On Wednesday, April 16, the Junior Class of 2015 attended the annual Junior Retreat where they learned the ideologies and principles that will allow them to become the leaders of Jesuit community next year.
The Junior Retreat was met with widespread appeal from the junior class. Junior Angelo Winings said “my favorite activity was when we got in groups and discussed the important things for junior year.” The discussions provided him with insight and perspective for the upcoming year. He feels ready for greater responsibility, as he and his fellow classmates will now become the leaders of the Jesuit student body. Junior Jack Kelley said that he “grew closer to some of the people that I didn’t know well prior.
Junior counselors Mr. Dan Lingel and Mr. Paul McDaniel, a 20-year veteran for Junior Retreat, as well as PALS directed the entire production. Mr. McDaniel notes that he hopes the juniors will take initiative and help make Jesuit better as they become leaders for the student body. His favorite part of the retreat is the creation of the class slogan. “I was amazed at the creativity of the slogans as the adults provide very little input towards the slogan and the slogans end up being very funny or creative,” he commented.
Sharing Mr. McDaniel’s sentiments, Mr. Mark Knize, assistant principle of student affairs says that his favorite part was also the slogans. “[They] encapsulate the thoughts of the guys” and “characterize what they want to be and what they are.” He elaborated saying “that [the slogans] helped the juniors bond because it allows them to focus on who they are and where they are going.”
At the retreat, Mr. McDaniel gave an inspiring speech during the retreat about “the call of disciples and The Examen.” He didn’t want to be specific, but he added that “it is also about how we are in the presence of God and how we can improve.” Jackson Slaughter ’15 commented, “Mr. McDaniel’s speech was very inspiring, and it put a lot into perspective for me.”
Even though the juniors were jubilant and enjoyed their time off-campus, the highlight of the Junior Retreat experience occurred when they returned to Jesuit. The juniors calmed themselves down as they entered the presence of God at the Junior Cross Mass that evening, where they reflected on their retreat experiences and their years, thus far, at Jesuit.
As the Mass ended the Juniors received their Junior Cross signifying the end of the Junior Retreat. According to Mr. McDaniel, “the acceptance of the Junior Cross is symbolic of the class accepting leadership as they move forward.” Mr. Knize also feels that the Junior Cross is “symbolic in terms of it being a physical symbol that the juniors keep with them as a reminder of what they’re committed to and why we are here.”
As the Seniors ready themselves for graduation, the Juniors prepare themselves for the responsibility of being leaders next year.
