Episodes
Sunday Dec 16, 2018
Episode 31: Senior Chapel Talks by Nathan Tran and Juliana Martinez '19
Sunday Dec 16, 2018
Sunday Dec 16, 2018
Life is unpredictable. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Nathan Tran described the period of his life when his father was hospitalized and the responsibility of caring for his younger brother fell to him, while his mother divided her time between the hospital and work. But through the difficulties and challenges, he found support and encouragement from another family–the TMI community. His coaches helped fill the gaps in his life as mentors, teachers, and parent figures; encouraging him to work harder and face his challenges. Family is more than just blood relatives, “it can be the people who carry you through difficult times…I hope that through the kindness of others, you too, will be able to find the family you need most when you least expect it.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Juliana Martinez described the various ways in which she wastes her time…reading books, browsing through a library, absorbing mass amounts of information in a museum, and accumulating random facts of knowledge or useless pieces of information every chance she gets. But what exactly determines whether a piece of information is useful, when great discoveries in life often come from accidents and random observations? “Be curious about this weird and wonderful world we live in,” she said. Though she might describe many of her activities as “time wasted,” that doesn’t mean it’s time ill spent. Because “learning is never a waste of time.”
Sunday Dec 09, 2018
Episode 29: Senior Chapel Talks by Michael LeJune and Santiago Martinez '19
Sunday Dec 09, 2018
Sunday Dec 09, 2018
Leaving the audience wondering whether it was Michael or “Jimmy” who gave his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael “Jimmy” LeJune shared the story of his nickname. A childhood friend’s dare led him to trick his teacher into calling him Jimmy and from then on, that’s how his friends knew him. But in more formal settings, where he had to behave–usually around family or strangers–he remained Michael. Though “Jimmy” started as a joke, it illustrates the multiple sides to ourselves that we all have; our relationships with people, complex and different. “We all have multiple identities…[that] allow us to express the correct personality that correlates to the situation that we are in.” Though he doesn’t recommend naming your second identity, he encourages everyone to embrace it. By doing so, we “understand ourselves better as a whole.”
“Such wasted potential,” were the words that changed Santiago Martinez’ outlook on life. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he described how hearing those words spoken about him made him look at every aspect of his life and realize that they were true...and that he needed to change. He urged the audience to not wait for second chance to take advantage of their own potential; share your potential–your gifts–with the world. Though there will always be more success to be had, be proud of what you have achieved at every step along the way. Be a better athlete, student, friend…“Be a better person, you can. We control how we see and use our potential…work hard and never ever stop chasing it.”
Sunday Dec 02, 2018
Sunday Dec 02, 2018
“I’ve always seen people as people,” said Karina Samuel during her #SeniorChapelTalk. She shared the story of her family and the unconditional love they have for each other. With her mother from the Ukraine and her father from India, she described her family as a beautiful compilation of people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and opinions. It's something she's also experienced here at TMI where, "unconditional love is a cornerstone for an open minded and diverse community belonging to each other and respecting one another...So when you leave this place," she said, "take some love from this community and make it your own."
Finding himself with two broken arms after a bicycle crash one summer, Eddie Garcia shared how his determination to take on any challenge changed the way he looks at life. During his #SeniorChapelTalk, he shared that initially he allowed himself to feel sorry for himself. But after three days of wallowing in his own misery, he realized he was bored and that if things were going to be different, he needed to change his attitude. Rather than feeling that his summer was ruined, he started to look at everything as a challenge to overcome. He learned to adapt, improvise, and even lean on those who supported him. He soon found himself–with two broken arms–snorkeling, kayaking, and making the most of life. By the end of the summer, he learned “no matter how hard a problem is, and no matter how impossible it may seem, I can and I will overcome the problem.”
Commenting that he didn’t have just one single life-changing event to share with the community, Evan Will stressed the importance of learning from all your mistakes–small and large–during his #SeniorChapelTalk. He shared one example, in elaborate detail, how a bad idea led him to jump an iron fence and resulted in him impaling his leg. Knowing he had been doing something he shouldn’t have, he proceeded to lie about it as the ambulance came and took him to the hospital. After he healed and the truth finally came out, he realized how not telling the truth had forced his doctors to work with limited information. “Maturity comes from making little mistakes, learning from them, and living your life…so, take risks, and make mistakes while you’re young…just make sure you actually learn from your mistakes.”
