My retreat from September 7th to 9th, 2026, was more than just three days away from our usual school routine. It became a small journey where I learned to understand myself, appreciate the people around me, and get closer to God.

On the first day, we started with the theme “Who Am I?” I watched a cartoon video and reflected on what made each person special. One thing that stayed in my mind was that I am special because God created me with a unique personality. Sometimes, I am too focused on my weaknesses and forget to be thankful for who I am. Through a personality activity, I discovered that I have the characteristics of a leader and a peacemaker. It made me realize that I can use these qualities not only for myself but also to help others and bring peace to the people around me.

I also created a life journey map and shared parts of my story with my group. Listening to my friends made me realize that everyone has their own story, even though we may not always see it from the outside. I then learned about four human attributes: loving, creating, managing, and having free will. I realized that having freedom means I also have a responsibility for every choice I make.

On the second day, I began with a blooming dance and reflected on a video about how humans are made from dust. Dust may seem small and ordinary, but when God gives it the breath of life, it becomes something special. For me, this was a reminder that my worth does not come from being perfect. I am valuable simply because God created me.

I also created and decorated a quote inspired by Saint Angela’s sixth advice. Later, we sang a song about family, drew a picture of our closeness with our family, and shared our stories. These moments reminded me that behind everything I do, there are people who care about and support me.

The day ended with a reconciliation service. I put down a stone as a symbol of letting go of the problems I had been carrying, and I chose a paper with the word “forgive.” Somehow, that simple activity made forgiveness feel more real to me.

On the last day, I went to the river and played a teamwork game where we had to find ingredients such as lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, and galangal while dealing with different limitations. It was challenging, but it showed us how important communication, trust, and teamwork are.

Looking back, I can understand my retreat through the 4F framework (Fact, Feeling, Finding, and Future). The fact is that I experienced many different activities, from learning about my identity and sharing personal stories to praying, playing teamwork games, going to confession, and celebrating the closing Mass. But the retreat was not only about what we did; it was also about what I felt.

At the beginning, I felt a little nervous about sharing personal things with my friends. As time passed, I felt more comfortable, grateful, and peaceful. I found out that opening up to others can make us feel less alone because I realized that everyone has struggles and experiences of their own.

My biggest finding from this retreat is that being human does not mean being perfect. I can make mistakes, feel weak, and still be someone who is valuable and loved by God. I also learned that forgiveness is not always about forgetting what happened, but about choosing to let go and move forward.

The teamwork game taught me another important lesson. Sometimes, we cannot do everything by ourselves, and that is okay. We need to trust, communicate, and help one another. Even a simple moment during the retreat, when the boys were served food first before the girls, reminded me to be considerate and respectful of others.

Finally, my future is about how I will bring these lessons into my everyday life. I want to be more grateful for my personality and the potential God has given me. I want to use my abilities to help others and pray whenever I feel discouraged about standing up for myself. I also want to become better at forgiving others and myself when mistakes happen. Most importantly, I want to become someone who can bring peace wherever I go.

This retreat taught me that sometimes, finding yourself is not about discovering a completely new person. It is about seeing the person God has already created in you, appreciating that person, and slowly learning how to become better. I came to the retreat as someone who wanted to learn, and I left with a better understanding of who I am, what I have, and what I can become.

“Growth begins when we learn to accept, forgive, and move forward.”

Author: Elizabeth Valensia Ananta Putri (Grade 11-5 Student of Santa Maria High School)