Dear Fellow Kaironians,

It’s been a while since I have talked to most of you, I’m sorry for that. I want you all to know that I still care about each and every one of you. There is no way I can ever forget those four days we all had together at the beginning of our senior year. I know most of us probably thought this retreat was not going to be as amazing as it was. Well, I think it’s pretty safe to say our leaders proved us wrong because they made it an experience of a lifetime.

Kairos is not just about finding your connection with God, which is what most people believe once you tell them it is usually a catholic school retreat you go on during your senior year of high school. This is something I learned pretty quickly throughout our Kairos adventure. Kairos is about connecting with those around you along with connecting with yourself also. I learned so much on our Kairos, and I could not have done it without any of you there to support me. Even when I thought I had nothing to say, you all helped me to find the words to open myself up. I have never been one to tell people anything going on in my life, but all of you helped me to feel safe enough to share.

Our Kairos experience was one for the books, that’s for sure. There are usually different types of Kairos depending on the people in each group; of course, the group we had was by far the most emotional for that year. Most of you I had only talked to once or twice if even at all before we went on Kairos together, and honestly, I’m not too sure why we never really talked because once we got to know each other we realized we were not that much different from one another. This retreat was one that brought our entire class closer group by group; lucky for K-38, we were at the beginning of the school year so we were able to benefit the most of the three groups from that year. Our group was able to bond early, which allowed those who at one point did not talk, to become friends for life.

This is an experience none of us will ever forget. It is a time we all realized that you should never judge anybody before you know them. Everybody has their own story to tell, and although they may seem perfectly fine on the outside, they may be falling apart on the inside. I want everybody to know that you always have someone there for you whether you know it or not, there is always somebody there. I still have times where I go back and reach out to some of the people on my Kairos just to talk or catch up and see how they’re doing.

I know that even though I may not talk to them very much anymore, they will always be there for me if I ever need someone to talk to. I wish everybody could have the Kairos experience we had because it truly was one I will never forget. Thank you for giving me somebody to trust and for helping me know it’s OK to open up to people, and always remember... AIAOYIFTRMALY!

Sincerely,