Hill School Chapel Talks

Curiosity Killed the Cat: A  heartfelt and inspiring speech about the power of curiosity, imagination, and embracing the magic of life. Through personal stories—childhood adventures, fears, and a deeply personal family connection—the speaker challenges the idea that growing up means losing wonder. Encouraging others to find their own "Neverland," they remind us that curiosity isn’t something to fear—it’s what keeps us truly alive.

It’s Not About What You Want to Be but Rather Who You Want to Be: Oftentimes, we are told by others what they think we should be. Over time, I’ve come to realize that not knowing exactly what I want to do in life is okay. It is okay to not have everything figured out and to take time to find what truly makes you happy.

The Button That Can’t Be Pressed: Why I Wouldn’t Undo Regret Would you press a button to bring your loved ones back? Grappling with regret, loss, and the unchangeable nature of time that come with my choice of studying abroad, I have started to embrace regret as a part of personal growth. Life is about carrying those love and memories forward, rather than holding back by the past.

Finding the Freedom in Failing: Oftentimes, we get caught up inflating our own mistakes, but in reality, life moves on. Through the concepts of failure, identity, and resilience embedded in an embarrassing moment of a fumbled punt, I discovered that true belonging isn’t about perfection but about embracing setbacks, leaning on others, and finding strength in the imperfections that shape us.

The Memories that Choose Us: A reflection of the fleeting nature of life and the power of memories. Through personal stories, I share how the details of moments may fade, but the feelings of love, connection, and joy remain. I encourage my peers to cherish their time at Hill, indulging in the moments that matter most, which become the stories we carry forward.

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens: At Hill and in life, your worth isn’t defined by your successes or failures - it is how you react and persevere through adversity.

The Cost of Productivity: In life, we focus so much on optimizing our time, maximizing productivity, and pursuing the “right” extracurriculars. However, that mentality actively has the opposite effect and can lead to a lack of motivation and a decrease in results. Instead, strive to pursue activities you genuinely enjoy and embrace breaks and downtime that will lead to more productivity.

The Power of Paradox: A reflection on what a paradox is and how it might be used to open the mind to possibilities.

Why did it Have to Happen to Me? Living with something that you never asked for can be difficult. It can bring out the worst in you,  but it can also show you the best. Over time, I’ve come to realize what I have isn’t something I need to hide from the world, it’s something to embrace.

It's About the People: A journey through parts of my life as I emphasize that what you do is never as important as who you do it with. 

Authenticity in the Age of AI: Being authentic and truthful to yourself and others will attract the right people, opportunities, and communities. Even before computers, many people put on a façade which they sometimes come to believe themselves, and this became more of an issue with social media. With the increasing ability of artificial intelligence to do virtually everything we can, what parts of our humanity are we willing to give up just for convenience.

The Impossibles: To climb the mountain, or find a way around it? Through sharing anecdotes from my own life, I encourage my peers to re-evaluate what they prioritize in theirs.

Finding My Voice: This deeply personal and inspiring talk chronicles my journey from feelings of fear and alienation upon entering The Hill to becoming a confident leader and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through experiences of adversity, self-discovery, and mentorship, I share how I reclaimed my identity, found a sense of belonging, and embraced my voice. My story is a testament to resilience, the power of supportive spaces, and the importance of creating a community where everyone feels seen and valued. I challenge my peers to stand firm, take up space, and foster belonging intentionally for themselves and others.

Truthful Love: A reflection on the way we view love and my history with the word. I also explore how Hill has tied into the way that I view love, and how it has helped me to become more truthful with how I express it. 

I've Walked Between Two Worlds: I reflect on the journey of my life that led me here to Hill, the choices my family made to give me the life I have, and the weight and responsibility of gratitude. A question I seek to answer: How do we choose who belongs and who doesn't? How can we learn from each others' stories?

Sometimes the worst, brings out the best: While having two older brothers who have torn their ACLs and then evidently hearing that I tore mine, how would I react? Through these hard and gruesome 10 months, I found my passion for bettering my cheesecake business. Find something that will make you feel your best, like a hobby, when you're at your lowest.

What makes us who we are? We must not let others define us. Your choices in life make you the person you are right now and the person you will be in the future. If you take control and recognize that others' opinions don’t make you the person you are, you will find tremendous success in yourself as the years go by.

Elections, Democracy, and Participation: A reflection on how election work inspires hope, on how Americans have a responsibility to participate, and how our democracy can't survive without it 

Gordon Bonnyman ’65, a renowned advocate for social justice and healthcare access, was the first-ever recipient of the newly established Whatsoever Things Are True Award. This is the highest honor bestowed upon an alum of The Hill School. 

Proof of Love: So much of life is about what can be measured and proven. But what matters most cannot be quantified