Episode 11: Senior Chapel Talks by Julia Humphrey, Jack Whittemore, and Chase Blackwell

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.”