Juniors quite literally jumped into the “hardest year of high school” during their retreat at Skyzone Trampoline Park. The park, a traditional retreat location in years past, had been completely reserved for the Sage Hill students’ special day. Upon entering the indoor location, the juniors were greeted with a thrilling sight: trampolines lined the walls and floors, foam pits arranged around the park, and a variety of other looming attractions awaited.
After putting down their items and pulling on special trampoline socks, many students bounded for the main trampoline squares, relishing in the joy of defying gravity — or laughing as their friends succumbed to it. Others explored the different areas of the park, from the zipline to the obstacle course. Some acrobatic students — such as competitive gymnast Maddie Chao — wowed a crowd of onlookers by performing graceful backflips and aerial twists on a bouncy platform. Athletic friend groups engaged in dodgeball battles in opposing groups of four, the trampolines adding an extra fierceness to their competitive spirits. Adjacent to the dodgeball court, students organized a dueling ring around the X-Beam pit, cheering as their fellow students knocked each other off the balance beam with padded lances.
Junior Melody Yu reminisces on her past experience with trampoline parks versus this one. “This entire trip was very nostalgic for me, since I remember going to trampoline parks as a kid and having a lot of fun. I haven’t been to one in so long since I’m always busy and I’ve gotten a lot less athletic, so this trip was very special.”
“I think it was a good change of pace,” said junior Oneal Wang. “Honestly, it’s pretty refreshing to fail at something that’s not academics for once.”
Junior year can be demanding, but the retreat was a reminder that there’s more to high school than just academics. It’s about friendship, passion, and seizing every opportunity to make the most of this pivotal time. The juniors have set the bar high for an unforgettable year, and this retreat is just the beginning of their exciting journey.
