Transitioning from a private, parochial school to a public, non-religious based school can be a culture shock for some.  Whether the transition be easy, tough, or just plain weird, every individual’s experience is different, especially depending on what religion they are.  For this feature, three people of Judaism, Christianity, and Catholicism faiths, respectively were interviewed.  While their individual religious upbringing and experiences were all different, there experiences at public school have been somewhat similar.  Here’s a look at how people of different faith can come together all because of the school they attend.

Eva Phillips – Friedel Jewish Academy (Kindergarten through 6th grade)

Why did your parents decide to send you to a parochial school?

In Judaism, community is a really big thing. So in Omaha, since the jewish community is fairly small, Friedel was important to my parents to make sure we [my siblings and I] grew up with Judaism in our lives and in the community.

Was the transition hard?

It was surprisingly not that big of a transition because I had an older sister [Lilly] that had gone through it too, and I transition really well with change, so it wasn’t that hard.

Is there anything you miss about your old school?

I do miss learning Hebrew. We [Friedel graduates] tried to practice Hebrew outside of school after we graduated, but everyone was too busy.

Mallory Thompson – Lifegate Christian School (formerly Trinity) (Kindergarten through 8th grade)

Why did your parents decide to send you to a parochial school?

They thought that the education was better, and that since it was smaller, I would get to know more people and I wouldn’t be as “shy”. We are a christian family, so they liked how the education and religious aspect were intertwined.

How did coming to a public school affect your faith?

Coming to Westside and seeing what means a lot to other people has forced me to choose my own opinion. I still go to church every Sunday, and our family is still really involved in things like that, but it has definitely forced me to have my own opinion instead of being spoon-fed. I honestly believe I lived in a bubble at Trinity, a little Christian bubble. It was just really different than it is here.

Katie Kupka – Christ the King Catholic Parish (Kindergarten through 8th grade)

Why did your parents decide to send you to a parochial school?

Because both of my parents are catholic and they wanted us [my siblings and I] to have the religious experience.

How did coming to a public school affect your faith?

I wouldn’t say that I’m farther apart from my faith, but it has helped me realize that it is important to me. My family still goes to church every week because my mom pushes that, but if my mom didn’t, I don’t know if I would go to church all of the time. But when I do get really stressed out, I do go to church because it is a reliever for me. Now that I’m older and not in a religious school, I understand what the preachers are talking about and get more out of going to church.

Is there anything you miss about your old school?

Not really. I don’t think there is anything that I would want to take from Christ the King and bring here, because that was the experience I had in elementary school, and I don’t really think it’s meant for high school. My mom has been thinking about transferring my little sister to Westside Middle School, but I don’t think that’s a good idea, because when I was at Christ the King, I didn’t really know about drugs alcohol. I mean I knew there was alcohol obviously, because I have an older sister. But at Christ the King, all you learn about that involves drugs and alcohol, is don’t do it. Whereas at the middle school, I feel like there is so many opportunities to get into drugs and alcohol.