As graduation looms on the horizon, we will begin highlighting each of our seniors on social media in the coming weeks. Senior guest blog posts have been written by students in Mrs. Masalaskis-Hardie’s business and technical writing class. Today’s post is from senior Antonio Santoro on the senior class’s experience of a final cumulative senior retreat with all of the boys and girls coming together to reflect together on their experience at Everest and to appreciate one another as they prepare for the next step God has planned for each of them.
“The seniors of Everest Collegiate spent quality time together at their retreat at Subiaco Retreat Center from December 6-7, 2021. Many different activities and games were used to highlight the retreat theme of past, present, and future for each student. As the senior class is on the verge of starting a new chapter in their lives, it was the perfect time to identify how the Everest mission, Semper Altius (Always Higher), has impacted each part of the students’ lives. The seniors were able to appreciate what Everest has invested in them and use what they have learned for their future.
The various activities during the retreat included games, meals, free time, Mass, adoration, confession, and speeches from teachers, priests, and consecrated. Through these activities, the students bonded with each other ever more closely… All the activities were to show the seniors how to be what God wants them to be in the future. The teachers, priests, and consecrated gave personal testimonies along with great advice on how they let God form them. It was a great learning experience for everyone. To spiritually mature and grow, the students experienced a holy hour with confession and Mass.
One of the most meaningful parts about the retreat was writing a letter to each classmate. At the beginning of this, students got four minutes to write a letter to a classmate. Hopes were high, and people were motivated to write. After a few rounds, many students became fatigued by all the writing. Four minutes of writing is a lot for almost forty students. The students persevered through the struggle and found it was the best gift they could receive from the people in their class. The letters were good and honest. They made the students realize the meaning of each person in their class.
The seniors really enjoyed the time they had with each other and used that time to relish the good that has come out of their Everest experience.”
