Going on a religious retreat is a commitment. Yet when you decide to say yes, it is beyond worth it. It is a time to detach from the outside world and really just focus on yourself. If you ever have the opportunity to go on a religious retreat, I highly recommend that you take it. Not only will you come out renewed, but you will make a whole lot of new friends!

Before I went on my last retreat, college was really getting to me. I felt burnt out and as though my friendships were suffering because I was just so exhausted and defeated. This was exactly why I needed to go on this retreat. I almost did not sign up for this retreat because I thought I would be "too busy" or that I would miss too much on campus. But something in the back of my head told me to go. And boy am I glad I went! I learned so much about myself as a result, and I can honestly say that it revived me in the middle of an insane semester! But these retreats offer so much more than rejuvenation.

Retreats are a great way to make new friends, especially if the retreat is a smaller scaled one. The one I most recently went on had around 30 people attending. This was especially helpful in making new friends! On top of that, you are usually put into a small group within the first 30 minutes of arriving on retreat. Your small group becomes your family for the entire weekend. When arriving back to campus (or home if you're not in college), you instantly have so many more friends to hang out with! Within a week of being home from the retreat, I already had made plans to see 2 of the friends I met that weekend. It's always great to expand your social circle! Retreats are a great time to form genuine relationships as well as continue to grow old ones.

Like I said before, you also get some time to learn about yourself over the course of a weekend retreat. I, personally, like to turn my phone off when I go on retreats. When I am at home or on campus, my phone is always a constant distraction. I find myself constantly checking social media or talking to my friends. We often need time alone, but our phones don't allow us to do that. I'm on my phone so often that my friends text me when I go on retreats asking if I'm okay. Retreats are a perfect time to simply put the phone away and take a weekend for yourself. I can not explain the utmost satisfaction I feel every time I go on a retreat and turn off my phone. The distraction is gone, and no one can contact me. I learn about myself more through genuine interactions with others and feel like I grow more as a person without all the added distractions. it's truly a weekend for myself.

Of course, there's also the time spent growing closer to Christ. When I was in high school, I was always proud of my faith and not afraid for others to see how proud I am of my faith. However, coming to college has really been a test of my faith and prayer life. I often find myself trying to hide my Christianity for fear of judgment or accidentally offending someone. Sometimes I am even afraid to be labeled as a Christian on campus, based on the stereotypes people have. I also found myself not praying like I used to and only talking to God in my times of need. But retreats always renew my faith in God as well as my prayer life. I come out with a new joy and love for God and ready to sing his praises. It can often be hard to keep this love for God alive after the week after the retreat is over, but a retreat is a good place to start.

All in all, going on a retreat is so beneficial for both your physical, mental, and spiritual health. It's a way to renew in the middle of the craziness that is life, a way to make new blossoming friendships, and a way to find yourself again. If you ever have a chance to go on a religious retreat through your church, youthgroup, or anything else, I highly encourage you to go!