PRAETORIA:
UNIFYING GJCL
Praetoria was nothing short of amazing. It was more than a learning experience where potential leaders gathered together and discussed new ways to improve their own high school’s JCL; it was also a gathering of Latin lovers in which one would build bonds that will last a lifetime.
At first, when I seated myself, I had constant questions running through my mind: “How am I going to fit in with these other students,” “How is this whole day going to turn out,” and “Am I going to regret coming?” But all these questions became quelled as the day progressed. We were then grouped into “legions,” which were based upon the proximity of our schools to one another. After which, Ashley and Dong Yoon, our President and Vice President, respectively, opened Praetoria with a series of icebreakers. The first was a competition for each legion to create their own legion name. Our legion came up with the inspiring name: Four Legged Fiends (obviously the best). But more importantly was the bonding that was kindled between the four members. These bonds only grew as Praetoria progressed.
After the series of icebreakers, Dong Yoon and Ashley guided us over a range of topics, beginning with the Publicity Contest, which I had never heard of before. I learned that this was a contest setup to help promote Latin (especially during the 1900s in which Latin took a hit) where JCL chapters could submit a binder documenting efforts to publicize Latin on radio, TV, newspaper, and etc.
WE THEN
PROCEEDED
TO ENTER A
SOCRATIC DISCUSSION
brainstorming, discussing, and exchanging ideas of ways to promote Latin at our schools . As each representative shared their ideas, such as Pies of March, chariot rides at football games, and gift drives in December, a bond could be felt growing between all the soon to be friends in the room. And as the day progressed, the bond kept growing. Our next topic of discussion was Olympika where Ashley and Dong Yoon not only explained it but also took us outside and held a Tug of War competition, where the Four Legged Fiends and Kevin won! After being exhausted from the Tug of War competition, a game of tag, and the heat, we went inside and ran through several more topics, like Certamen and the Activities competition.
As the next day approached, the atmosphere of the room was different; it had a sense of comfort. We proceeded with more discussions about topics, such as elections and Praetoria, and eventually Praetoria ended. We said our farewells and departed on our separate ways. Unlike how we entered Rock Eagle as strangers, not knowing the majority of the people there and information soon to be discussed, we left Rock Eagle with an abundance of knowledge, ready to help our schools, but also maybe more importantly, we left Rock Eagle with new friendships.
And in the end, I no longer had those questions running through my mind instead I had questions of how could I use what I had learned from this experience to better Parkview’s JCL and how much am I going to miss all these wonderful friends?
Frank Hu, Parkview High School