TMI Episcopal Panthercast

Episode 42: Senior Chapel Talks by Inaara Bhayani, Isabella Castano, Madeline Miller, and Jack Torpey

In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Inaara Bhayani shared the ups and downs of living with someone who has bipolar disorder. She spoke about how it affected her own confidence and self-worth, sharing how hard it was to both admit and accept that she needed the help of others to overcome the emotional toll it took. “We all have something we’re struggling with,” she said. Remember that “no problem is too small to talk about.”

In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Isabella Castano spoke about how she has grown up to depend upon her friends and family and the critical role they play in her life. While she is grateful that TMI has helped build her independence, she has learned to accept and appreciate the fact that she depends upon the people who are closest to her to be a part of what makes life fulfilling.

In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Madeline Miller shared her great grandfather’s journey and the story of how he started Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurant. But the road to success wasn’t easy, she said, and told of the struggles the restaurant faced in it’s early days. To keep the restaurant in business, her family began “working together to support one another” and over the years it grew to become the famous chain we know today. Last summer she joined in the tradition and chose to make her first job at the restaurant. Its “success and growth is due to family,” she said, and no matter what the question is, “family is the answer.”

During the summer of his junior year, John “Jack” Torpey tore his ACL and was devastated to learn it meant no sports for at least six months. The course of his senior year was radically changed. His recovery was painful, difficult, and frustrating, but the injury taught him that we are not invincible, we are human. This new perspective gave him the mindset to push forward. He reminded the community that the people who support you the most are all around you, and they want you to succeed. We all face challenges, he said, “pain is inevitable, but suffering, that's a choice.”

Episode 41: Hannah Cooper McCauley, Fine Arts Instructor

In this episode, we feature TMI Fine Arts Instructor Hannah Cooper McCauley, who joined the TMI community 2016 and brings her talents of narrative photography to our school.

Her own photography has been exhibited in group and solo shows at various venues internationally, including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Vermont Center for Photography, Photo Beijing 2014, the 2014 Pingyao, China International Photography Festival, and has been published in Photo District News as well as Aint-Bad Magazine. She earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree at Jacksonville State University and her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Hannah shares her diagnosis of a degenerative eye condition called Optic Nerve Head Drusen and how it has influenced and shaped much of her art. We also talk about her teaching philosophy, some of her students' favorite projects, and why analog photography continues to be important for students even as technology evolves.

Learn more about Hannah and view her art: http://www.hannahcoopermccauley.com/   

View Hannah's chapel talk at TMI, "An Artist's Story" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vpWq_wOcw 

Episode 40: Senior Chapel Talks by Shangzhi "David" Jiang, Wyatt Seal, and Briana Quintanilla '19

During his #SeniorChapelTalk, Shangzhi "David" Jiang described a chance meeting of a younger boy while he was home one summer and lifting weights at the gym. Curious at the boy’s excitement in learning that he attended school in the United States, David soon realized this boy didn’t have the opportunity to attend any high school because he had to work full time to help support his family; his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, long forgotten. The stark contrast to his own situation taught David the importance of holding onto his dreams and not letting life strip them away, “protect and cherish your dream…and hold it tight without losing it like the boy.”

Silence is awkward, but it can also be stronger than you think, said Wyatt Seal during his #SeniorChapelTalk. He shared how his bond with his mom was strengthened as a young child from all the time she helped him with his homework; while the bond with his dad was strengthened from hours of silence, sitting in a deer blind. “It’s really quite funny how well you get to know someone even when no words are spoken,” he said. He explained how the enjoyment of hunting for him, is not in killing a deer, but rather, “I hunt because I like to sit in a 4x4 box for hours of silence with my dad.”

“You have the ability to create and decide your own path,” said Briana Quintanilla in her #SeniorChapelTalk. She talked about the pressure to follow her peers on their paths; realizing the hard way that her path to success was in a different direction. When she learned to embrace her own passions and identify her strengths, she experienced a new kind of stress that motivated her to push through knowing the final result would be rewarding. “You are your own person…have your own judgement and follow it.”

