How high school helped stretch my spirituality
By Ben, age 16, Ambassador with Springtide Research Institute
Springtide Research Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, that delivers accessible social-scientific research on young people ages 13-25. Springtide is paying particular attention to the changing landscapes of meaning, identity, and community when it comes to understanding emerging generations. One way they do this is through facilitating the Springtide Ambassadors Program which is open to teens and young adults throughout the U.S. Springtide Ambassadors help shape the research efforts and community engagement of Springtide. Through collaboration and reflection, Ambassadors actively contribute to national research projects and publications sharing their insights, perspectives, and experiences. 2024 Ambassadors were recently invited to submit a piece to Faith Counts that responded to the following prompt:
Discuss an interfaith experience you’ve encountered personally or observed in your community. Reflect on how this experience challenged or enriched your understanding of religious diversity, tolerance, and cooperation. Consider the impact of interfaith dialogue on promoting harmony and understanding among different religious traditions.
Below is an essay we’re thrilled to share from Springtide Ambassador, Ben, age 16:
Growing up in a Catholic household comes with fulfilling certain religious sacraments, and this begins even during childhood. Some of these sacraments include baptism, confirmation, and confession. As the years passed, and I grew into adolescence, I found that I had largely drifted away from prayer. The sacraments I fulfilled weren’t enforced very heavily, and I didn’t feel as connected to these core elements of my faith tradition. On the brink of completing junior high, I was about to be confirmed and through the process of Holy Confirmation, my connection with God was strengthened. My prayer routines changed, as my confirmation class taught me about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, resulting in more conversations with God.
MORE: Gen-Z voices experience their neighbor’s faith
As I began high school, I witnessed more religious diversity than I had previously encountered in my younger years. There were students who practiced Islam, Eastern Orthodoxy, no religion, and more, all within my Catholic high school. This mix of religious identities within the student body allowed me to build new connections with people from all different backgrounds. Bonding with others who had different faith identities amplified my love for God and gave me a better understanding of my own beliefs and practices. I have close friends who pray differently and follow a stricter prayer routine, like my friend Mushfiq who taught me about the tenants of Islam. He described the prayers he does as a practicing Muslim before entering the bathroom, before eating, at sunset, and at sundown, and his devotion actually motivated me to incorporate more of a routine into my lifestyle when it comes to when and how I pray and talk with God.
Another friend, Nathaniel, who is Eastern Orthodox, informed me of the ways that Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy share similar beliefs but differ when it comes to their calendars, as noted in the different time periods that mark Lent and Easter or other Christian holidays and religious seasons. Catholics tend to celebrate Easter earlier than when it falls for Orthodox Christians, and our diets are different because many Orthodox Christians completely abstain from eating pork. Taking in this information, I was changed because it gave me a greater appreciation of what it means to stray away from temptations. Regardless of my liking towards pork or any type of meat, I can see how eliminating certain elements from your diet allows you to reach a deeper level with God.
Last, attending a high school that is diverse also comes with meeting people who aren’t religious and don’t identify with any faith system. Despite not being a part of any particular religion, this doesn’t mean they are ignorant about God. They understand the love that God has for all people and use this knowledge to live as good human beings. They still want to make the world a better place, and they show me new ways of giving back to the less fortunate. Overall, high school has allowed me to reach the inner depths of my own spirituality. Learning about the beliefs and practices of other religions has allowed me to develop a stronger connection to God. My friendships have taught me how to really find a way to converse with God, to appreciate both our commonalities and differences when it comes to religion, and to try to make a difference for others.
Does reading about faith inspire you? Do you have a story or information about your faith you want to share? Tell us more!
Discover More:
