The Art of the Chapel Talk

IN A LONG-ANTICIPATED MOMENT, AMELIA HANSON ’24 REFLECTED ON THE ART OF THE “CHAPEL TALK” IN FRONT OF HER TEACHERS AND PEERS IN CALLAWAY CHAPEL. THROUGH THE PROCESS, SHE EMBRACED FEAR, FELT DEEP GRATITUDE, AND RECOGNIZED THE EXTRAORDINARY MOMENTS THAT MAKE UP ORDINARY DAYS.

When I first toured Episcopal four years ago, I sat in the balcony of Callaway Chapel and listened to a moving Chapel Talk, given by a then senior. It was compelling to witness how a person could be so vulnerable with so many people at once, and that’s when I knew there was something special about Episcopal. Since then, I have been under the impression that Chapel Talks must be extraordinary. I had become fascinated by the art of the Chapel Talk.

Ever since that first time stepping foot into Callaway, I’d walk into Chapel, and at some point during the service, I’d think to myself, “What shall my Chapel Talk topic be?” No joke, I’ve thought about this question almost every day over my past four years here, and until just a few weeks ago, no topic had stood out to me as worthy enough. So, you may be wondering what changed my mind.

One day during Chapel, Mr. Bastos, my brilliant advisor, turned to me with his usual compassionate conversation and asked, “Do you think you’re going to do a Chapel Talk?” I responded, “I really, really want to, and I think that if I don’t end up doing one, I will regret it. But I don’t have anything to say.” Or so I thought. During that service, per usual, I pondered yet again what I wanted to share with you all. Finally, I thought, “You know what? The regret I would feel not doing this is enough to make me do it.” I thought about how badly I wanted to stand up in front of all of these people who I am so, so more than utterly grateful for and love so much and thank them, really thank them, and so here we go.

I know gratitude is a major theme in a Chapel Talk, and so I asked myself why that is. For me, it’s because of this feeling I become overwhelmed by every once in a while when I look around at our regular old campus, eating the usual chicken and rice in the dining hall, socializing on a perfect day for football in the Bowl, storming the halls of my humble abode, and I am struck by the amount of talent which surrounds me in my typical day to day.

During our time here, it’s not hard to be overtaken by a feeling of familiarity. Still, when I’m able to break through that and take a moment to evaluate, I think about my teachers. The never-ending amount of time and care you continually dedicate to us is more than admirable. I really feel it in everything you do, the hope you see in your students and how deeply you enjoy seeing us succeed. I am in awe of you all every day, and I will cherish all of your work forever. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I wouldn’t be me without you.

So, after reflecting on all of this gratitude, I have taken away this: Everyone brings something to the table to make this community what it is.

Secondly, I feel so lucky to go to school and learn with people who are smarter than I am, people who have these immensely impressive talents. I’ve read some killer articles in The Chronicle, sat through gorgeous and impressively lengthy instrumental pieces, had the privilege of listening to my sister Liv perform, and got to witness the eye-opening work ethic of some of our most dedicated athletes. I have to stop there because the list is actually endless.

However, other things also make me feel this overwhelming thankfulness, which I have identified, for lack of a better word, as micro talents. Micro talents are little things I have taken from small interactions in my day-to-day exchanges where others have inspired me to improve, whether it’s someone who can light up a room with laughter, who always turns to kindness, who leads by living a sustainable life, who knows how to be present and in the moment, or who is good at keeping those around them accountable. Throughout my journey at Episcopal, I have often wondered if there will be any other time in my life when I will again be surrounded by such mind-blowingly gifted people that I currently have the privilege of witnessing.

So, after reflecting on all of this gratitude, I have taken away this: Everyone brings something to the table to make this community what it is. Really, at the very end of the day, it isn’t the red bricks, Orah tiles, tablecloths, ID cards, or any tradition that make this place what it truly is, but it’s all of you. You are a part of such greatness. Everyone in this room has a talent for being themselves. Everyone here brings something to the table. Though, there have been many moments when people very close to me, whom I was in complete awe of, confessed they thought they were talentless, which was hard for me to hear from people I admire. I, too, have had these thoughts, and over the years, I’ve realized this: It’s easy to be hard on yourself, especially here, and sometimes it can be hard to separate your self-demeaning thoughts from the truth. I had dozens of moments while writing, editing, and practicing this talk when I thought it wouldn’t be good enough and was scared I would mess up. When these critical thoughts come up, I try to slow down.

In life, it is important to highlight what you are good at and know that you don’t have to be the best to do those things and still make an impact. Your expertise may be something grand, which is lovely to show off, or it could be more of a micro talent.

I feel blessed every day Episcopal has allowed me to be around people who are better than me and, therefore, made me better.

Don’t put yourself down by comparing yourself to others because you will waste so much time rather than letting yourself be just as great as you are in the hopes of becoming greater. I never thought I had anything to give a Chapel Talk on because I wasn’t sure I could come up with something that everyone could relate to or be powerful enough to remember.

Still, I decided to speak because I realized that that’s not what truly mattered. What mattered to me was seizing the opportunity to share my gratitude and knowing it didn’t matter if it was the best Chapel Talk in the history of Chapel Talks because it was the best one I could offer today, and that’s enough for me. The second you tell yourself you can’t do something, you’re not worthy of your successes, or you become scared just because you may not be the best at something, that is the moment you close yourself off from new opportunities, bettering yourself, and the undiscovered things in life.

So little of life is being the best at something because only so many people can be the best, and you can only be the best at so many things, so why would you limit yourself to that?