Episode 39: TMI Juniors Victor Alejos and Mary Warder talk about RYLA

In this episode, TMI juniors Victor Alejos and Mary Warder talk about their experiences at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference that was held at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and sponsored by Rotary District 5840. The Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio sponsored our two TMI students to attend the event.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference (RYLA) is a program of Rotary International and is a leadership development program for young adults. The conferences are held all over the world and range from one-day seminars to weekend-long conferences. Both local Rotary Clubs and Districts organize the events for students in their communities and give them the opportunity to learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors. Students are challenged to build upon their communication and problem-solving skills, learn strategies to become dynamic leaders, and help them turn motivation into action.

Rotary International
https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-youth-leadership-awards 

Rotary District 5840
https://rotary5840.org/sitepage/ryla 

Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio
http://www.dominionrotary.org/ 

Episode 38: Senior Chapel Talks by Jordan Bell, Caleb Braha, Yiyang "Louis" Liu, and Lorelei McDowell '19

Throughout her life, Jordan Bell always tried to blend in. In her #SeniorChapelTalk, she spoke of how she struggled with being shy and was always concerned about what others would think. During her sophomore year, she was determined to break out of her shell and joined the softball team. This opened up her world and slowly, she let her true self shine through. Becoming more confident every day, she told the community to remember that, “You are beautiful and amazing, just the way YOU are.”

During his #SeniorChapelTalk, Caleb Braha described in humorous detail the awkwardness of life as a Middle School student. Looking back, he laughed at his forced attempts at trying to make friends as a child. But, it wasn’t until high school that he realized he had spent all his time trying to live for others and not himself. He stopped caring what others thought and embraced the activities he enjoyed and things that made him laugh. Through discovering himself, he also found others who shared his same interests…and along with that, he found true friendship. “Whatever you do,” he told the community, “do it for you…have friends and enjoy your life.”

Yiyang “Louis” Liu smiled as he shared a story about joining the baseball team–a sport he knew nothing about–and how excited he was when he ran past second base…exactly as he had done on first. But, he turned around to discover his team upset…learning after, he was supposed to run to it and not past it. Afterward, he felt great disappointment and failure. Louis shared a few more humorous stories and explained that while our emotions may help us to make quick decisions and life more colorful, if they are not kept in check, they can also lead to poor decisions and unnecessary pain. “Just as there is an optimal workload for machines,” he said, “there is a prime range for the intensity of emotions that make your life the most sensible and stable.” So the next time you’re in a situation facing extreme emotions, remember to “keep calm and carry on.”

During her #SeniorChapelTalk, Lorelei McDowell shared the deep and lasting impact that her faith has had on her life. Both TMI and her church have given her knowledge and a strong moral compass that has prepared her for the next phase in life. “Thank you to the school teachers and coaches [who] have helped me become stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.” She said, “Lastly, to the Corps, thank you for keeping the traditions at TMI alive.”

 

Episode 37: Alice Bilbrey, English Teacher

In this episode, we feature English Teacher Alice Bilbrey, who shares her passion for students and gives us a closer look at what’s happening in her classroom this year. She shares her path into teaching, what motivates and inspires her, and her “Be Kind, Work Hard” philosophy for her students.

Alice talks about what it was like to perform in the school play last semester, the various activities of her National Honor Society students, and some of the creative activities in her classroom.

If you want to keep up with Alice on Twitter, where she shares teaching ideas and what students are doing in the classroom, follow her at:
@alice_bilbrey 

Mrs. Alice Bilbrey
Trinity University, M.A.
Trinity University, B.A.

Episode 36: Senior Chapel Talks by Oluwatomike Falebita and Cody Trevino '19

Oluwatomike “Tomike” Falebita described herself as a people pleaser during her #SeniorChapelTalk. She would do anything to help other people feel better and felt tremendous guilt if she let anyone down. When she came to TMI in the 9th grade as a boarding student, she felt alone and desperate to avoid the challenges of a new school and new environment. But, one comment from her parents during that freshman year, gave her a new perspective. They told her that she had to live her own life, for herself. This one statement allowed her to look at things differently and face her challenges head on; she was ready to seize the opportunities right in front of her. Pay attention to yourself and your own needs, she said to the community, “you are worth it.”