Sunday Nov 18, 2018
Sunday Nov 18, 2018
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael Blaess spoke about mistakes. Although we all try to avoid making them, if we didn’t have them, we would miss valuable learning experiences. He shared that the important thing is to not avoid making mistakes, but to realize that they will happen and knowing how to deal with them. “No matter what happens in life, always remember to be honest, to learn from your past, and to turn your knowledge into actions.”
Reflecting on his love for baseball as he began his #SeniorChapelTalk, Nicolas Planchet said, “My life is very much, in essence, reflected by the baseball.” He compared the baseball’s outer layer to his own skin–gleaming and shiny when new, but becoming scuffed and worn over time. Just beneath that lies a chaotic bundle of string, representing his journey in life–the path and choices he’s made along the way and the people who have helped him navigate it. Finally, the baseball’s core–that makes it strong and complete–represents faith, family, and friends. It is the most important part, the heart.
With the last name of Zgardowski, Audrey has heard nearly every possible interpretation of her name as people have failingly tried to pronounce it over the years. In her #SeniorChapelTalk, she talked about the countless suggestions to drop the “g” or change the spelling entirely and listed off the numerous nicknames her friends have created in trying to say it correctly. “But it’s part of my heritage and something to be proud of,” she said. “My name came over from Poland around 1900. It has been worn by a NYC fireman, a tugboat captain, a few generations of Navy men, a baseball player and now a TMI student…even though my name might be mispronounced, misspelled, or even downright made fun of, I am proud because of it’s history and story.”
Sunday Nov 11, 2018
Sunday Nov 11, 2018
“It’s easy for us to see the world in one, individually personalized way,” said Caroline Vassar in her #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. But, when we fail to see situations and the world from other points of view, we miss understanding the whole truth–the positives and negatives of all sides–and fail to understand each other. Sharing a simple example of misunderstanding cultural norms while traveling abroad, she realized the importance of viewing every situation, no matter how small or large, from multiple perspectives. “There is a whole world of people and perspectives out there, all of them coming from different starting points. Accept the complexity of this world and you will thrive. Have compassion, be informed and strive for the whole truth.”
“What is your passion?” asked Grant Kahl during his #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. For him, it is robotics. Since the age of seven, he spent his childhood soaking up information about engineering and programming, eventually becoming known as “the robotics kid.” He learned, competed, and grew more confident in his abilities. His experiences and engineering mindset shaped the way he looks at all aspects of life, analyzing everything with the same methodical thought process. “Engineering is my life…it makes me the person that you see before you.” No matter what your own goals are, Grant urged the community, find your passion. “Try new things…you never know if that one thing will lead to a lifetime of passion and happiness.”
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
Episode 21: Senior Chapel Talks by William Elms, Rui Fu, and Payton Down
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
Sunday Nov 04, 2018
As a child, William Elms thought a community was just a group of people. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he explained that it wasn’t until his sophomore year here at TMI that he realized it is much more. This community, he said, was part of his family. But what is family? He read the dictionary’s basic description and went on to say that for him, family is “a group of people who have a strong bond or connection between them.” Explaining his four families–blood, football, lacrosse, and friend–he reflected on the love, memories, and lessons that each family has taught him and given him. Not all families are related through blood, “TMI is about community and community to me is family…cherish your families, have fun with your families, respect your families, but most of all, love your families.”
We are all puppets, Rui “Raymond” Fu said at the beginning of his #SeniorChapelTalk. He explained how technology has changed the way we receive information, while at the same time made it increasingly more difficult to think independently. The Internet is a host of voices, ready to tell people how to think and where to stand on any given topic, and the media often shapes stories and sometimes hides the truth. “Many people fear rejection, so we do not speak up,” he said. But, it’s the “people with independent thoughts and the the courage to speak up [who] are the ones that shape and mold our society today.” Do not take the easy way out by letting others do the thinking for you. “Take advice from others, with rationality, instead of taking the advice without independence,” he said. And you will know that, “you are making the right decision.”
Painting the picture of sitting in the back of a police car while her family’s vehicle was being towed out of a snowbank, Payton Down told the story of how three angels came to save them after they slid off the road one snowy night in Colorado. The road was mostly abandoned, due to the storm, and was supposed to be a shortcut to Aspen. As they wondered how they could get help, three vehicles soon arrived on the empty, closed road. The first was a pickup truck and the driver had everything necessary to tow them out. The next vehicle was a police officer who offered to call for additional help. The final car was a calm couple who asked if there was anything they could do. The simple acts of kindness by these strangers–who were referred to as angels by her mother–inspired her to be there for others. “One day I hope to be that angel for someone else. What about you?”
