Faith in the Hallways: Not Every Student Feels Same Freedom to Believe

In a school like Cedar Falls High School, faith shows up in quiet but noticeable ways, whether it’s on T-shirts, in conversations, or in groups like FCA that meet during the school day. For many students, especially those who identify as Christians, expressing their beliefs feels natural and accepted, but for other students, their experience can look very different.

Many students said that Christianity is the most commonly seen religion in school. From clothing with faith-based messages to the presence of student-led groups like FCA, Christian beliefs are very easy to see in everyday life at school.

“Christianity is definitely more of a ‘visible’ religion,” junior Maggie VerDught said. “More people wear ‘Jesus loves you’ sweatshirts, and more people go to FCA.”

For some students, that visibility creates a sense of comfort and community. Senior Regan Oberheu said she feels confident expressing her faith openly.

“God gave me a voice for a reason,” Oberheu said. “Why not glorify His name?”

Other students seemed to share similar experiences, saying that their faith has given them purpose and direction throughout the school day. Junior Clayton Lauritsen said his beliefs have continued to positively impact his life and relationships.

“I talk about it because I want to, not because I have to,” Lauritsen said. “I want to share it as good news and see others thrive.”

On the other hand, not all students feel the same level of comfort when it comes to religion at school. Some students who do not identify with a religion said they have and do feel judged or singled out simply because of their beliefs.

“Sometimes people don’t like that I don’t believe in God and try to convince me why I should,” Sam Mullins, a sophomore, said. “It makes me uncomfortable.”

Others described more direct experiences. Sophomore Makenzie Kleiner said she faces criticism for not believing.

“I’ve been told that I was going to be sent to Hell,” Kleiner said. “I just don’t want to be shamed or harassed.”

For some, the challenge isn’t about confrontation itself, but feeling out of place. Senior Mattea Sink said that being surrounded by a largely religious community can create distance between people.

“I feel left out of groups of people who bond over faith,” Sink said. “I don’t bring it up because it can feel awkward.”

Even within the community of Christians, students feel different depending on their environment and who they are around. Junior Matthew Haht said that while, yes,  he values his faith, it can still be really hard to stay focused on God in certain settings.

“It’s really hard to focus on your faith when you feel like people are judging you,” Haht said.

Despite all of these differences, all students agreed on one thing: respect matters. Whether or not a student is religious, most said that they just simply want to feel accepted for their beliefs without having to worry about pressure or judgment from their peers.

In a place where faith is present and seen in so many different ways, the experience of religion isn’t the same for everyone. For some people, it’s something that they share openly and with confidence. But for others, it’s something that they approach with a lot more caution.

At Cedar Falls High School, even though faith may be visible in the hallways, not everyone’s experiences are.