March 29, 2024

Anchoring the Soul: Bay View Academy Senior Retreat Offers Respite from College Application Stress

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East Providence, RI – This November, the members of Bay View Academy’s Class of 2017 enjoyed a day-long retreat at the Rejoice in Hope Youth Center (Cranston). The senior retreat, a Bay View tradition, compels students to invoke their spiritual selves. Students were encouraged by Bay View’s Campus Minister, Sister Elizabeth Hathaway (New Bedford), as well as student Peer Ministers to remove themselves from the pull of electronic devices and explore “anchors” that continuously guide them, in accordance with the retreat’s theme, “Anchoring the Soul.” The retreat was divided into three parts: anchoring in God, anchoring in friends and family, and remembering anchors in college. Nine seniors --including Cyanne Mitchell of East Providence -- shared their stories about how they were anchored during their tough times and would be anchored in colleges.

In order to explore their inner selves, students shared their “drifts,” or difficult times and situations. They also shared what anchors led them to overcome these difficulties. By sharing their drifts and listening to the stories of others, many students mentioned that they felt the power of confiding in and building a stronger connection with their classmates.

A beloved tradition of senior retreat is when students read letters written to them by their parents. Sister Liz requests the letters from parents in advance of the retreat, and reading them is a very emotional moment for the students. Many said they were surprised by the letters, and found the parents’ messages made them feel more supported, giving them a deeper understanding of how their parents could be an anchor for them.

Catherine Donnelly (Rehoboth, MA), a senior Peer Minister, emphasized the importance of the imagery of the anchor as students apply to college and await the decisions. She said, "During the college process, there are times when we all feel lost amid the stress...but it was nice to take a step away from our hectic schedules for the day and reflect. Especially as we all head separate ways for college next fall, which can be both exciting and frightening, it was comforting to remember that we always have someone in our lives that is there to help us even when we feel alone.”

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