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Episode 19: Senior Chapel Talks by Kelly Housley and Lydia Saucedo
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
Sunday Oct 28, 2018
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Kelly Housley shared the memories of her childhood, remembering what it was like to spend time with her family and go on outdoor adventures together. But as many teenagers do, when she got older, she longed to spend more time with her friends and less with her parents and sister. In July 2017, however, she faced the unexpected reality that there would be no more adventures as a family when her parents split. Struggling with her emotions, she began pushing everyone away. It’s taken time, but through the challenges, she's learned how to rethink every moment with her family, find true friends, and appreciate everything she has. “Everything changes,” she said, “and I’m slowly adapting as I go.”
“We seem to never be pleased with what we have in our lives,” said Lydia Saucedo in her #SeniorChapelTalk. From body image to our way of living, she shared how she fell into this trap when she lost 50 lbs. and still felt unsatisfied. Realizing that trying to reach a “perfect” goal set by others is like trying to run a marathon with no finish line, she knew she had to change her way of thinking. But it wasn’t until she went on a mission trip in Mexico—when she saw the people she was helping, being content with and grateful for what they had—that she recognized “there’s no such thing as perfect best…there’s only the life you make of it and the happiness you have every step of the way.” Set goals you believe in and don’t seek approval from anyone other than yourself, “only when we run the race for ourselves, can we find the finish line.”
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Sunday Oct 21, 2018
Describing what it was like to grow up in various places around the world during her #SeniorChapelTalk, Hannah Allen spoke about the phases she went through in her attempts to fit in. Looking back and trying to understand her behavior, she reflected on the words of Science Department Chair Rob Friedrich who told her to never settle for a simple answer. She explained the human nature to conform, noting that we are often not even aware when we are conforming. “Don’t let your identity be controlled by people who you think the world would rather see, let your influences be who can better you as an individual,” she said. “Don’t copy people or things you don’t approve of…and…put yourself first, you’d be surprised what some simple self love can do for the complex human mind.”
“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us.” Reece Traylor quoted Carl Sagan in his #SeniorChapelTalk as he emphasized how small we are and how short and fleeting life is in comparison to the universe. But, we must realize that “we are the universe…a component part of a much bigger, much more amazing whole.” Pay attention to the world around you, he urged the community, “live with grace, be happy and…enjoy the time you have with each other and never let a single moment go to waste.”
As a young child, Javier Ramos struggled with trying to figure out his self worth. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he told the story of a boy who asked his father what the value of life is–the moral was that what matters in life is who you surround yourself with and how you choose to carry yourself. Before moving to San Antonio, he came to the tough realization in middle school that his friends were laughing at him, not with him. He knew he had to make a change. “Life can and will be challenging,” he said, “I’ve always failed at many things and I’ve always come back stronger.” Don’t be afraid to try and always keep moving forward.
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Episode 15: Senior Chapel Talks by Daniel Espey and Jessica Cox
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
Sunday Oct 14, 2018
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Daniel Espey shared the internal struggle he faced as a child when answering the simple question ‘Where are you from?’ Born in South Korea and brought to the U.S. when he was adopted at just 8 months old, he found himself answering both South Korea and America to the question. But he faced his biggest struggle at just 11 years old when another child told him to go back to where he belonged. Never expecting such a comment and not knowing how to respond, he whispered, “I can’t.” He realized in that moment that life would not be a breeze as he thought it would. But what he shared with the community is that everyone faces difficulty in their lives in their own way. Prove your doubters wrong, he stressed, “you are a unique individual and you have a place in this world…your story, your background is something nobody else can possess, so use your experiences as a way to better yourself and prove yourself.”
“I never stop talking,” Jessica Cox said in her #SeniorChapelTalk. But when she started to get bullied at her old school for being part of something she loved–swimming–she reached out for help and ended up hearing versions of ‘boys will be boys’ and was left feeling like it was her fault for speaking up; she retreated and fell quiet. Feeling defeated and let down by those who were supposed to help, she came to TMI a reserved and closed-off sophomore. As time passed, however, she found her voice again. Back to talking people’s ears off, she told the community to never be afraid to speak up. “Share your voice without being afraid nobody is listening,” she said, “and if no one listens to you, speak louder.”
