Faith. Belief. Love. Hope. Outcast. Jesus Freak. Hypocrite. Christian.
Where do we fit in? Do we fit in? Am I the only one? According to the PEW Research Center, 63% of teens 13-17 in America identify as Christian, whether that’s Protestant, Baptist, Catholic, Latter-Day Saint, or another denomination. So hold on. 63% sounds like a lot. In fact, it sounds way higher than what I see in my day-to-day. That’s probably because in a poll, nearly half of Christians admit they are reluctant to share their faith, with a large percentage saying fear is what holds them back. Fear of rejection, sounding offensive or “pushy”, or just fear of an unknown outcome.
Identifying as Christian may just mean believing in Jesus or that the Bible is true. But being Christian is so much more. It’s serving the Lord, and praying, and studying your Bible regularly. It’s making a daily effort to share your faith with others, even though it’s hard. Especially because it’s hard.
I am a Missionary Baptist. Accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and then getting baptized and joining a church at a young age was the greatest choice I could have made. But it came with a cost. Since then, I have strived to really be a Christian, not just say I’m one. Because of that, I have been faced with difficult situations. Times when friends laughed at me when I shared my beliefs. Times when I felt uncomfortable or ashamed of saying I am a Christian. I’ve even had former teachers (not CORE staff) debate me about my faith! Sometimes, when facing issues like these, it can make us feel alone, and that’s the exact reason why I’m writing this.
In the coming weeks, this column will address questions and thoughts just like these. It will be a place where you can have your questions answered. You can “Add a comment” on the article itself with any questions, ideas, or feedback. Or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can email any input to me, Ruthie Scheer. I hope and pray that this becomes a safe resource, where anyone, Christian, Atheist, or otherwise, can learn, understand, or sympathize with the struggles of being a Christian in a world where religion is often frowned upon.
Navigating a personal faith in a public school can be daunting at times, but it doesn’t have to be scary, and it doesn’t have to be something done alone.
Student • Mar 26, 2026 at 2:59 pm
I think this is a great idea to start! I believe it is something that you could expand and get others to join in and give their advise on your answers as well! I think something you could explain is the differences between the religions you listed. Not to create a divide but to create an understanding.
Student • Mar 26, 2026 at 2:57 pm
I think this is a great way of telling what many high schoolers all over can feel like. I hope this article can help fellow peers and anyone in general with their curiosities and struggles, and not feel ashamed to do so!
Marin • Mar 26, 2026 at 1:57 pm
The struggle can be real and I am happy to see somebody standing up and doing something that will be really beneficial for teens. Not only is it hard to say your opinions on little things but your religion is something people can hate you for.
Emily Knoch • Mar 26, 2026 at 1:55 pm
I love this so much, I can relate so much to the percentage of peoples fear of rejection and I think its so important to address such an big topic to me at least. No matter what religion you are I’m glad that we have this column to find out more and be able to ask questions.
Pollyanna Hansen • Mar 26, 2026 at 1:53 pm
I really like the idea of this column. I think that having a community to talk about faith is a great idea for students, because it can be a struggle at times. I think that sharing about your faith in public can 100% be intimidating, but knowing that there is a community of Christ-followers is definitely a help. Thanks so much for posting this!
Jackson Dake • Mar 26, 2026 at 10:54 am
I think this is a very important topic especially amongst the Christian bubble at public schools. I feel like so many people disregard their faith in public, and especially at school. Because there is a big difference between believing in God and living for God, and I think a lot of us just chose to try to seem “normal” or fit in, just so they’re treated normally, even if that means denying their faith to an extent.
Liam • Mar 26, 2026 at 10:52 am
I feel like this is a common thing to feel. The struggles are real in modern-day culture regarding religion. You see a lot of other people putting things above god in Christianity. I feel like it’s harder to share Christianity in other public schools. As you will most likely be put down for it.
Abby • Mar 26, 2026 at 10:44 am
I was not expecting to see that 63% of teens identify as Christian in America!
maddy • Mar 26, 2026 at 9:50 am
This really stood out to me because it’s something a lot of people feel but don’t always talk about. I like how you were honest about the struggles of being open about your faith, especially in school where it can feel uncomfortable or even isolating.
adviser • Mar 13, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I’m so excited for this column, Ruthie! I can’t wait to see what you touch on. It’s such a fascinating subject and so personal to you. But also so important to so many people.
Elena Cuny • Mar 12, 2026 at 11:58 am
Great article, Ruthie! How are we supposed to act as Christians at school? How do we stand out and act differently than other people our age?