Every freshman at a Newark New Jersey high school must complete one unforgettable requirement before they can call themselves a sophomore — a 55-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.
For many of us one of the biggest challenges we face in a new place whether it’s a new job or a new church is connecting with people we have never met. It can take weeks or even months to feel like you belong. But what this school does to help their students bond is something most of us would never expect. They send every freshman out on a 55-mile hike through the Appalachian Trail for five days with people they have barely met.
St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark requires every single freshman to complete this hike. Most of these students have never hiked or camped a day in their lives.
The school trains them in early spring with exercise and teambuilding. Then each student gets a specific role — captain, navigator, cook, medic or camp specialist. But here is the thing: no one student knows everything they need to make it through. They have to depend on each other completely.
“The idea is that they have to rely on one another,” said school administrator Glenn Cassidy. “The only way we can get through this is if we work together and make it there.”
The hike happens no matter the weather. Rain actually doesn’t stop them because the school prefers it that way. “When life gets difficult it’s something you can refer back to,” Cassidy said. “You know there’s a lot of rainy days in life.”
After five days the students cross a bridge and officially become sophomores. Some come back bruised. All come back different.
We all face trails that feel too long and too hard. But just like these kids we don’t have to face them alone. God puts people around us for a reason and when we lean on each other we find out we are a lot stronger than we ever thought we were.
WATCH: New Jersey School Sends Freshmen on 55-Mile Appalachian Trail Hike
