TMI Episcopal Panthercast

Episode 30: Blake Skinner, TMI Head Lacrosse Coach

In this episode, TMI’s Head Lacrosse Coach, Blake Skinner, shares his impact on lacrosse instruction throughout the entire San Antonio area and how his journey brought him to the TMI community in 2009.

Blake is the past president of the South Texas Youth Lacrosse Association and the founder of the Mission Lacrosse Club, which was started in 2013. He shares his experiences with both and also gives an update on the upcoming season for TMI lacrosse, highlights various aspects of the program, and talks in depth about leadership development in lacrosse.

In January, TMI will be hosting two lacrosse events:

Free Beginner Lacrosse Clinic
Saturday, January 12, 11am-12pm
Open to students/players from all schools, K-8
No experience necessary (lacrosse sticks will be provided if needed)
RSVP: www.tmi-sa.org/lax

TMI Alumni Lacrosse Game
Saturday, January 12, starting at 1pm
Social and fellowship immediately following the game (spouses and fellow classmates welcome to come watch the game and attend the social)
For information: b.skinner@tmi-sa.org

For more information about the Mission Lacrosse Club or TMI Lacrosse, follow:
@tmilax (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
@missionlacrosse (Instagram and Twitter)

Episode 29: Senior Chapel Talks by Michael LeJune and Santiago Martinez '19

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.”

 

Episode 28: Christine Lamprea, TMI Class of 2007

Hailed a “firebrand” and noted for her “Supreme panache” as a cellist, Christine Lamprea, TMI Class of 2007, has travelled around the world performing in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, the Beethovenhaus, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum. She has performed as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, and San Antonio Symphony, among others.

After graduating from TMI, Christine earned her Bachelor’s at The Juilliard School and then her Masters from the New England Conservatory of Music. In March of this year, she was honored as a Sphinx Medal of Excellence Winner and is currently serving as a faculty member at Texas Christian University as a Lecturer in Cello.

In this Episode, Christine shares her journey to becoming a cellist, her exploration of music, and how her experiences at TMI helped shape and prepare her for the future ahead. She gives advice to aspiring musicians and encourages everyone to support our local San Antonio Symphony, which played a major role in her development as a musician. Don’t be afraid of classical music, she said, just go, feel, and enjoy it.

https://www.christinelamprea.com 
https://www.facebook.com/lampreacello 
https://www.instagram.com/lampreacello 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTvWlLWTHFTMJ34F-5yEVPA 
https://twitter.com/lampreacello?lang=en 

https://sasymphony.org 

Episode 27: Senior Chapel Talks by Karina Samuel, Eddie Garcia, and Evan Will '19

“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.”

Episode 26: Padrecast 7 – Service, Fine Arts, and Fall Athletics

In Padrecast #7, The Rev. Scott Brown talks about the 8th grade class service project at the Hill Country Daily Bread (HCDB). Students had the opportunity to participate in service for two hours at the beginning of this month, helping the HCDB to separate and pack food and sort clothes.

We also talk about the Fine Arts Department’s recent production of “Our Town” that ran Nov. 14-17 in the Margaret M. Alkek Theater. All five shows were sold out. The cast included both students and faculty and involved many late nights and dedication to prepare for the show, both behind the scenes and in front.

With the end of the fall athletic season, Fr. Scott gives a short run down of all the fall sports and their achievements. Our fall student athletes for cross country, football, volleyball and cheerleading have been working hard and brought home many accomplishments and outstanding finishes this past season.

Finally, we wrap up with a few thoughts and words of wisdom from Fr. Scott, who reflects on the Thanksgiving break and shares some of his favorite holiday traditions.

Episode 25: Senior Chapel Talks by Michael Blaess, Nico Planchet, and Audrey Zgardowski '19

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.”

