Freshman year can be a hectic, life-changing experience as students transition to a new world of responsibility and independence.
Each year, freshmen are encouraged to step away from their new world and spend a weekend praying and getting to know their classmates during the annual Freshman Retreat.
This year, the retreat will be held Sept. 10-12 off campus at Creighton’s Retreat Center. The center is located in Griswold, Iowa in a rural area that provides the perfect retreat setting.
There are 70 freshmen attending the retreat this year – the maximum amount of students who can sign up.
Business senior Ellie Becker and Arts & Sciences senior Mike Kulig are the coordinators of this year’s retreat. Becker said she is especially excited to watch the students meet and get to know each other better.
“Because it is a retreat, we help them achieve this through our various activities and also allow them to reflect on where they’re at and where they want to go in their years at Creighton,” she said.
During the retreat, students will separate into small groups led by sophomore, junior and senior retreat leaders. In their groups, they will pray, reflect on major topics and meet other students.
Business freshman Jacob Krevda heard about the retreat during Summer Preview and was interested in attending because of his experiences at past retreats.
“At my old school, we have a retreat called Kairos that is very emotional and brings everyone into a tight-knit group,” he said.
He said he hopes this weekend’s retreat experience will be somewhat similar when it comes to bonding with other students.
“I think it is important because when you go on a retreat, you experience a closeness with people that others won’t understand until they get a chance to go on a retreat,” he said.
Arts & Sciences freshman Megan Lightfoot found out about the retreat through Campus Ministry. She said she is looking forward to what the weekend will bring.
“It sounds like a great way to get off campus and escape your worries of studies and organizations. I’m especially looking forward to meeting and bonding with more of my classmates,” she said.
Lightfoot said she has been on retreats before and that she enjoys how well students get to know each other while on them.
Along with meeting other freshmen, Lightfoot said she is excited to unplug and unwind.
“Our whole lives have been changed by coming to college, and we are still adjusting,” she said.
“This retreat sounds like a great way to step back and find better ways to live life. It will be a nice break from everything going on at Creighton,”
Becker hopes students realize that retreats are a great way to stay grounded and connected with God during their time at Creighton.
“I believe that anyone that goes on a retreat through Campus Ministry is guaranteed a relaxing weekend away from school and any stresses that the weekdays provide. It’s a good time for guided self-reflection, as well as reflection on your own in the free time that is allotted,” she said.
Besides the Freshman Retreat, Campus Ministry will be sponsoring three other retreats this semester including the Justice Walking retreat, the Encounter with Christ and the Eucaristein Advent retreats.
To find out more about these retreats or to sign up, visit Creighton’s campus ministry website at creighton.edu/ministry/campusministry.