After years of hearing about Kairos from seniors, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s class of 2027 finally got to experience this retreat for themselves. They got to discover why some things are better experienced than explained.
For most of my time here at FSHA, Kairos was something I heard about but never really knew the details. Every year, the seniors left campus early in the morning and would return with stories they could not share. If you asked what happened, they would give you the same response.
You will understand when you go.
As a freshman, the answer was confusing. As a sophomore, it was still confusing. By the time junior year hit, you were still confused because you did not know what everyone meant and you knew that your time was coming soon. You were also a bit frustrated because you have heard the same response for the past three years and do not know what you are in for.
Now, after experiencing Kairos as a senior, I finally understand what it is all about.
Some may ask, “What even is Kairos?”
Going into my senior year, I had heard different things about what Kairos was.
Some described it as an emotional roller coaster, while others said it was just nice to get away, but despite all of the hints, I knew there was no way of knowing what I truly was getting into until I experienced it for myself.
The uncertainty and mysteriousness about Kairos as a whole is what makes Kairos so different from other school retreats and events. There is no detailed schedule of what will be happening, no super specific packing list and there is most certainly no stories or spoilers from previous seniors.
You just have to go.
What happens at Kairos?
“You will understand when you go.”
What are you going to do?
“You will understand when you go.”
Is it actually worth it?
“You will understand when you go.”
After hearing it countless times, it can start to feel as if the seniors are purposefully avoiding the question, which in a way, they are. But once you become a senior yourself, the answer feels less like a way to avoid explaining Kairos and more like the only honest answer you can give.
You might be wondering, “What can you tell me?”
The details of Kairos are meant to remain with the students who experience them. That means plenty of things will not be appearing in this article, but there are things we can talk about.
We can talk about stepping away from life at one of the craziest and most stressful times you will ever experience. We can talk about having time to reflect back on our past 4 years. We can talk about spending time with the people you have spent years going to school with and realizing that in a few months, it will come to an end.
And most importantly, we can talk about coming home with a new perspective.
For some Tologs, that can mean reflecting on past years. For others, it may have strengthened, reconnected or built friendships. And for many, it was simply taking a pause during the busiest year of high school.
You could also be wondering, “Why keep Kairos a secret?”
At first, the secrecy around this retreat may seem unnecessary. Why not just tell the younger grades what happens and let them know what they are getting into? But if everyone knew exactly what to expect, the experience would not be the same.
There is something meaningful about knowing that every senior class gets the opportunity to experience Kairos for themselves without having someone tell them exactly what to expect.
The Class of 2027 had its turn. The next class will eventually have theirs.
Some experiences are not meant to be explained before you have them. Sometimes, hearing someone describe something over and over still can not prepare you for what it actually feels like to experience it yourself.
So, to the underclassmen wondering what happens at Kairos: I could tell you, but I will not. And after this year, I finally understand why.
You will understand when you go.