By: Amabelle ‘25

On Nov. 16 and 17, the Class of 2025 Red and Lavender Basilisks came together for their first overnight retreat at Green Mountain Retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Junior year is typically a very stressful and overwhelming time for students, so this retreat provided them with the opportunity to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with themselves and their peers. The theme of the retreat was “I am a work in progress,” which serves as a lasting reminder for the juniors as they go through a transformative year in their lives.
    
At the retreat center, the Basilisks were able to spend time in nature and were placed into randomized small groups. They had many opportunities to bond with students they may not normally interact with at school and participate in deep discussions that brought them closer together.
    
The juniors wrote letters to their future selves, with printed photos of their past selves and present selves used as inspiration. Connecting back to the theme, they also got to try Kintsugi, a Japanese art tradition that highlights cracks or imperfections in pottery with gold, demonstrating how imperfection can also be beautiful.
    
Thanks to the help of Ms. Johnston, Dr. Quiazon, senior retreat leaders and Campus Ministry, the Class of 2025 had the greatest time celebrating the fact that they are beautiful works in progress.