SENIOR
RETREAT
by
Robby Valderrama
Getting 225 high school seniors
out of bed before 8am is one thing, but for them to enjoy themselves
while doing so is quite another. Both of these occurred at the
2004 Senior Retreat.
Meeting at the football stadium, the horde of students, led by
Mrs. Anne Delke, Mr. Jonathan Burton and others, methodically
loaded the buses and made the trip over Highway 17. Upon arriving
at Mt. Hermon, all students were fed cinnamon rolls and water,
and guided into the chapel. Once settled, the pumped-up group
was led into a time of worship by Chris Isaacs, and then spoken
to by special guest Mr. Stephen Torode. In his message, Torode
used hilarious, yet meaningful, real-life examples to illustrate
the importance of surrendering your plans to God. “Mr. Torode’s
heartfelt message inspired me,” remarked Grant Yoshino.
Still absorbing his message, the group then split into eight teams,
contending for the evasive 1st place prize. While in their groups,
the teams fought in a relay race, a foursquare contest, a volleyball
game, and finally, the ego-building (or shattering) dance challenge.
During this dance competition, each team was allotted ten minutes
to contrive a routine, and one group utilized this time in a particularly
efficient manner. Judged on creativity, unity, and participation,
Team 8 executed a dance that Mr. Meester labeled, “not only
the best this year, but the best we’ve seen in a few years.”
Team 8 co-leader Bryan Dudley remarked, “Due to our team’s
fun-loving nature and effort put forth, we showed team unity which
hopefully will carry through the year.” Largely because
of this effort, the spirited Team 8 took home the coveted first
place prize.
But even though the rest of the teams went home empty-handed,
the majority had a blast watching their peers embarrass themselves.
“It was fun to see everyone getting all competitive and
into it, especially during the foursquare,” remarked competitor
Chelsea Chard.
After the fierce competition concluded, it was time for lunch.
Although the food was delicious, these eager seniors were ready
for some fun. Free time provided just that. Some could be found
playing a friendly game of ultimate frisbee, or maybe trying their
luck at Scattegories. Others took advantage of the high diving
board and showed off their aerial skills. And what would a retreat
be without some ping-pong?
When the end of free time finally came, another chapel began.
This time, following a few more worship songs from Chris Isaacs,
the seniors split into two groups- guys and girls. The ladies
were blessed with Mrs. Erica Nelson, who talked about stepping
out of our comfort zones. The men (as they got used to being called)
were equally privileged, spoken to by Mr. John Diatte. The topic
about was stepping up to the calling that comes with being a man
of God. But the most memorable time of all was still to come.
This special time was the Open-Mic. Among the many bold enough
to address their peers were Nate Dreesman, Leslie Hatcher, CJ
Clark, and Tucker Bryan. However, the highlight came when the
popular Daniel Gaul was summoned to the stage. After getting the
crowd to stop chanting his name, Gaul then shared his advice.
This was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Virtually every
student relished not only the solid teachings, but also the fun
moments. Participant Ben Walker commented, “I liked the
message of the whole thing. I liked what they stressed: Follow
God’s plan, even if it isn’t yours. Oh, and ultimate
frisbee was SO awesome.” Despite getting up early, the school’s
elders gained a more intimate relationship with God and their
fellow seniors.
