by Diana McDermott

Have you noticed that kid in your Spanish class, the one who wears that yarmulke, or maybe the girl in your math class that has that cross around her neck? Or even the girl in your biology class with that garb? Yes, you’ve seen them, but have you ever wondered what their religious faith means to them? Religion, while often overlooked, plays a major role in many students’ lives in and out of school.

Outside of school, organizations such as Young Life, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO), National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCYS), United Synagauge Youth (USY) and Muslim Community Center (MCC) Youth Organization pave the way for teens to get involved with their religion. These programs allow students to connect with their spirituality while also hanging out with friends.

Young Life is a non-denominational group that targets high school-aged Christians. Students meet at someone’s house and learn about their faith, while playing games and hanging out with friends. It helps connects students with other kids at their school who are part of the same religion.

“In [Young Life], we see ourselves as the bridge between the disinterested student who is afraid of the typical church environment and the sold-out-for-Christ students who love their youth groups,” said Rob Stanion, the Montgomery County Young Life coordinator.

Young Life is primarily for Christians, but other organizations like BBYO, USY and NCSY appeal to Jewish students. NCSY has programs such as Learning for Lattes, where teens meet once a week at Starbucks for kosher lattes and a short lesson on the Torah, and retreats called Shabatones a couple of times a year where teenagers go on a short trip with their friends to learn about the Torah. “I love going to Learning for Lattes once a week on Thursdays. I can see all my friends from camp I do not get to see all the time,” said junior Kyra Rosenthal.

The MCC Youth Organization near Sherwood appeals to teenagers of the Muslim faith. The community center hosts teenagers every Friday for a Muslim Youth Organization which conducts a Halaqah for youth of both sexes above the age of 12. This program includes dinner, Isha prayers and a lecture followed by discussions. According to the group’s mission statement, the Muslim Youth Organization seeks “to establish a bond between the Muslim Youth of the community through educating and entertaining within an Islamic environment through following the Quran and Sunah.”

Islamic teenagers also have the choice to be in the Muslim Student Association at Sherwood. The school also seems to have a group inside its walls for every other religion as well. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Jewish Student Union, which meets every Wednesday in Room C119 at lunch, also help students to feel connected to their religions during school hours.

The FCA is a group that is found in schools across the United States aimed to connect Christian athletes with other Christian athletes. The group focuses on showing commitment to members’ faith through integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence. FCA meets every Thursday in science teacher Jim Douglas’ room.

“FCA’s purpose is to empower Christian Athletes through their religion, as well as create a place for anyone who is interested [in] fellowship with others their age,” said senior Mea Karnley, head of FCA.

“I wish that everyone had a group to attend for their particular religion,” said Rosenthal. “It makes learning about usually boring Torah lessons more fun. Even if you don’t know anyone when you start participating in NCSY, or BBYO events, by the time you leave you will have so many friends.”