Round 3: Religious Affiliation

When I look at myself in the mirror, I don't see the person I thought I was going to be when I was a little kid.

Growing up, I was always expected to be at church for Bible school bright and early and Sunday service right afterwards. I first remember starting to go to church when I was around 3 or 4 years old. I was taken by my neighbors, who eventually convinced my entire family to join in.

I continued going to church on a regular basis, doing extra activities for the community and my church such as: Food Drives, Clothing Drives, standing outside stores during Christmas season ringing the bells to get people to donate money to "The Salvation Army." I enjoyed doing this when I was young.

At age 6, I started going to a camp during the summer. My first camp experience was called "Pee Wee Camp" It was for kids that were in kindergarten and 1st grade. At that age, we only stayed at camp for about 4 days. As I got older, I started going to camp on a regular basis during my summers, attending longer camp sessions and becoming "well known" around the camp. I soon started going to what was called "Music Camp." That's right, I went to Band Camp.

Music has had a major influence in my life. I couldn't imagine what life would be like if I didn't have music as a part of it. I attended music camp a total of 3 times, two of which I was given "Music Camper of the Year award."

After I had been a camper for so long, I was finally old enough to start working there. So instead of going for a 2 week long camp session, I stayed at camp for a 3 month long session as a Camp Counselor. I did this every summer through high school. I felt God played a big role in my life and influenced me to continue to work as a Camp Counselor for 4 years.

However, during my senior year of high school, I started seeing the world through different eyes. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue going to camp anymore, or even going to church. I began to realize that everyone around me either went to church on a regular basis, or not at all. I started partying, talking to others with different religious views and backgrounds, and making decisions for myself. My parents were very strict on the fact that I needed to be in church every Sunday morning. Unfortunately, when I was 18, I had a huge blow out with my family when I told my mom, "I don't want to go to church anymore."

For a while, this affected my relationship with my parents. We had a lot of fights, said a lot of things we didn't mean, and I was told numerous times that I had taken a 180 degree turn for the worst. I felt that my parents’ closed mindedness, and lack for respect for my ability to make decisions for myself, put a barrier up between us.

My parents continue to go to church, and I continue to live my life unbound to a religion. Although my parents do not always approve of what I do, I make decisions I believe will benefit me in the long run and shape the man I am becoming.

I look in the mirror now, and see that I am myself, not the person others want me to be.

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