My Catholic-Camp Social Suicide Experiment
This lesson happens to be the most relevant when it comes Glee. The students struggle everyday to be in a club that they love. They get Slushies thrown in their face, tossed in the garbage, and shoved against lockers. Yet they remain strong in their loyalty to Mr. Schu and each other.
I went to a Catholic high school. We had pictures of Jesus hanging in every corner, we prayed twice a day, and going to church was mandatory. At my senior prom, they turned off the music because of the way people were dancing.
"If the boy is not looking at your face, he is disrespecting your body," our principal said.
"Leave room for the Holy Spirit," Father George announced into the microphone.
Every spring, our school hosted a 4-day religious retreat that a small group of students volunteered to go on. It was called Kairos. But the rumor was that everyone that went on this retreat came back as part of the "Kairos Cult". All of the girls in my high school (it was an all-girls high school, so that made it even more dramatic) that didn't like Kairos called it "Kaigross". I was among these people, just because making fun of Kairos was easier than standing up for it. But during the spring of my senior year, my math teacher, Mrs. Ladd, who did not particularly like me, pulled me aside after class.
"I think you should sign up for Kairos. It'd be really good for you," she said.
"I'll check my schedule," I said, like a snotty 18-year-old.
"Natalie. It's a really good experience. I know the girls make fun of it, but the people that end up going really are great people. I know they're not your crowd, but it's worth a try."
Always a sucker for guilt, I entered for the retreat. I spent four days with girls that I never would have talked to. At the retreat, I received an envelope from one of the counselors, and in it was a letter from Mrs. Ladd.
"Natalie," it said. "I am so proud of you for making the right decision and going on the retreat. I can't wait to hear about it when you get back."
When I got back, all of my friends welcomed me as I expected them to.
"How was Kaigross?" They said at lunch.
But I ignored their comments, and I ended up having a great time at the retreat.
I'd love to hear more about the retreat. These sorts of experiences are always good writing material. (And as someone who went to Catholic school, I can't believe they're still using that "Leave room for the Holy Spirit" line! Too funny.)
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that you stood up for yourself, and also branched out and did something you might have not really wanted to do. I know that in my life, there were many things I didnt want to do because some people might have made fun of me, or that it was not the "cool" thing to do at the time. But looking back, I am glad I ended up doing such things that some friends looked down at or thought it was stupid to do, because I believe that those are the experiences in life that made me a better person. I am glad you went on the retreat! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought my Catholic school experiences were ridiculous.
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