September 25thA community that’s hard to replicate: Reflecting on RJC post-graduation
RJC is such a special place, and I never realized just how special it was until I left. The community that you build within your class and the larger school environment is something that is incredibly rare and hard to find in the real world. At RJC, finding and integrating into this community was remarkably effortless. It was as simple as stepping out of your room and saying ‘yes’ to various activities like karaoke nights, study sessions, or walks to the coffee shop.
This ease of engagement created a vibrant, interconnected environment that made it feel natural to form deep, lasting relationships. However, the transition to life after graduation has made me realize how challenging it can be to recreate such a sense of community. In the real world, you have to actively seek out and invest time and effort into finding and building these connections, which is often a much more arduous and less intuitive process. The absence of these built-in opportunities for engagement and connection has been one of the more difficult aspects of moving on.
I find myself particularly nostalgic for experiences like RJC’s ALSO (Alternative Learning & Service Opportunities) week, which was an exceptional and enriching part of my time at RJC. This unique program offered a deep dive into real-world issues, such as housing problems in Appalachia, and provided practical skills like using a crowbar and a drill. These experiences not only broadened my perspective but also gave me tangible skills that I have found surprisingly useful in various aspects of life.
The craziness of RJC's daily chaos, whether it was the lively, sometimes chaotic late-night study sessions, the intense but rewarding musical practices, the dance parties that followed getting questions right in math, or the weekly, sometimes daily, walks to the local ice cream shop, created a special sense of belonging that’s hard to find elsewhere. The friendships and shared experiences from RJC are woven into my memories in a way that makes them profoundly cherished.
As I navigate university life, I realize how unique and irreplaceable those moments were. It's not just the activities or the events I miss, but the incredible people and the effortless sense of belonging that made RJC such a special place. The transition has underscored just how special and impactful that community was, and how much I miss the everyday, spontaneous connections that made RJC feel like home.
Kienna Krahn graduated from RJC in 2024, currently lives in Calgary, AB and attends Foothills Mennonite Church. She is working on her undergraduate degree at University of Calgary.