Tigers Thrive at Mid-Year Retreat

NOTE: The following article was written by EPHS senior Milana Brilyak as part of her Journalism & Broadcasting – Workplace Experience class. The course, taught by Christina Heinen, gives students an opportunity to have their work featured on the District 401 website.

Every January, EPHS Operation Snowball leaders look forward to a weekend retreat known as CGTI Mid-Year. Often referred to as "coming home”, CGTI Mid-Year is a weekend conference that takes place in Normal, Illinois. Students from all over the state and even the world come together to learn how to be better leaders and live a healthy lifestyle. Without Operation Snowball, Mid-Year wouldn’t be possible, and with 43 members from the EPHS chapter, the event saw a lot of Tiger pride.

Operation Snowball is one of the largest clubs at EPHS, with over 50 leaders and even more club members. Co-presidents Meredith Brayton and Sammy LaBarbera lead the club with the help of the Snowball Board and the Club Supervisor, Ms. Arenga. Leaders are hand picked by the board every year and represent leadership, commitment, and an overall healthy lifestyle. Snowball is in charge of coordinating events such as the 5k Shuffle and Snowflake. After their hard work in the beginning of the year, Snowball leaders get a chance to sit back and enjoy a fun-filled weekend of workshops and activities at Mid-Year. 

Organized by the The Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI), Mid-Year has been held for over 50 years. As a part of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH), CGTI aims to teach high school and middle schools on how to be better leaders; live a substance free,  healthy lifestyle; and leave an impact on their community. Other organizations, like Generation Lead and Focus Youth Gambling Prevention, are also sponsored by IABH and are at CGTI Mid-Year, promoting their messages pertaining to living a healthy lifestyle. Operation Snowball bases its events and message off of what is taught at CGTI events.

EPHS Tigers got to attend CGTI Mid-Year this year, which took place on January 17-18 . Over 40 leaders were given the opportunity to learn how to make more of an impact on the EPHS community. They arrived on the 17th and spent the day attending workshops with different speakers and taking part in versatile activities that aligned with CGTI’s message. Ava Bowser, a sophomore who attended Mid-Year says, “I learned how to be a hero and how to overcome my inner villains. It reminded me that I can push myself out of my comfort zone and be myself because people will accept me for who I am.” Other messages, such as the importance of teamwork and the impact substances can have on mental health, were also discussed in workshops. Along with learning from speakers, the Tigers got to interact with students from all over the state, and some even from Ireland, to discuss and compare Snowball programs, beliefs, and interests. Sarah Scheidt, a junior, says, “My experience with my discussion groups was very encouraging and enjoyable. Not only was I able to learn about other people’s OS operations and what they’ve been up to at their schools, I also got to meet new people and learn about them.”

Tigers could be seen throughout the event wearing their purple 5K shirts from this year. The EPHS chapter was the biggest one at Mid-Year and became well known throughout the course of the weekend.

After a long day of activities, Mid-Year closed off the night with a celebration. Students had a chance to take pictures, watch a movie, play games, or dance on the dance floor. The second day of Mid-Year is focused on each school's action teams. The EPHS Action Team was busy planning its next event, Lock-In, where students get to spend the night at school while leaders teach them everything they’ve learned at Mid-Year. The busy Mid-Year weekend came to a close with a ceremony and then our Tigers made the 2-hour drive back to Elmwood Park. 

For some leaders, this was their first time at Mid-Year, while for others it was their last. For Co-President and senior Sammy LaBarbera, it was his last time attending as a student. “What I was proud about was seeing all of the members smiling and having fun, the same good experience I had when I was a sophomore. It made me feel accomplished. I hope this mission really keeps Snowball moving forward once Meredith and I graduate”, says Sammy. 

Snowball’s next major retreat is CGTI-Summer, which is a week-long summer camp. Similar to Mid-Year, Snowball members will experience more in depth messages regarding positive lifestyle choices and the importance of leadership. Taking place in July at Eastern Illinois University, Snowball leaders are counting down the days until they get to “come home”.