Hill students are required to attend nondenominational Chapel services twice a week. This is a time for the entire community to come together and reflect on others’ insights and life-affecting experiences. A special tradition at Hill is the Chapel Talk. Any sixth form (senior) student may give a Chapel talk, and the School encourages all students to do so during their time at The Hill. Below, six sixth form students reflect on Chapel and their experience of giving a talk this year. You may listen to their talks, and others, here.
Samantha '11 Spiritual life is big part of Hill culture, and the twice-a-week Chapel service was one of the big things that "sold" the School to me. Since my third form year I've heard Chapel talks that have made me cry, some that have made me laugh, and one about insects... one about Guitar Hero, and even one about Dobby from Harry Potter. Each of these talks has allowed me to get insight into the speaker, and because of this, it has to be the main thing about our campus culture that makes us such a tight knit community.
I've always known that I wanted to give a Chapel talk, mostly because it's just one of those things that every student should do before they graduate -- just one more experience that Hill students should have to remember from their time here. It was definitely a nerve-racking experience and a very personal one, too. But, I had support from my friends and teachers. Chapel has alway been one of the great traditions of this School, but now, more than ever, I know what it feels like to be a part of tradition. It is one of many other things about Hill and my sixth form year that I will always remember.
Johnny '11
Writing a chapel talk was, for me, a way of re-introducing myself to Hill. Coming in as a new fifth former last year, I still am relatively new to the School. I used my Chapel talk to add a different dimension to who I am -- what I makes me laugh, what makes me cry, and what I believe in.
Chapel has always been an enjoyable experience for me, because though at first it appears to be another required event, it isn't at all. Each Monday and Thursday, the School comes together as a community, as a family, to listen to each other share a unique and personal experience, a commentary on life, or just a funny story. Yet, what I have discovered over the past one and a half years, is that though we all have different backgrounds, cultures, languages, and experiences, we all can connect to each other. We laugh together, cry together, and reflect on ourselves. And most times I find that the speaker has taught me more about myself than he or she intended.
Cara '11
As a third former, I watched the six form students give Chapel talks often, but I always told myself there was no possibility I could muster the courage to speak in front of the entire School, let alone think of a topic. However, when it was time to sign up to give a talk, I eagerly chose a date because I wanted my chance. I was comfortable enough with my peers that I was willing to put myself at a podium and expose a part of me that not everyone knows about. My talk was about my younger brother who had epilepsy when he was little and how that experience affected my family. I knew that speaking in Chapel, influencing my peers and adults alike, was a unique experience and I took advantage of my chance.
Katie '11
I chose to give a Chapel talk because of the long standing tradition here at The Hill School. Since my third form year, I have been listening to sixth formers speak, the same sixth formers who I looked up to and who guided me through my year. When I saw them up there, I couldn’t help but feel proud that they were a part of my life and my Hill experience. I feel like giving a Chapel talk is not only a tradition, but a rite of passage. Now that I have given a chapel talk I feel “qualified” to graduate.
Gabby '11
Since my third form, I knew I wanted to give a Chapel talk my sixth form year. Seeing all the sixth formers talk about different things they went through in life made me want to share what special things happened with me. I looked up to the sixth formers -- the way they presented in front of The Hill School community with such poise, confidence, and passion motivated me tremendously. Honestly, I thought giving a Chapel talk as a sixth former was the 'cool' thing to do and you would be frowned upon if you didn't share at least something worthwhile; but, that wasn't the case as I soon found out this year. I decided I wanted to share an experience and a side of me no one really knew during my last year at Hill. Giving a Chapel talk was a goal I wanted to check off my list before I graduated. And I did just that.
As I look back now into my first year at Hill, I definitely had an indifferent feeling about what Chapel was. Now, it gives me the opportunity to be closer to God when I am away from home and also to share that connection with my family by prayer. What's great about Chapel are the messages in the sermons people talk about. I must admit you have to pay extra attention to the point their trying to make, but at the end of the day I relate my experiences and situations and learn from the advice.
Ellen '11
When first asked, I immediately thought "yes I have to give a Chapel talk!;" however, when I was responding to the email I became apprehensive. I wasn’t sure what I was going to talk about, and I didn’t know if I was prepared to talk in front of the whole community. I hit the send button, and replied back that I would like to give a Chapel talk during my sixth form year. Even though I was terrified that I would mess up while speaking in front of the community I didn’t regret responding yes.
Giving a Chapel talk when you are a sixth former is one of those special opportunities Hill offers to everyone. You don’t have to be in a special club, get the highest grades, play a certain sport, or be a certain person; you just have to be a sixth former. I knew if I didn’t give a Chapel talk I wouldn’t forgive myself for not taking the opportunity. For me, Chapel is a place where we all gather and listen to our fellow classmates, teachers, and community members talk about an experience they want to share with all of us. I am so happy that I was able to give a Chapel talk in the middle of my sixth form year because it is something I will never forget.