The junior class had the privilege of embarking on a retreat in the middle of October. This retreat set them on a path of self-discovery and sisterhood.
LOTAs spent the overnight event at Camp Wabanna in Edgewater, Maryland, and were offered a special opportunity to bond, reflect, and create cherishable memories on this retreat that they will hold far beyond their years at AHC.
Since this was her first overnight retreat and that of her classmates, Kendra Cole, did not know what to anticipate going into.
“Retreat was a lot more fun but much more different than I expected,” Cole exclaimed. “It brought out a lot of emotions for the rekindling of bonds and friendships that I did not expect.”
From team building games to times of reconciliation and prayer, juniors enjoyed many different activities.
“I was worried that I would not get enough free time,” Cole said.
It ended up being the opposite with having much more than she would imagine. Cole’s concern about not having enough free time was soon answered when she realized how to create a balance between arranged activities and personal time. The schedule had been carefully laid out to give the juniors lots of time to relax, connect with peers, and feel free.
“I was glad to notice that there was a perfect balance between the amount of free time I got and the amount of activities we did,” Cole shared. “Junior retreat was planned out with a good measure of getting the class to connect through activities and free time to relax.”
As team leaders plan the retreat, they take into consideration the evaluations of the retreats from the previous years.
“It begins with an evaluation of previous years. Every year is different, it is like a big puzzle,” Director of Campus Ministry Linda Ruszkowski mentioned.
A number of considerations need to be carefully thought out and organized, such as figuring out how many meals are necessary, making rooming arrangements, and organizing the training sessions.
“Even while the planning process can be difficult, it’s still enjoyable,” Ruszkowski said.
Seniors provide leadership for the retreat. As they work hard, a big goal is to establish a welcoming atmosphere where each person is made to feel valued and heard. Leaders promote a feeling of acceptance and respect by encouraging inclusion of thinking and perspective.
One senior site leader, Zofia Dobosz, got to experience this journey once more but from a different perspective
“It’s just fun to do—not only do I allow other people to have a good time but I have a good time myself,” Dobosz added.
Retreat leaders contributed to various kinds of activities, such as delivering talks that they had written and were able to present to the class. They were essential in maintaining order throughout the retreat. The result is a meaningful way to connect with the juniors.
“I gain the satisfaction of allowing those to grow in faith,” Dobosz commented.
The juniors discovered that they were creating relationships that went beyond the normal school day as they engaged in team-building activities, times of reconciliation, and prayer. All of these components came together to produce a comprehensive and rewarding experience that helped the junior class develop a strong sense of community that went well beyond the typical day at school.
“I hope people feel as impacted as I hope they feel,” Dobosz emphasized.
