen for the harmony hidden within our dissonance. Sometimes, the most unexpected conversations teach us the most.

Man in the Arena: You will feel fear, that's inevitable. But that's where you grow, charge straight through the arena with a face marred by dust and rely on the support of those around you. Find your arena; it is where you are uncomfortable yet, you are able to grow, and don't mind the cold and timid souls along the way.
 

Mistakes Don't Define You: This chapel talk is about my journey with my insecurities and dyslexia to personal responsibility, resilience, and maturity (or lack thereof), showing how my setbacks, academic, personal, and disciplinary, became catalysts for my own personal growth. It emphasizes that your mistakes don’t define you as a person; rather, it’s the courage to learn, change, and respond with integrity that ultimately shapes who we become.

Great Opportunities: Everything that comes your way is a chance to grow and learn. This applies to many things at Hill, but especially friendships. Take opportunities as they are presented to you, as great moments are waiting to be born.
 

Something's Afoot: Confessions of a Klutz Oscar Wilde wrote that "Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." Back-to-back injuries (and recovery time) provided me with the opportunity to reflect on life lessons — on topics ranging from inappropriate footwear to pain, laughter, and love.  

Finding Comfort in Confusion: We are often placed in difficult situations without much control. What's important is how you look at each moment and try to make the best of what you have.

The Value of Inefficiency: What happens when we slow down and take time for the things that really matter.

Halfway There: The Rev. Royer reflects on his Hill School experience and his life of service as a Pastor, and through that reflection invites your personal thoughtfulness on life and as a member of The Hill community.

Your Worth Is Not What You Can’t Change: "The hardest thing for a person to do is to truly accept themselves." - Kendrick Lamar. A talk about race, identity, and how self-love and self-acceptance are more powerful than how others may perceive you.

Who’s the Authority? “Whatsoever Things Are True” is a wonderful motto for a school, partly because high school students are wrestling with what they believe to be true, using the critical skills and knowledge base they have been taught to assess claims. We live in worlds of our imagination, in which we build and assess stories about what is true based on evidence, logic, and intuition, but mainly the authority of others. In a time during which who counts as an “expert” is changing, I reflect on the need for humble skepticism in navigating this quest for truth together.

The Boy Above the Clouds

Every Creation Sings: "Hiding doesn't make you holier—it just makes you smaller." A reflection on growing up religious, listening to the trees, and accepting yourself. 

Unmuted: Our obstacles in life can often forge our greatest opportunities. For years, my speech disorder made me painfully self-conscious. What once felt like a weakness slowly became a source of strength. Shaping my resilience and building my confidence, my speech disorder helped me discover a voice that is not only stronger but also more impactful.

Gratitude Through Failure: Gratitude and praise are two of the most powerful tools we have. They help us reflect, taking stock of what is in our lives, and moreover give us reason to continue through both good times and bad. Though sometimes in failure, it is hard to remember to have gratitude; meaningfully seeking to praise and have gratitude in times of struggle is instrumental to growth and progression.

True Purpose Lies in Relationships, Leadership, and Impact. Through injury and reflection, I realized that success isn’t about stats or standing out on the ice, but about lifting others and making people feel seen, supported, and valued.

“Rejection, So What..?” A look at the moments after disappointment and how our reaction to rejection determines the path to our second chance.

Home Just Isn't the Walls that Surround You: What makes home your home? Is it because you grew up there, or is it because your family pictures are there, what is it? What happens once it changes? Is it still your home? Moving many times with my family, I found my home, but I never knew why. Traveling every summer to see my family, I've learned that change is inevitable, but it's who you're with that helps you overcome that moment. 

More of Me: Showing your authentic self requires the courage to be vulnerable. For me, finding that courage has afforded new opportunities and opened the door to new friendships. I have grown from those friendships, connecting with new people, learning new things about myself, and making the most of my experience at the Hill. These experiences have left me more fulfilled and shaped me into the person I am now. Strangers have become friends, fear has become an opportunity for growth, and what was once a new place feels like a home away from home.
 

Cherishing Time: Cherishing time means valuing every moment and recognizing that it’s something we can never get back once it’s gone. It reminds us to focus on what truly matters: our relationships, goals, and experiences, rather than wasting time on distractions. For me, there is constant regret for not cherishing time and just letting it pass by.

