PrideSample WithinmyshortlifeImoverjoyedtohavebeenabletoparticipateasayouthrectorinaretreat forourcommunitysyouth.BeingabletosaythatIledover40studentsalongsideagoodfriendand leader,MaritzaMiramontes.Anentiredaydedicatedtoourfaithandcomingwithanopenhearttohear thewordsofgod.Wewereabletoleadbyexamplewithourfaithforanentireday,hopefully benefittingthosethatparticipated. ThisretreatiscalledaYouthEncounter,throughtheparishofSt.PatrickledbyyouthministerRoy Guzman.Theretreatisusedtostrengthenthefaithoftheyouthforthecommunityandtobetter relationshipsbetweenparentandchild.Wespendtheentiredaydoingvariousactivitiesthatreflecton oneslife,helpingthembecomeintrospective.Throughfaithandguidancethecandidatesoftheretreats areabletoopentheirheartstochangeforthebetterifneeded.Oneofthemainfocusestakenplaceis beingabletocommunicatewithonesparentshelpingstrengthentheirrelationship.Bytheendoftheday wehopethecandidatesareabletovaluetheirparents/guardiansmuchmore,andplanonworkingonit ifthereareanyproblems. RoyGuzmanandhisexrectorsaretheonestochoosetherectorsforthenextretreat.

So,myfellow peerschoseMaritzaandmyselfforthe12thYouthEncounterearlierthisyear.ItwasanhonorwhenI heardthatwehadbeenchosenforthejob.Accomplishingthehighestgratificationinourministryto rectorthismeaningfulretreatwasagreatchanceformeandMaritzatolivethrough. WhenhandedthebutterflynametagforrectorsinhonorofoursisterVanessawhopassed,Ifeltan immensehappinessandappreciation.Ihadbeenworkingasstaffatmanypreviousretreatsandbeing abletohavetheopportunitytorunitasmyfellowpeershadwassuperimportanttome.Ihadalways

lookeduptothemandtakingastepintotheirshoeswasanhonorthat'llI'llalwaysholddeartomy heart.