As soon as we got off the bus that morning, we were ushered into a large hall for Mass where I was reminded of something important. The priest said that since we are graduating this year and will be leaving our Catholic environment, we need to have a strong Catholic faith and a clear conscience. He said it is important that we do not get sidetracked or forget what is really important: our relationship with God.

Before this, my relationship with God was a bit rocky and I felt like I did not need God’s help, believing that I could do everything by myself without Him. Through the retreat activities, I learned I am not alone and that I do have someone to talk to. God is with me all the time, no matter what.

My favourite activity was a nature walk, during which we took in the great scenery, passing by streams and rivers dotted with ducks and loons. When we reached a small clearing we sat in a circle to talk about what part of nature we would be and why. Each symbol chosen, from a mountain to a Japanese Maple, showed me how my graduation class consisted of many different people with unique viewpoints. When it came to my turn, I chose the rain, because human beings and the rain have something in common. They both come unexpectedly, catch us off guard, are sometimes unwanted, but always needed.

When the retreat came to a close, and we said our goodbyes and got on the bus, I felt a sense of peace I had never felt before. All the doubt, frustration and anger that I had kept inside me was washed away as if the waters of Shadow Lake bathed my soul and cleansed it. When I came to this retreat, I did not know what to expect, all I could think about were the assignments, ISU’s, reports and essays that I would have to do when I came back from this. But now my soul is rested, and I’ve stopped worrying about getting through these last two months of school and graduation. I have begun to pray more and let God take care of me and every doubt in my mind.

When reminiscing about their own retreats, I hope that Catholic high school graduates from across Canada will look past the surface (the food and the time) and realize that these spiritual events help us learn to keep a strong Catholic faith while living in a world filled with temptations and bad influences.

(Assang, 17, is a Grade 12 student at Francis Libermann Catholic High School in Toronto.)