Retreat Blog

Summary 

Retreat was fun and exciting, and also tiring and funny. On day one before we arrived at the house, we gathered up by the bus stop and waited for a while. Some of us forgot some stuff, but in the end we made it work. I was pretty tired since I couldn't sleep all night and was thinking about everything that could go wrong. I really didn't pack a lot, but my suitcase was big (also was heavy lol). Before getting on the bus, we gave our phones to Ms. Shayna and then boarded the bus. I knew I was going to miss my family and my partner, but it was only for three days so it couldn't be any worse. The ride was okay aside from some people keeping their windows open and letting rain projectile onto me and other students, to which some got into my eye and made my seat wet. After the ride, we quickly got off and took out all the bags, suitcases, and whatever we brought with us. The three days we were there went by pretty fast in my opinion, aside from all of the activities we did in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I don't remember much on day one aside from what I already said, but we did unpack all of our things after we reflected on our quarter in our respective groups. During the three days, we also had to finish making 'Magic Notes', which were notes for everyone at retreat which had a paragraph of a positive thing we thought of them. I also took a lot of naps these three days, part of it was because I was sick, another was because I was just tired in general. I remember the second day better than the first. We woke up early at 5:40, ate breakfast, and started our bunch of activities. We did chopped (cooking for everyone), Synchronized Swimming (our period's cheer and what we practiced), planned for quarter 4 (seventh graders were doing graduation slides) and spirit week (only period three). It was really fun, and my team won Synchronized Swimming, yay. We planned to do Squidgame, and I was the main character, heh. For chopped, me and my period decided to do nachos. We had to work with cornflower tortillas, berries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and Nilla wafers. When we first made them at Emma's house, we used flour tortillas and they tasted a thousand times better than the cornflower ones. Later that day, me and the rest of the seventh graders locked in when planning for graduation slides and what jobs we should do, so that was nice. My sleep was also nice as well, but I couldn't say the same for my showers because I wasn't used to taking such short ones. The third day was one I remember too. We woke up early, ate breakfast, packed our things, and did a few activities. It was nice doing the breakout sessions with the Alumni. I had Reece, Leilani, and Janzen. They were all patient and kind, so were the other Alumni as well. We took our group pictures, and we even took non-serious ones too (seventh graders made a heart). We also learned dances, and I ended up getting picked to choreograph one of them. I am a bad dancer, but I will try my best. The theme was Kpop Demon Hunters, so it will probably not be too hard. Before we put our suitcases and everything on the bus, we had a nice talk all together and packed up everything. We were given our phones and Magic Notes on the bus, and the notes were really sweet.  

Highlights + Lowlights 

Highlights 

Synchronized Swimming Victory - Winning the cheer/performance challenge was a definite high point, especially after planning a whole Squid Game routine.

The Magic Notes - Receiving all the thoughtful, positive paragraphs from everyone was a truly sweet and heartwarming way to end the retreat.

Connecting with Alumni - The breakout sessions with Reece, Leilani, and Janzen were valuable, offering patient and kind interactions with the older students.

Lowlights

The Soggy Bus Ride - Getting rained on due to open windows—to the point where water projectiled into my eye and soaked my seat—was a very unwelcome start.

The Chopped Challenge Ingredients - Working with the cornflower tortillas, which you felt tasted significantly worse than the flour tortillas I used for practice, made the cooking activity frustrating.

Lack of Sleep and Short Showers - The combination of being up all night before the trip, feeling sick, and being forced into uncomfortably short showers meant the retreat didn't offer as much personal rest and comfort as I'd hoped.

Lessons Learned 

The key to managing pre-event anxiety is focusing on the present, not the 'what ifs.' I successfully adapted to minor forgotten items, proving that planning for everything is less important than trusting my ability to adapt.

Always be prepared for the unexpected during travel, and speak up respectfully when comfort is compromised. The soggy bus ride teaches a lesson in either securing a less exposed seat or politely asking for an adjustment to external factors like open windows.

A fresh perspective on time is helpful for managing anticipation and missing loved ones. A busy, structured schedule makes three days fly by, reminding you that short absences are manageable.

Group reflection and positive acknowledgment are crucial for building a strong, supportive community. Activities like the 'Magic Notes' showed the power of focusing on collective progress and individual worth.

Prioritizing your health is just as important as participating in activities. Taking naps because I was sick and tired was a necessary act of self-care, allowing me to be present for other activities.

Practice and adaptation are essential for success, but sometimes the best laid plans still face challenges. My Synchronized Swimming victory proved the value of preparation, while the Chopped challenge showed that a single core ingredient change (cornflower tortillas) can require a difficult pivot.

Focused collaboration can turn an overwhelming task into a productive outcome. The success of the seventh graders when they 'locked in' on planning the graduation slides demonstrates the value of dedicated focus.

Small adjustments to routine, like shower length, require patience and a focus on the bigger goal. Accepting minor short-term inconveniences is necessary for the smooth operation of a group experience.

The wisdom of those who have been there is invaluable for guidance and reassurance. Connecting with the Alumni offered patient, kind, and valuable perspective.

Embracing new roles and challenges, even outside your comfort zone, leads to growth. Being selected to choreograph a dance is an opportunity to accept leadership and try my best regardless of my perceived skill level.

A formal and thoughtful conclusion brings necessary closure to an intensive experience. The final talk, organized packing, and distribution of the Magic Notes provided a meaningful end to the retreat.

Intentional kindness is the most impactful souvenir from a shared experience. The sweetness of the Magic Notes was a testament to the power of thoughtful, positive communication.

True creativity is solving problems with the given constraints, not just planning for ideal conditions. The Chopped challenge forced me to use non-ideal ingredients, which is a key skill in problem-solving.

Manageable discomfort is an unavoidable part of intensive group experiences, teaching resilience and adaptability. The combination of lack of sleep and short showers highlights the need to be flexible and resilient when routines are broken.

If I could do it all over again, I would . . .

1. Prioritize getting a full night of sleep the night before the trip so I could arrive energized and be more present from the very start. Knowing that anxiety about "what ifs" is the main challenge, I would use a relaxation technique to ensure rest.

2. Speak up immediately on the bus about the open window and rain. Instead of just being a victim of the "soggy bus ride," I would politely ask the students near the window to close it, taking control of my comfort instead of letting the rain projectile into my eye.

3. Find a way to practice with the actual ingredients for the Chopped Challenge or, failing that, develop a backup plan specifically for using cornflower tortillas and the other strange items. This way, the taste wouldn't be a frustrating lowlight, but a chance to truly solve a difficult cooking problem.

4. Take just one group picture with the Alumni before we left, as those breakout sessions were so kind and valuable. Having an extra memento of that connection would be nice.

5. Be more confident about the choreography opportunity. Even though I call myself a bad dancer, being selected shows I have potential. I would try to be less nervous and fully embrace the creative leadership role from the moment I was picked.

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