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Episode 13: Senior Chapel Talks by Andrew Hieger and Michael Robinson
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Andrew Hieger described life as a child with his best friend Ellie–a stuffed elephant he got when he was just one year old. She went everywhere with him and though she became worn, for seven years he didn’t let go. But when she disappeared one day, he focused on his friends and family, slowly becoming less dependent on his missing stuffed animal. Looking back, he realized Ellie’s disappearance taught him that just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Speaking to his senior classmates, he reminded them they would all be leaving for college soon, but that doesn’t mean going away will be impossible. In the end, “If you love something, let it go and if it loves you, it will come back...or you just might find it stored away in a box in grandma’s house.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael Robinson spoke about anxiety–specifically, chapel talk anxiety. He joked about procrastination and denial being great methods for coping, until he reached the halfway point of junior year. Facing what he couldn’t put off any longer, he chose a topic and soon realized he would be “giving advice about how to write advice so that you can later give that advice without panicking because you’ve never given advice before.” In the end, he encouraged the community to accept anxiety they may face in the future, but to only do it at a specific time so that you spend less time worrying overall. For the students who haven’t given their talk yet, he reminded them that there’s no better place to give it than at TMI, because, “jokes aside, this is an amazing community.”
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
Sunday Sep 30, 2018
As the youngest child, Julia Humphrey was know for her temper tantrums, she told the community in her #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. It wasn’t until she attended camp in the summer of 2015 that she realized how much her attitude could change everything around her and she was finally able to see how much good she had in her life. “Don’t take for granted what is right in front of us,” she said. Focus on your own happiness, take a step back, and see the good in your own life.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Jack Whittemore talked about sibling love…and rivalry. He recounted the times he spent arguing with his younger twin sisters, only occasionally getting along when they found common ground to complain about. But, after moving from Chicago to San Antonio to attend TMI as a boarding student, he realized he missed his sisters and his family. Trying to keep it inside, he eventually opened up to friends who held him up and kept him strong. His message to the community: be kind to your siblings, respect each other, and enjoy the time you have with them.
Painting the details of his own death in his #SeniorChapelTalk, Chase Blackwell described the events of this past December and what could have been a fatal accident with an 18-wheeler on the highway while driving home. But the close call also served as a wake-up call. Realizing at that moment that the only memories he had before the near miss on the highway were of depression and boredom, “I was filled with regret,” he said. He hadn’t truly lived. Forcing himself to take risks and put himself out there in a way he had never done before, changed his life. He made friends, served on student council, and participated–for the first time in almost five years, he discovered that his only memories were happy ones. “TMI isn’t just a school, it never was,” he said. “We’re a family, TMI…We belong to each other and all of you guys belong forever in my heart.”
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
Sunday Sep 23, 2018
“Focus on the good, especially the great people,” Luke Terry said in his #SeniorChapelTalk on Tuesday. Reflecting on his life, while searching for a topic for his talk, he realized he was focusing on the negative and that a general lack of awareness made him overlook all the great things that had happened in his life. Like others, he had his own stories of hardships that he could share–but when he stopped focusing on those, he could see the sacrifices others had made for him and the opportunities he had available. “We will face hardships in our lives…but there is too much good happening every day in this community to let these hardships cloud our vision. Find the silver linings,” he said to the students, “and take advantage of everything TMI has to offer.”
“Wherever you are, it’s OK to be there,” said Jolie Heerema in her #SeniorChapelTalk on Thursday. She opened up to the community and shared her struggles with depression and an eating disorder, allowing the TMI community to become a part of her journey toward healing. Through her challenges, she learned that it’s OK to ask for help and–more importantly–it’s OK to receive it. Encouraging others who are facing their own challenges and reflecting on how far she’s come with her own, she said, “no matter where you are, you might look back one day and be glad that you kept going–I know I am.”
“I know I have won, no matter what the score,” said Trent Wisian in his #SeniorChapelTalk on Tuesday. He described aiming and shooting at his rifle target during a competition where the wind gusts were so strong, targets were ripped from their stands and blown away. It was the worst he had ever shot. But he didn’t let that keep him down. Accepting the fact that there were circumstances he couldn’t control, he was proud of making it to that point and satisfied in knowing he did everything possible to prepare and set himself up for success. “Mistakes teach us to do better,” he explained, and “a lot more things will go right in life than wrong…celebrate your successes.”