Camp for All: St. Agnes Academy Class of 2018 Retreat

Dominican preachers and seniors (from left) Chelsea Okoroafor and Tobi Okopie holding up the sophomore retreat shirts. 

At St. Agnes Academy, every girl is required to go on retreat once a year. The first week of February was the sophomore class’ turn for retreat. The morning of Feb. 4, all sophomores piled into the auditorium and received their name tags and service group. After a couple of “ice-breaker” games led by our Dominican Preaching Team, every homeroom received their service project assignments.

Everyone quickly learned that we weren’t doing the simple task of just cleaning cabins and re-painting worn gazeboes and bridges. Each homeroom was assigned a different service site around the city of Houston. Some were elementary schools for less-privileged students, some were women’s shelters and others were serving at nearby schools for kids with disabilities.

After doing service, as a class, we all headed to Camp for All, where we would be retreating for the next two days. And for a big twist, every girl in the Class of 2018 had to give up their phones, in order for them to focus on the goals and lessons of this retreat.     

The main focus of this sophomore retreat was based around one of our Dominican pillars, study. At first, everyone thought that meant the type of studying that required a textbook and taking notes. But it was exactly the opposite; this new form of study was meant for us to examine the social justice issues, not just throughout our world, but directly within our Houston community.

The sunrise that campers woke up to while on retreat. 

Throughout the first day, the schedule was packed with all sorts of fun and competitive team sports, that didn’t just include the students, but the teacher chaperones as well, such as a cheer competition and a Starburst War. Our first night settled down with Mass and Adoration following dinner, where we got time to individually reflect upon ourselves and how we were rooted in the love of God, which is where the clever idea for our traditional retreat shirts came from. Little did we know, the following day had just as much energy and excitement. 

We began the next morning with dance competitions in the dining hall, meditation, and the giving of Hearthstones which led to another discussion about self-reflection. And to top off all the fun that we were having, we were brought back to our childhood and were given big bags of chalk pens and were told that we could go out, get messy and draw on the sidewalk. We were told to trace our bodies and on the inside we had to write words that we are striving to be, our favorite things and what people or things keep us rooted. While on the outside, all the group members had to write affirming words about each person. We were given a film camera and had to take photos near our colorful chalky creations. 

Clearly, the word rooted was used so many times that I don’t think it’s possible to ever forget. And I don’t think it was intended for us to forget because we all learned that without roots we, essentially, are nothing. Overall, sophomore retreat was a well-needed break for the entire class of 2018, and now our duty is to go and study the world around and discover all the things that keep us rooted.