The DeMatha Experience is the brotherhood-building time that really shows what DeMatha is all about. Since its inception a few years ago, the DeMatha Experience takes place in February and lasts a whole week, with each class participating for four days with one day off. This year, though, it will only be two days, February 19 and 20, the days after Ash Wednesday.
This week will be a time for our brothers to relax and learn about how to function in the real world with various talks, Q&As, and a class Mass, all meant to show us how to be Faith-Filled Gentlemen & Scholars outside of DeMatha.
Junior Jayden Faison would have kept everything the same as previous years if he had his choice.”It’s a very good experience,” he says. “It gives me time to catch up and to spend time with my brothers. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Sophomore Renaldo Harper said, “It’s a time to think and reflect with the people you coexist with. I think we could have cut it down to three days and everyone gets two days off.”
The DeMatha Experience is a relatively new thing for DeMatha, the first being held during the 2023-2024 school year, when the current junior class were halfway through their freshman year. Because it is still new, the event is being constantly evaluated with changes made where needed. SGA Co-President Gordon Johnson says, “The SGA has little to no involvement with the DeMatha Experience. We suggested ideas, but Mr. Smith and his team have it under control.”
Mr. Pat Smith ’82 is the main man behind the DeMatha Experience. In the past, the format of the Experience has been straight forward. One day was a game day, where you participate in various athletic and academic games all day. One day, you’re off, and don’t have to come to school. The other two days have been filled by speakers, a class Mass, and other events, some of which have been class-specific and others like course selection that all students except the senior class have done. With the change from four days to two, it will be interested to see how that format has been adjusted.
This year, the last day of the Experience is the first day of the spring sports season, so all spring athletes will be happy that the first official day of the season won’t have school work involved.
