What inspired you to become a Kairos leader for the junior class?
“Kairos was a really special journey for me. It not only brought me closer to God but also to my peers. Without revealing too much, I was primarily inspired by my senior leaders to apply. Each of them showed me what it looked like to be present, compassionate, and genuinely invested in someone else’s growth. I remember how supported and seen I felt because of them, and I wanted to offer that same comfort and guidance to the junior class. Becoming a Kairos leader felt like a way to give back to a retreat that changed me and to help others experience the same sense of connection, faith, and transformation that I did.”
How do retreats instill a personal and active faith in God and build community as a Christian value?
“I think the Kairos retreat has an ability to connect someone to God and His love like no other. Through this bonding with your faith and your peers, you are not only reminded how loved and seen you are but also that God is always with you through every turn. Kairos also allows you to see the presence [that] God has in other people’s lives, which fosters shared vulnerability and builds real community, rooted in compassion and understanding. It turns faith from something individual and abstract into something lived, active, and supported by the people walking beside you.”
What advice would you give to the junior class as they approach the retreat?
“The only thing that we as leaders ask you to bring to the retreat is an open mind. Ultimately, Kairos is what you make of it. If you’re willing to lean into the experience, even the parts that feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable, you’ll be surprised by what you learn about yourself, your classmates, and your faith. Let go of expectations, trust the process, and allow yourself to be present. The more you open your heart to the moments and the people around you, the more meaningful and unforgettable the retreat will become.”
The King Street Chronicle thanks senior Aidan Kobata ’26 for her contributions to “Humans of Sacred Heart.”