Perfection in Imperfection: We were never meant to be perfect. Attempting to achieve perfection caused a shell of myself to surface, leaving mental health issues dictating my life. But I’ve learned that obstacles will always arise, no matter what happens in your life. So, find what you deem makes you perfect, whether it's a personality trait or a cool trick. We can all be perfect in our own way, without achieving the societal norm of "perfection.”

Forever Young: Curiosity keeps us young, and neuroscience proves it.
 

All Is Well: At Hill, and in life, it is easy to find yourself in a state of constant comparison, whether that be athletically, academically, or even personally. Throughout my talk, using a powerful metaphor from a Bollywood movie, I emphasize the importance of self-empowerment instead of comparative success, and how this simple change can transform your life.

The Things You Can’t Measure: For a long time, I felt a quiet pressure to constantly do more—to prove that I was worthy of success. I measured my value by achievements until I realized that fulfillment doesn’t come from what we accomplish, but from who we become. In my talk, I share how I shifted from chasing validation to finding joy in the things that can’t be measured: kindness, friendship, resilience, and love for this community—a reminder that we are already enough, because of who we are, not the things we do.

What’s Left When You Let Go: I reflect on how my experience with illness completely changed the way I understood success and self-worth. For most of my life, I measured progress in clear, structured ways: grades, achievements, and how much I could handle at once. But when that structure fell apart, I was forced to confront what was left when all the proof disappeared. Through that process, I began to realize that strength doesn’t always come from pushing through; sometimes it comes from slowing down, listening, and allowing yourself to simply exist without performance. I learned that being enough isn’t a status you reach or a standard you meet; it’s a mindset built on self-compassion, resilience, and the courage to keep becoming, even when life looks different than you planned.

Motivation Against Difficulty: At a time in my life when my future seemed hopeless, I needed a way to keep pushing myself to succeed and overcome the hardships. I had to find the correct source of motivation, develop it, and be enthusiastic about tapping into it. It's possible for every person to find what motivates them and use it as a helpful resource, and I encourage each of you to do so, as you will need it to battle the unavoidable difficulties that come with life.

The Receiving Tree: Healthy relationships require giving and receiving, but time plays a fundamental role.

The Cost of Camouflage: My small town restricted me to the same friends for nine years. As I felt that none of them truly saw me for me, I hid major parts of myself to fit in. My talk discusses the effects of bad friendships that brought down my identity and sense of self while also sharing my personal growth after coming to Hill. Everyone deserves to surround themselves with people who prioritize them. I hope to instill the lesson that being authentic attracts the connections that truly matter.

Finding Meaning Through Connection: Not everything happens for a reason. Sometimes things just happen, and it's through the connection we make and the relationships we build that we can learn to find meaning in the pain. 

Lessons Through Loss: My mom was my hero; always knowing what to do, what to say, and how to make others joyful. She passed due to cancer when I was 10. My talk shares stories of who she was and insight from my years of reflection on losing such an incredible human. How can you change your outlook on life and impact others around you?

Figuring Out Whatsoever Things Are True: The world is a complicated place and the virtues Paul lists in Philippians 4:8 defy easy explanation. How do they fit into our lives and personal stories? 

Finding a New Perspective and Gaining Gratitude: Oftentimes, we can get caught up in our everyday lives and lose sight of what we have. Sometimes you have to shift your mindset to focus on the bigger picture in order to be fully grateful for what you have. This talk highlights my personal struggles, growth, and triumphs on the path to gaining a new perspective. 

The Importance of Showing Up: Why do we continually put ourselves through hard things, and how do we get through them? The support from those around us encourages us to keep going even when we are tired, down, or just not feeling like ourselves. This talk serves as a reminder to keep showing up for others in big and small ways. No matter what is going on in your life, it is crucial that we show up for each other, because you may not know just how much a small act of kindness or support could mean to someone on a daily basis. Even just being present for someone in that moment is all they need. Sometimes it is a language that is felt rather than said, that’s what’s needed most. One little push could lift someone over a roadblock they are facing that day. When we are presented with the opportunity, we should all take that chance to brighten someone's day.