When the class of 2015-2016 left this Tuesday on several buses for a 3-day trip to a secret location and participate in undisclosed activities, it may of seemed like a pretty strange event. But this is actually just one of Jesuit’s long-standing and extremely influential retreats. Community Days is a Senior retreat focused on creating connections and fostering brotherhood between the seniors of Jesuit, and ensuring the friendship and fellowship of students extend far beyond the walls of a classroom.
The history of Community Days begins with the class of 1971, and is one of the longest traditions here at Jesuit. With every class since 1971 attending the very same retreat, senior counselor Mr. Fitzsimmons describes it as a “connection between generations,”a link that bridges the past to the present. Since the retreat has been going on for several years, Jesuit Class of 1984 Alumni Carlos Miramontes recalls from this very same retreat that he “remember[s] that… it gives you an opportunity to meet other people in your class that you really haven’t met before… and the coming together of a class, all the barriers removed.” With a tradition that has such an impact and longevity, it’s no question why it’s considered a highlight of the Jesuit experience.
Community Days begins with a mass on Tuesday, and then afterwards students embark on a journey to the unknown, where social barriers will be broken, and relationships will be made. Being one of the last retreats for Jesuit, Community Days is considered private, and students go on the retreat with no knowledge of the importance of what they are about to undertake. One of the biggest guidelines about Community Days is being present with your class, meaning they don’t bring any electronics or any other outside distractions, and really focus on building relationships with their classmates around them. Once at the retreat location, students partake in class-bonding and team building exercises, where the walls of solidarity are torn down, and students open up to one another. Senior Counselor, Mr. Hanley expresses one of the goals of Community Days is to “allow the boys to really begin to come together as a class,” and considers the retreat to be “the cement that holds [the class] together.”
For this year’s class of 2015-2016, the retreat will be no different, but still every bit amazing. Upon the coming of the retreat, Mr. Hanley has articulated his opinion on the class by saying, “this senior class has the potential to do great things… and community days will get them started in realizing that potential.” Mr. Fitzsimmons seconded this claim, supporting the image of the senior class and the “great potential for this community days… [his] expectations are very high.” The only ones that are aware of their upcoming fate are the faculty attending this trip causes some mixed emotions between the students. Senior Alex Motter ’16 considers community days “an enigma”, but is hopeful in that “this focus of outwards to our class and community as a whole should help fine tune the collaborative spirit.” With such positive attitudes and conjectures between the students and faculty, it’s safe to say this class will leave their mark on Jesuit.
So, what does the phrase Community Days mean? Well, simply put, it’s about building community between everybody in the class. That the common idea is that it’s a chance to break social barriers, open up to your classmates, meet new people. That every student gets a chance to speak, and nobody gets left out. To build relationships, establish brotherhood that you couldn’t of before, and set the foundation for an amazing senior class that will prosper and maintain their relationships long after the high school doors close.