Episode 24: Corps of Cadets Round Table

In this episode, LTC (Ret) Santiago Bueno and Cadets Hasan Ehsan and Juliana Martinez sit down for a round-table discussion to talk about life in the Corps. Cadet Ehsan is the Battalion Commander and Cadet Martinez is the Battalion S-2 Officer. Both seniors this year, they share their experiences of being a part of the Corps for the past four years.

Cadets Ehsan and Martinez talk about the various special teams and opportunities within the Corps and share how they balance academics, the Corps, athletics, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities in their daily lives. They give valuable insight as to what it means to be a member of the Corps, the leadership and confidence it builds, and offer advice for other students who are new or considering joining.

Enjoy this conversation as they, and LTC Bueno, share their stories and give us a look inside the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets.

 

INFORMATION (www.usarmyjrotc.com):
JROTC Mission: "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens"

"The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a program offered to high schools that teaches students character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. It is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army and the high schools to produce successful students and citizens, while fostering in each school a more constructive and disciplined learning environment."

Episode 23: Senior Chapel Talks by Caroline Vassar, Grant Kahl, and George Sealy Wray '19

“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.”

“Learn from your mistakes,” said George Sealy Wray in his #SeniorChapelTalk. Although the phrase is one that most of us have heard many times throughout our lives, he wanted to stress how important those words truly are. Through humorous anecdotes, he shared how one mistake that he never learned from–extreme procrastination–cost him more than just a few bad grades. Realizing that his friends didn’t trust him to follow through and his relationships with his family and teachers had become complicated, he knew it was time to change. “I would like to thank all of my teachers, my parents and TMI,” he said, “for having faith that I could fix my mistakes and never giving up on me.” #WeBelongToEachOther! 

Episode 22: Jill Cross, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction

In this episode, Jill Cross, TMI’s Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, talks in depth about curriculum mapping, professional development, and academic technology. Listen as she shares her journey from museum studies and teaching into curriculum development and shaping teacher leaders.

Jill talks about the importance of attending conferences for independent school teachers and shares how the experience, collaboration, and networking benefits teachers and their students in the classroom. With a focus on faculty professional development at TMI, Jill talks about the various opportunities that faculty have for both individual and group professional development. From recommended TED talks and online conferences to faculty-led sessions and guest speakers, there are opportunities that fit into everyone’s schedule and interests. Jill also gives us more detail on how the curriculum mapping process at TMI has been unfolding, what lies ahead, and how it benefits the overall education of a TMI student.

Jill is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher who’s been in education for over 15 years. She was named a 2016 ASCD Emerging Leader and is a recognized ASCD Influence Leader and Colonial Williamsburg Master Teacher. She earned bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of South Florida and her master’s in Museum Studies from the Johns Hopkins University. She joined the faculty at TMI in June 2017.

Episode 21: Senior Chapel Talks by William Elms, Rui Fu, and Payton Down

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?”

 

 

 

Episode 20: David McGill '72, Steadicam Operator

In this episode, David McGill, TMI Class of 1972, shares his journey of becoming a freelance camera and steadicam operator in the film industry. David has over 25 years experience and has worked on everything from documentaries and corporate videos, to Network TV series and feature films.

David shares how his first love of flying led him to seek out lessons as a teenager and eventually to joining the military. But, upon returning to school after his military service was done, he pursued his second passion–photography. Through an instructor at school, he had his first experience working in film when the Coen brothers began shooting Blood Simple in Austin and was hiring–he was hired as a production assistant.

Listen as David talks about the steadicam making its debut in the film industry and describes how the steadicam works. He gives insightful tips for those interested in film, shares a number of stories during his time in the business, and reflects on his time at TMI.

http://www.davidmcgillsoc.com/ 

David McGill explains how a steadicam works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUXG1pY_UyA 

 

Recent and Past Projects:
Preacher (TV Series)
The Stand-In
The Last Laugh
Bayou Caviar
Alex & Me  
Back Roads  
Scream: The TV Series

Complete list at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569231/

 

Episode 19: Senior Chapel Talks by Kelly Housley and Lydia Saucedo

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.”