During his freshman year at TMI, Cody Trevino’s older brother signed to play football with Trinity University. That is when, he told the TMI community during his #SeniorChapelTalk, he set his goal to play one more year of football with his brother in college. For the past three years, he’s been preparing for this goal by working harder on his grades and training more on the field, knowing that his competition might be bigger, stronger, or faster. Then, during this past summer, he received a call from one of the Trinity University coaches who told him he’d been asked to make an early commitment decision and sign on as a Tiger. “Picture your dream,” he said, “work hard to accomplish it, and don’t let setbacks keep you down. My brother is still currently a running back at Trinity and I realize I may not get much playing time my first year, but I will finally have achieved my dream of playing on the same team as my best friend.”

Episode 35: Padrecast #8 - Strategic Planning

In Padrecast #8 Head of School, Fr. Scott Brown, shares some highlights of the last couple months here at TMI and gives an update on the Strategic Planning process and what’s ahead.

Fr. Scott talks in depth about some of the new and exciting positions we’re bringing on for the 2019-2020 school year, including the new Associate Head of School, Dean of Community and Wellness, and Associate Director of College Placement. He also gives a teaser of some upcoming strategic plans that could have us breaking ground on a new building!

 

Military Ball Information:

February 2, 2019

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort

Guest Speaker: BG (Ret) Joe Ramirez, Jr. Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M

www.tmi-sa.org/milball 

Deadline to order tickets is January 23

Episode 34: Senior Chapel Talks by Bridget Lynch and Entong "Jessica" Zhou '19

In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Bridget Lynch spoke about being truly reckless–finding uninhibited creation. Her reckless moment happened while daydreaming under a tree in the southwest one summer. As humans, we tend to want to be comfortable, content and satisfied...we stray away from walking along the edge of life, experiencing new adventures and taking risks. We gravitate toward the center and stay there, tethered. But we become accustomed to the beauty when we're in the center, it becomes mundane and dull. "I thought that I wasn't enough," she said in describing herself before that moment of recklessness, her life dulled by remaining in the center. Part of being reckless is realizing that part of life is attaining satisfaction for yourself; knowing that you are enough. In that moment, she learned to let go of self doubt and self-imposed barriers and found genuine happiness. She found spontaneity and the ability to walk along the edge again, and encouraged the community to "explore the limits of this limitless universe."

In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Entong “Jessica” Zhou shared some of her struggles as an awkward teenager. She laughed about being confused when she arrived in America from China for 8th grade and discovered everyone was asking her the same question, “Hey what’s up?” All she could think was, ‘the sky’ and what an odd question it was. The awkward moments made her miss and appreciate home, but she told herself things would get better and that it just needed time. Over the next year, however, an old childhood friend passed away and her grandmother was starting to lose her memory. What time taught her was that every moment in life is precious. When it’s hard to keep going, she said, “stop for a while and look back at those best memories…they will keep you moving forward.”

 

Episode 33: Fe Maria Cajiga Pena '15

Fe Maria Cajiga Pena is a 2015 graduate of TMI and currently a senior at Boston University studying Biomedical Engineering. In this episode, she talks about how TMI prepared her for college, her plans after graduation, and how she is continuing to live as a Servant Leader.

During the summer of 2016, she served as an intern in the Mexican Embassy in Japan. In 2017 she was an undergraduate research assistant at UT Health here in San Antonio for four months, before studying engineering abroad at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain, and she is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant at the Boston Medical Center.

Since leaving TMI she has continued living as a servant leader and most recently volunteered as the logistics chair for the American Cancer Society’s Pulling for Hope fundraiser that brought in more than $90,000 for the Massachusetts chapter.

Fe Maria shares some of her favorite memories of TMI and the importance of living as a Servant Leader, always look for ways to give back and have a lasting impact while you strive for success.

 

Episode 32: TMI Bands Holiday Concert

Today’s featured audio is from last week’s TMI Bands Holiday Concert.

This special episode begins with the Beginner Band holiday concert, followed by the Woodwind Ensemble and then a surprise presentation by the TMI Choir. After that, the TMI Symphonic band will begin their holiday concert, including a special performance by Rod Leonard, TMI’s Band Conductor, and his Trombone Ensemble.

After today, We’ll be taking the next couple of weeks off from the podcast during the holiday break. We’ll be back with more Panthercast and Padrecast episodes on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

From everyone here at TMI, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a joyous holiday season!

Email us at padrecast@tmi-sa.org

 

Episode 31: Senior Chapel Talks by Nathan Tran and Juliana Martinez '19

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.”