From the desk of Jordy Barksdale, Director of Campus Life & Ministry:

The Junior Class is sitting right on the cusp of officially holding the title of “Leaders of the School.” They are a few weeks away from entering the next grade-level, which happens to be their last. As seniors, they will hold a high calling of living pure, speaking truth, righting wrongs, serving others and following the King. This lofty charge we give our students applies to more than just the senior class, but it’s the oldest students that truly set the example on how these things are lived out. We believe there is great responsibility and influence given to those who have been called to lead.

A group of teachers and administrators gathered together early in the spring to begin praying and planning for a special retreat for 11^th graders. The goal was simple: for our Junior Class to obtain a deeper understanding of Jesus and for them to grow in unity with each other.  In an effort to equip, inspire and motivate, we took our entire junior class on a two-day retreat to the Pine Cove Shores.

One of the highlights from the trip came when we divided the students in to nine groups and gave them the task of creating a manmade “boat” designed solely from an empty cardboard box and a role of duct tape. The goal of the activity was to see how the students would work together as a team, utilizing the wisdom and creativity from all the group members, to create a boat that would hold one of their classmates longer than any other group. After the 45-minute brainstorming and building session commenced it was time to put our boats to the test. A few of the boats sank within a few minutes, but four other boats lasted past the 20 minute mark. Floating for an incredible 26 minutes, the final team standing was led by boat captain Kaytlin Flora and consisted of team members Chidiebere Nechi, Jordan Wyatt, Makayla Ramos, Megan Priddy, Dalton Findley and Gillian Parma.

Before dinner, each group had to work together in a survival strategy game. They were given the scenario of a plane crash on a desert and they had to determine which 15 items were most important for their survival. The tricky part came when each team had to come to a consensus on the rankings of importance for these 15 survival items. The key to this task was to use effective communication skills to come to a conclusive decision based on the advice and concerns from each group member.

We enjoyed a hearty dinner before our large group session began. Coach Knight led us in an incredible worship time, which was followed by Mrs. Huggins teaching us the importance of determining your identity. She has been gifted with a sharp ability to teach the word of God and it was evident on Wednesday night. She walked us through the importance of choosing to walk confidently in the person the Lord has intricately created us to be and then basing our decisions off of that identity. There was a clear emphasis placed on surrounding yourself with people that will strengthen your walk with the Lord and hold you accountable to truth. The practical application of this truth was discussed in small groups after the talk. The guys divided up with their cabin leaders to talk through the implications of what being a man of God looks like as a Brook Hill student. The girls stayed together as one group and the floor was opened up to honest discussion about struggles and insecurities on how to live out the Lord’s calling on our lives.

The night was capped off with students choosing what free time opportunity that wanted to enjoy. There was a group playing basketball in the gym, s’mores were being roasted by the camp fire, a big group took part in some intense sand volleyball and the game room was open to students playing ping-pong, shuffle board and air hockey.

After a late night, the students got to sleep in a little bit Thursday morning. In the last session, our students heard about the importance of deciding who you are and what you believe in. They were given 30 minutes to spread out by themselves and write down their personal mission statement. This mission statement will serve as a reminder for them when they receive it on their senior trip of who they have bene called to be as leaders. After lunch, we a handful of students step up to the challenge of getting on the microphone and challenging their class in specific areas.

All of the retreats we do are memorable for our students. We hope this newly established tradition will be one that our rising senior class will benefit greatly from as they prepare to be the leaders of Brook Hill.