The Candor

Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Earl Carlos Earl Carlos is a Benedictine leader who knows the meaning of hard work.

Many students have seen it advertised on campus and told about it by students and priests - a retreat for college students so they can step away from tests and classes to make new friends and better relationships with old friends.

Benedictine Koinonia is a weekend religious retreat for students held each semester. The retreat provides students a break from school to learn a little bit about God and themselves through talks and activities.

Dozens of participants and team members have taken part in Benedictine Koinonia and after the retreat, everyone always comes back to school with nothing but good things to say about what they have experienced.

Lay Director, Earl Carlos led a Benedictine Koinonia recently. He was selected a few weeks after participating in previous Benedictine Koinonias and as soon as he was accepted in this role he was thrilled and ready to lead.

Before becoming a Lay Director, Carlos was a participant in a previous retreat and has been part of the Koinonia retreat team after experiencing what the retreat has to offer.

"Being a leader means you have to actually make that initiative and if no one else wants to do it you have to do it … it's also about getting things done, getting things accomplished and sacrificing yourself so that the participants can get the most out of the retreat," said Carlos.

What inspired Carlos to become a leader was "a culmination of people who helped me out in the past and the people who inspired me as well to show people the gifts that God has given me."

These people include the past Lay Directors and the people who were there since his freshman year to inspire him.

Carlos is not a stranger to the role of being a leader; he was the varsity captain for tennis in high school and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

During his time as a leader, Carlos learns the benefits about his important role.

"It gives you affirmation if you do a good job, if you do see that people are responding and you're team is getting together, then you are doing good and knowing that God is helping you in some way," said Carlos.

Carlos has had large amounts of leadership experience and during this time, he learned valuable lessons.

Continued...

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