From March 16 to 19, a group of 17 juniors and seniors, along with five dedicated student leaders and three staffulty members, headed to Loma Mar, California for a transformative four-day Kairos experience. Kairos, which means “God’s time,” is an opportunity for students to step away from their regular routines and focus on self-reflection, personal growth and deepening their connections with each other.
This retreat allowed students to reflect on their lives, relieve themselves from the stress of the world and build stronger relationships with their peers, all while soaking in the beauty of the Santa Cruz mountains.
The five senior student leaders: Tila Chin, Adrianna Cirina, Jane Hipps, Hailey Kockos and Bella Svanberg, have been working hard alongside Director of Mission and Ministry Amy Jobin, Spiritual Life Teacher Elizabeth Neapolitan and School Counselor Christina Christenson to ensure that this experience is the best it can be for the attendees. The team has spent the school year planning and making preparations to ensure the retreat goes smoothly.
“We’ve had many meetings, discussing our vision for Kairos 2025,” explained Svanberg. “Through the past few months, we have put much thought and discussed many details in making the experience for the retreatants as memorable and special as it was for us.”
In past years, the trip has been held in the fall. This year, however, the leaders decided to move the retreat to the spring in order to accommodate more schedules and ensure maximum participation.
For many leaders, the retreat holds a special significance for them. Chin shared her reasoning for attending the retreat last year, saying, “I chose to attend Kairos because I was previously told that it was the best thing NDB had to offer. I saw how much fun others had and didn’t want to miss out.”
As leaders, it is not just about guiding the retreat, but also creating the space for others to feel vulnerable, yet comfortable in order to have a life-changing experience.
“Kairos is important because it is a unique opportunity to connect with friends and also others you would never typically talk to on a normal basis. It is not only a place to get to know others, but your own self on another level,” stated Chin.
“I think everyone should have an experience like Kairos once in their life because this special time away from everything with no phones, work and time forces you to feel fully present and have a sense of gratitude,” expressed Svanberg. “There’s a certain feeling at Kairos that just makes you feel at complete peace with no stress or anxiety and no judgment or fear.”
The decision to attend the retreat varies depending on every student. Many are looking to discover new sides of themselves, while others are just looking for a break from the stressors of the real world. The experience allows students the opportunity for deep personal reflection, connection with other retreatants and self-discovery, which makes it an impactful trip for all individuals.
