Campus Ministry Retreat to Highlight the Music of Taylor Swift

Campus Ministry at St. John’s University will host a Shake it Off Retreat—a one-day experience highlighting the songs of global pop icon Taylor Swift—as a catalyst for self-discovery, confidence building, and personal growth.

The retreat, scheduled for Saturday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room 201 at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, will feature talks, engaging activities, and group discussions centered on the artist’s music and storytelling. The goal is to help attendees connect with their emotions and personal experiences through Ms. Swift’s music.

“Art gives voice to our emotions and experiences,” said event organizer Antony Abi Awad, Residence Minister for Retreats and Leadership. “When we find words, movements, tunes, and imagery that resonate with our inner feelings, thoughts, and struggles, it can be a profoundly validating and therapeutic experience, helping us process and heal.”

The award-winning singer is among the most decorated artists in US music history. She is the only artist with four Album of the Year wins at the GRAMMY Awards, and is the first female artist to have 10 singles with more than one billion streams each. Ms. Swift is on the final leg of her Eras Tour, the highest-grossing music tour ever.

However, Ms. Swift is known for more than breaking records in the music industry. Her vulnerable rhetoric, filled with personal narratives of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery, has made her an artist of a generation—one that inspires listeners to build their self-confidence.

From the hit album folklore, which Ms. Swift released in 2020 as a way to escape the pandemic woes, to her latest record, The Tortured Poets Department, which provides insights into her self-deprecating tendencies, her music offers an avenue for listeners from all backgrounds to relate to her “happy, free, confused, and lonely” experiences. 

“Her songs deeply and emotionally resonate with listeners, especially as she shares her struggles and triumphs with vulnerability,” Mr. Awad said. “Her ability to transform life’s challenges into empowering messages aligns perfectly with the retreat’s goal of encouraging participants to embrace their own stories, build confidence, and grow individually and with the community.”

Open to all and free, the retreat will encourage students to explore their emotions, learn from others, and find support within the University community, Mr. Awad said. He added that knowing how others relate to Ms. Swift’s songs creates a space of solidarity that reminds students they are not alone in their struggles.

“This shared experience fosters a supportive environment where individuals can learn from one another and gain encouragement and insight as they navigate their journeys,” Mr. Awad said.

For more information, email Mr. Awad at abiawada@stjohns.edu or stop by his office in the Mission and Ministry Suite on the first floor of Sullivan Hall.