CHAPEL TALK
Power of Story By Kenneth Colombe ’16
M
y name is Ken Colombe and I hail from the small town of Kailua on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Like Figgs, I would like to get some common misconceptions and questions I’ve been asked over the years out of the way. Yes, I live in the United States and yes, Hawaii is the 50th state. No, I do not travel to school on the back of a dolphin or turtle, and no, I do not live in a grass hut. I don’t surf and rarely go to the beach, but I do love pineapple and have one growing in my backyard. As a prospective post graduate, I was first attracted to Pomfret by the academics and the beautiful campus, and I was intrigued by the rising basketball program, but it was sitting here, in this chapel, a little over a year ago, that made me want to be a Griffin. I was enamored as Papa’s sister, Afia Sekyere ’15, shared the story of her friend’s tragic suicide. I remember how receptive everyone in the crowd was. Looking at students’ faces, there was a shared anguish, a feeling of sympathy, and for some, even empathy. Her story was powerful. As chapel came to a close and the line formed to greet Afia, it was like nothing I had seen before. Right then, I knew Pomfret was a special place. I have been fascinated with chapel talks ever since, but it wasn’t until a recent conversation with Coach Kremer that I really put my finger on why I was so captivated: the power of story. As humans we are driven by story. Everyone has their own unique tale to tell. This is what brings us closer together. By giving these chapel talks, we learn about people. They give us insight into what makes each individual person… well… individual. As the year progressed, it has been amazing listening to my classmates’ journeys to the Hilltop. Not all have come on a straight or narrow path; in fact, most people have had bumps and bruises along the way, which have shaped and molded them. With those experiences come toughness, strength, and Mr. Goethals’s favorite trait, grit. Not long ago I had a toxic attitude, one of discouragement and belittlement. It got to the point where I wasn’t allowed at Michael Gabrelcick’s house because his mother viewed me as a bad influence on her son and, quite frankly, I can’t disagree with her. When I run into people that haven’t seen me in ages, they
talk about how “they remembered me when I was younger.” I feel obligated to stop them mid-sentence and apologize for my younger teenage self. In addition to being obnoxious, I struggled with my body image throughout middle and early high school, eating little to nothing for days on end, and working myself into exhaustion to look skinnier. This year I drew upon all the chapel talks I heard, learning from what each speaker went through, reflecting and applying each lesson to my own story. I distinctly remember hearing the speeches of Mo, who I really didn’t know very well, and Jack, who was the second Pomfret person I met and who gave me my tour; they both talked about their mothers. Mo talked about how his mom was never really a part of his life and Jack talked about losing his mom way too soon. This is something that, as people, we have experienced or we can relate to. It nearly brought me to tears. There was nothing more I wanted to do than to give both hugs and let them know how incredible they are. I am so grateful to call both of you my friends. You have made me realize how we must cherish those in our lives. It is crazy to think that I did not know a lot of you before your chapel speeches. There is Anna Tarplin, whose talk on food was light and refreshing. Rebecca Pempek shared her relationship with art and artists. And Gianna shared her reasons for the uplifting hugs she gives on a daily basis. I can confidently call all three of these people friends. It was their stories that helped me connect with each one of them. So whether it is the love of flying like Jacob Scanlon, a unique and awesome name like Brad Kittrell or Rhone O’Hara, a fascination for creation and building like Tom Castle, or a love for butterflies like Matt Kenyon — do not be afraid to tell your story. Do not be afraid to share your own experiences with your peers. Do not be afraid to sit and listen to others around you. It is through the power of story that we find strength, understanding, and unity. Before they graduate, all sixth form students are required to deliver a chapel talk in front of the assembled Pomfret community. Students decide what they want to say and how they want to say it. Every student is encouraged to speak with honesty and clarity and specificity, but there is really only one requirement: Say something you mean.
FALL 2016
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