2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman Retreat: A Life Changing Experience
Brendon Budness
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: Features
On the afternoon of Friday, September 17th, sixteen freshmen embarked into the unknown. When all in attendance met at the main guard booth, they were told as little as possible. Some freshman even joked that they were on the next season of Survivor as all of their watches and cell phones were taken from them.
Although it seemed a little bit odd, everyone soon realized that to get the most out of the weekend, time had to be put aside. As the students reached their destination, they were brought into a large meeting room where they got to know each other a little bit better. The human chain, where the participants all had to untangle themselves from the center of the room, was followed by the usual "say your name around the circle." Although these activities seemed a bit childish, they worked really well to break the ice. The games were the key to opening the cage to release the freshmen's anxiety and to just be themselves.
Later on, Brother Ray arrived and offered the awaiting students an inspirational speech. The speech can be summed up by two words: Love Yourself. The freshmen were taught that they couldn't be a truly happy person until they love who they are. Brother Ray used a story about a caterpillar and how it had to struggle to become a butterfly. Although the story seemed simple, it was very moving. As a butterfly spreads it's wings, so did the freshmen's views. The discussion afterwards was a reflection of their reactions. The freshmen admitted they have been guilty at one point in their life of not getting to know someone because that person was different. They also realized that sticking to one's group of friends or clique is not as fulfilling as sharing friendship with a vast number of people.
Brother Ray also provided the freshmen with a statistic. They were informed that they only use 10% of their potential. According to Brother Ray, that is because this ten percent is where one feels safe. Within this ten percent is one's group of friends that he or she knows, loves, and everything that one is used to. Of that other 90% of one's potential, however, is what benefits one's life. Brother Ray informed the freshmen not to be afraid to go out of their safety net.
"There is a 90% chance that you will be better off by taking a chance," said Brother Ray.
If those same odds were applied to a poker hand, a person could be a millionaire in an hour. Hence, the freshmen were encouraged to take time out of their day to take a risk and meet someone new. Brother Ray wanted also encouraged the freshmen not be afraid of the unknown.
"Brother Ray was amazing in his speeches," said Blair Lampe, one of the six leaders. "This wasn't his first time and people love to hear him speak."
Although it seemed a little bit odd, everyone soon realized that to get the most out of the weekend, time had to be put aside. As the students reached their destination, they were brought into a large meeting room where they got to know each other a little bit better. The human chain, where the participants all had to untangle themselves from the center of the room, was followed by the usual "say your name around the circle." Although these activities seemed a bit childish, they worked really well to break the ice. The games were the key to opening the cage to release the freshmen's anxiety and to just be themselves.
Later on, Brother Ray arrived and offered the awaiting students an inspirational speech. The speech can be summed up by two words: Love Yourself. The freshmen were taught that they couldn't be a truly happy person until they love who they are. Brother Ray used a story about a caterpillar and how it had to struggle to become a butterfly. Although the story seemed simple, it was very moving. As a butterfly spreads it's wings, so did the freshmen's views. The discussion afterwards was a reflection of their reactions. The freshmen admitted they have been guilty at one point in their life of not getting to know someone because that person was different. They also realized that sticking to one's group of friends or clique is not as fulfilling as sharing friendship with a vast number of people.
Brother Ray also provided the freshmen with a statistic. They were informed that they only use 10% of their potential. According to Brother Ray, that is because this ten percent is where one feels safe. Within this ten percent is one's group of friends that he or she knows, loves, and everything that one is used to. Of that other 90% of one's potential, however, is what benefits one's life. Brother Ray informed the freshmen not to be afraid to go out of their safety net.
"There is a 90% chance that you will be better off by taking a chance," said Brother Ray.
If those same odds were applied to a poker hand, a person could be a millionaire in an hour. Hence, the freshmen were encouraged to take time out of their day to take a risk and meet someone new. Brother Ray wanted also encouraged the freshmen not be afraid of the unknown.
"Brother Ray was amazing in his speeches," said Blair Lampe, one of the six leaders. "This wasn't his first time and people love to hear him speak."