Previous Year's Chapel Talks

Special Moments in Time: Life is a beautiful gift that we get to experience every day of our lives and so we must live every day to its fullest. That means taking risks and failing along the way and as our lives change being present for the small but meaningful moments with those around us, because that's what makes life worth it.

To Everything There Is A Season: A Reflection on beginnings and what they have to teach us.

The Fullness of Life: Growing up, I went through a lot of hardships regarding my identity and culture. As I've grown older, I have come to realize that the fullness of life lies in accepting yourself and appreciating your roots and how far you've come. My aim is that we can make Hillness better by finding the beauty in writing our own chapters in the books the alumni have contributed to making for us.

My Middle of Somewhere: This Chapel talks focuses on the importance of community that has been found where I live and, in my time, here at Hill. Throughout my time at Hill, I have come to appreciate community, specifically the community of my small town. 

Fears: It's not the absence of fear that defines us but how we choose to live with it.

Lost at Sea: Over the summer, I found myself lost at sea. This experience inspired me to reflect on the importance of being lost, and how we should not be scared to get lost, as it is the only way to truly be found.

The Pursuit of Joy: It's easy to get lost in the push for excellence here at Hill. I highlight the value of joy, why it is important and how I live my life in the pursuit of joy. I do this looking through the lens of TSA, theatre, rowing, cross country, and of course, the famed purple suit. I hope it gives you some joy!

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

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. 

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 

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.

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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