Orkila Reflections
A group of 50 8th graders, who have had the same classmates since kindergarten, jump from the pebbled beach of Camp Orkila into the frigid water with a beautiful sunset in the background. With laughing, splashing, and buzzing conversation, these memories will last forever.
A week later, the same classmates who have forged a bond like family say their final goodbyes to everyone. Gathered in the science classroom, everybody sobs and hugs one another, reminiscing on how far they have come.
At Catharine Blaine, students typically begin school in kindergarten and remain at Blaine until the end of 8th grade. The result of knowing each other for so long results in unforgettable memories of childhood together, but also relationships with each other that are deeper than a typical relationship with a classmate. At Blaine, students get to know each other on a more personal level; classmates are friends, and teachers are mentors. The sense of community that students have at Blaine truly contributes to not only social skills but also individual personality. Not only that, but as students move into high school and even adulthood, knowing what a community feels like will help them find their own communities later on in life.
Anyone who asks could tell you that there is a fantastic community that many larger schools cannot provide. As an 8th grader, Vayuna Lamba said best, “Blaine is like family, we all already know each other. But this year, leaving was hard because I know that I can always come back, but then I wouldn’t be part of the family, I’d just be a visitor.”
On their trip to Orkila, the 8th graders truly bonded even more over small and large things, such as simple things like encouraging each other to challenge themselves, and larger things like grade volleyball games, and intense UNO. The students forged a bond of care, love, and respect, which most will cherish for the rest of their lives. As student Vayuna Lamba says again, “I have no doubt that even though some people are going to different schools and even different states, that we will always find our way back to each other, there's no way we can’t after all we’ve been through together.”
