Recent Talks

Acclaimed chef and restauranteur Gregory Gourdet ’93 gave this talk at Commencement 2023

Ike Lawrence ’23 gave this talk on student life at St. Andrew’s during Awards Night 2023

Sophie Xu ’23 gave this talk about the arts at St. Andrew’s at Awards 2023

Emma Hopkins ’23 gave this talk on athletics at St. Andrew's during Awards Night 2023

School co-president Trinity Smith ’23 gave this talk at Commencement 2023.

School co-president Ford Chapman ’23 gave this talk at Commencement 2023. 

Classics Department Chair Dr. Phil Walsh gave this talk in chapel on Wednesday, May 10

Lily Murphy ’23 gave this chapel talk at the annual student vestry chapel on April 26.

Ashley McIntosh ’25 delivered this chapel talk at a Wednesday night service organized by the Student Diversity Committee in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“Diwali is a time to let the darkness in your past go and to welcome the light of the new into your world. Diwali is a time to reconnect with our culture and heritage.”

Several of the captains of fall sports teams spoke during an inspirational community chapel service on Friday, October 21. Here are some excerpts from their talks.

Field Hockey Captains Kaki Ackermann and Emily Funderburg shared their inspiration and call to become leaders.

Life affords us uncertainty, questions and opportunity. We may think we have a script, a plan, or an idea of what is going to happen next. I have found in my personal experience, my life story, that ultimately you cannot predict an outcome with 100 percent certainty.

It’s not always pretty. I don’t always do the “right” thing. But, I love people the way Jesus Christ taught us to love. That’s how I practice faith.

I relied on my faith to help me, especially when I was tired and confused, and during moments of panic, worry, anxiety and fear. If I found myself in periods of just surviving, I looked into the mirror and reminded myself about who I am and what I want to be.

To be honest with you, I am not a big fan of socializing. To me, it seems like I’m packaging and selling myself to a group of buyers. A few times when I caught myself faking my laughs or throwing random jokes just to create a sense of humor, I hated myself. I warned myself; I need to stay true, stay down to earth. 

Zachary Macalintal ’24 gave this reflection at a Wednesday night chapel service on May 17, hosted by the Asian Student Union in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Yiru Wang ’25 and Connie Kang ’26 gave this reflection at a Wednesday night chapel service on May 17, hosted by the Asian Student Union in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Sophie Xu ’23, Sophie Mo ’24, and Sophie Forbes ’25 gave this joint chapel talk at a Wednesday night service on May 17, hosted by the Asian Student Union in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Lauren Hearder ’24 gave this reflection at a Wednesday night chapel service on May 17, hosted by the Asian Student Union in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Seoyoon Kwon ’23 gave this reflection at a Wednesday night chapel service hosted on May 17 by the Asian Student Union in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Katie Boyer ’25 shares how she is finding her identity, separate from the identities of her two older sisters, at St. Andrew's

Isaac Cheung ’25 shares the story of the push-pull between his love of (faraway) home and family, and his love of St. Andrew's

Elli Baker ’25 gave this chapel talk on the impact alcohol has had on her life and her family’s life

Rhaki Lum ’25 shares the story of the 24 hours that has dramatically impacted every day since then.

History teacher Wilson Everhart ’95 gave this chapel talk at the Thursday night service following family-style Thanksgiving dinner on November 17, 2022. 

Author Mark Oppenheimer came to St. Andrew's and gave a chapel talk on Wednesday, October 19. Oppenheimer wrote the Beliefs column for The New York Times from 2010 to 2016. His latest book, Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting & the Soul of a Neighborhood was one of the recommended books in the list of summer reading for students.

Students talked about their heritage during the Casa Latina chapel service on Wednesday, October 5. The service was in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and included traditional songs and passages.

Yasir Felton ’24 recalls how he felt when his relationship with his dad crumbled, and how they have both worked to heal and rebuild it. 

James Owens ’24 reflects on the ways in which emotional self-control—and an Arizona iced tea bottle—has helped him get to where he is today.