[Because what happens during Jesuit retreats is supposed to remain confidential, The Plank will refer to the activities as vaguely as possible.]

Over the weekend of August 25-26th, all Jesuit High School freshmen, their parents, their big brothers, and a select group of faculty and staff participated in the 30th Annual Frosh Overnight Retreat.

Freshmen came to school around 10:00 a.m on Saturday and left 25 hours later at 11:00 a.m on Sunday. They spent the time contemplating the theme of the retreat, which was “Friendship is being able to be myself.”

“I thought it was a cool experience to learn more about friendship and all the stuff that we do at Jesuit,” said Max Konrak ’22. “I was nervous at the beginning, but fine by the end.”

One of the goals of the Frosh Overnight Retreat is to welcome new students to the bonds of the Jesuit brotherhood. Though it may have seemed foreign at first, most freshmen caught on.

“I feel more welcome after the retreat because now I feel like everybody cares about me—like, everything about me—my learning and my personal life,” said Ryan Anderson ’22.

At the heart of the retreat, freshmen were encouraged to discern what relationships with their friends, family, and God meant to them. Parents, big brothers, and Jesuit faculty and staff were there to help them along the process.

“I got to know some of my friends better,” said Declan Tabler ’22. “I also got closer to God through the Mass and what they were teaching us.”

Throughout the highs and lows of the retreat, each freshman’s big brother stood by them, so freshmen had positive responses about their big brothers.

“I think I had the best big brother,” said Ryan, whose big brother was Abraham Lee ’19.

Furthermore, when the freshmen who were interviewed were asked if they wanted to be big brothers themselves, they all responded with a confident “yes.”

“My big brother was really great, and I want to do the same for others,” said Max.

The Freshman Overnight retreat helped get the class of 2022 on the right track in becoming true ‘Men for Others,’ and they are only two weeks in on a four year journey.