91̽��

Mental health advocate and spoken-word artist Hakeem Rahim was a freshman at Harvard University in 1998 the first time he had a panic attack. By the end of his sophomore year, he was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit, where he received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and began his journey toward wellness.

Mr. Rahim, this year’s Talbot Speaker, shared his story as part of a presentation to destigmatize mental illness, encourage students to reach out when they’re hurting, and to be supportive friends when someone they know needs help.

“Many people are suffering in silence, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Mr. Rahim said. “It’s OK to talk about mental illness. There is no shame in seeking treatment, and a diagnosis is not the end.”

91̽��’s Veterans Day speaker, Army Brig. Gen. Richard F. Johnson, P’19, encouraged Upper School students to ask themselves two questions: “What inspiration can I draw from the service of veterans?” and, “How will I serve?”

The men and women who have served in the United States armed forces have built a legacy of leadership and service for future generations, who can serve in any capacity they choose—whether in the military or not, the brigadier general told students. Quoting 91̽�� alumnus Robert F. Kennedy, he urged students to meet the challenges of difficult times.

“’All of us may wish, at times, that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don’t, and if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity,’” said Brig. Gen. Johnson, whose daughters Julia and Kiely are in Class II. He added: “In a world that’s fraught with peril and those that would do harm, your veterans have been the guardians of freedom and the protectors of peace and humanity. Celebrate their service and sacrifice by making your own contribution. Find your future, decide how you will serve, and pay the best tribute that you can to those who have served you.”

For the second year, 91̽�� students volunteered to mentor middle- and elementary-school students at HUBweek’s Girl Hackathon, a Boston event that encourages young girls to develop a love of computer programming and coding.

Jessica Wang (I), Charlotte Moremen (II), Amaya Sangurima-Jimenez (II) and Jen Zhao (II), served as mentors during the hackathon. Using Hopscotch, a kid-friendly coding app, teams of two created games, later presenting their projects to the group. It’s not a competition; it’s a chance for girls to explore the possibilities of coding in a collaborative and supportive setting, and to be proud of their creations, says mathematics faculty member Emily Pries.

In works that explore the intersection of ubiquitous moments in history and intimate, personal narrative, poet Ron Smith asks, “What is my place and what keeps me in it?”

On campus as the Bingham Visiting Writer, Mr. Smith read selections spanning his career as a poet, and later visited students for a smaller Q&A. In between his poems at the reading, Mr. Smith provided context and described his writing process.

Clocking in at a minute over four hours, senior Chris Mehlman placed third out of 650 riders in the Vermont 50, a grueling 50-mile mountain bike race that involves an elevation climb of 9,000 feet. To put his amazing finish into context, the top two riders are well-known veteran winners on the mountain bike race circuit.

Chris says he started mountain biking in fifth grade, but didn’t start racing until his sophomore year. He started with races in the New England High School Cycling Association. This led him to Back Bay Cycling Club (B2C2), a competitive cycling team based in Boston, where he has a coach.

“What I enjoy about biking is that it’s a big challenge both mentally and physically,” says Chris. “The training is hard, but I love having goals and something to drive me on. I also love how scientific biking is; it’s a nerdy sport. There is a lot complex data in the training.”

Young people have the power to stem the tide of anti-Semitism and other hateful incidents, said Robert Trestan, executive director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Boston Office.

“The most powerful thing you have is your voice,” Mr. Trestan told students. “Speak out. If you do it collectively, you can make a huge difference.”