Courage Retreat an eye-opener for many 7th graders
Last month, 7th graders at Valley Middle School of STEM attended the Courage Retreat, an annual event directed by Youth Frontiers with the help of Apple Valley High School student volunteers.
The Courage Retreat’s main purposes are to get students to stand up for each other and themselves and also to be leaders, not followers or just a part of the crowd. The retreat includes discussions, testimonials, laughter and games. Ms. Latham, who teaches 7th-grade American Studies and who helped plan the field trip, said, “I think that the Courage Retreat makes 7th graders more aware of what they are doing and how their actions affect themselves and others.”
7th-grader John Williams said he learned that it’s important to be himself and stand up to bullies. Another student, Asiana Koonkaew, explained that she now has a different outlook on some people after the retreat.
Some students who went to Echo Park, Cedar Park, and other elementary schools in the district attended the Kindness Retreat in 4th grade, which is kind of similar to the Courage Retreat and is also hosted by Youth Frontiers.
The Courage Retreat this year was an eye opener for many 7th graders. Many who went said it was emotional, but really fun as well.
Liban kiyton • Nov 23, 2017 at 10:31 am
I kinda thought it was boring
Fowziya • Nov 21, 2017 at 11:30 am
It was a great experience.
Reese's puffs • Dec 5, 2017 at 10:09 pm
I feel like it helped some people to express their emotions but they taught kids to stand up for themselves and say something if someone is picking on you. But people that feel the need to bring down other people won’t change just because you tell them to. they only stop once you don’t care anymore, because their words are meaningless if you don’t give them a meaning. So overall I think the whole trip was just a waste of time.
unknown • Nov 15, 2017 at 11:38 am
im in 6th grade and im not happy about this trip my brother had to go up to a crowd and say “my parents are divorced” im like really? hand fiving all day sounds bad too what if you miss someones hand and hit a head then get punched ive heard that happen to some people. i hope we get to chose are groups because image being with your worst bully, would I want to say privet things, NO. there will still be bullys after it anways. all were hearing is peoples sad storys, thats just ANOTHER thing to feel bad for. so thats what i think i hope i can just skip this trip and help mr tim.
Unknown • Nov 21, 2017 at 2:37 pm
He didn’t have to do it he wanted to
Eva • Jan 17, 2018 at 8:55 pm
You don’t have to say anything personal anywhere if you didn’t want to.
Godzilla Peña • Nov 12, 2017 at 5:52 pm
You know, I actually through the courage retreat would change something in the school and start to end the bulling for everybody including me and my problems. Then I thought about it on our way back to the school, 1 day-1 week later and to now… nothing has changed but some of my friends.