Final Reflection Blog

Throughout my time being involved with the San Francisco Archdiocese Youth Council and shadowing and Youth Minister, I have been challenged and tested in many ways. These challenges have shaped and refined my leadership skills. More specifically, I have never led retreats outside of St. Augustine and with people I've never met before. This made me come out of my comfort zone and learn how to communicate with different people, adults and youth. In each of the Youth Council Meetings, they would ask in what ways could the retreats be improved. I would always voice my opinion to the team. For example, I suggested that the leaders should try more to mingle with the students so that they would feel more welcomed because the retreats are for them. A lot of collaboration is put into the planning process of the Youth Council's Events. For example, in the beginning of our planning we had to come up with the retreat theme and agenda. It was difficult coming up with new ideas to try to get our messages across.

Because of the Capstone Project, I gained a lot of insight about how other parishes conduct their confirmation programs, but also the struggle it is to be a youth minister. The role of a youth minister is very important in maintaining the youth programs in churches. Socially, I learned how to get out of my comfort zone and lead in front of large groups of people and lead with people that I did not know previously. Personally, I have learned to be really grateful for youth programs at my parish because a lot churches do not have the resources and people to maintain their own. Intellectually, it has taught me a lot about my own self and leadership style.

In my small groups at the retreat, I would always have to think on my feet to try to get the students participate. This would sometimes have to use lots of creativity because a lot of my students were really shy. I would sometimes share my own experiences first so that they would feel more comfortable being open to the group. Another challenge I faced was balancing out the duties of the Youth Council and other activities I am a part of. For example, the work for the Food Fast, our last event, was conflicting with the work I have to do for the 2nd Year Confirmation Retreat I'm directing at St. Augustine the following week. I learned how to prioritize and stay calm while my schedule became too overwhelming.

Overall, this experience changed my life because I met so many friends that I plan to stay in touch with my whole life. It also helped me realize the impact I could make in the youth by leading retreats because after one retreat the students wrote me heart-felt thank you letters. I know for sure that I will continue to help the youth in any way I can.