The high school is a place that rightfully takes pride in its diversity. We have affinity clubs that recognize countless sexual, racial and ethnic identities. Identity provides meaning to many; it feels good to be connected with those around you.

But not all identities are created equal in the eyes of our high school culture. It often feels like there’s a selectiveness around which types of backgrounds are celebrated and which are, for the most part, forgotten. Religious identity falls into the latter category.

When we first told a few of our friends we were writing an article on this subject, they were taken aback. They only knew the negative stereotypes around religion, and didn’t think it had a place in school discussions. But all aspects of identity, including faith, are meaningful and valuable and deserve to be in conversations.

For the authors of this piece, religion isn’t just an identity; it’s also a guideline for how to be a better person. In any given moment, we can reflect on our actions through our beliefs and try to do what’s right. That’s why it’s so important to appreciate faith; just the act of recognizing its importance to many members of the community can strengthen practitioners’ pride. We believe more people could find meaning in their religion if the culture of the high school positively acknowledged its presence. While no one at the high school is openly against religion, many are certainly opposed to discussing it.

In one of our classes recently, religion came up during a group discussion. Students talked about it as if it were some arcane dogma of the past, not as something that holds present-day importance to many students. It could’ve been a great opportunity for us to speak up, discuss our faith and maybe even challenge the stereotypes. But fearing backlash, we kept our mouths shut.

This kind of dismissal reflects a greater issue: certain identities and perspectives are downplayed and discredited, especially when they don’t align with the majority view. People at the high school claim to be accepting of all beliefs, but only when those beliefs don’t challenge their own. Events like the DoRRs controversy of last year, in which many members of the high school community advocated against the airing of opinions they disagreed with, are an example of this. Our high school community doesn’t want to hear things that make it uncomfortable.

The result is an environment where students are unwilling to empathize with each other’s experiences. This is not the culture we want. High school should be a place where students are comfortable sharing their opinions and expressing their values, and everyone should feel that their perspectives and experiences are acknowledged and respected by their peers.

If you ask any administrator or peer at the high school, they’d likely say that all identities should be recognized—and they probably believe that to be true. But at the high school, some identities get left behind, including religious identity.

We don’t feel comfortable discussing our faith for fear of bothering other students. Despite the moral guidance it provides, we would never bring it up in say, a class discussion over values. Despite the importance it holds in our day-to-day lives, we can’t celebrate it at the high school.

What we are asking for is not a drastic change; it is simply a mindset shift. We want students to recognize that not all identities are equally discussed, and that religious identity is one of them.

So if a peer brings up religion to you, or if it’s mentioned in class, don’t dismiss it or react negatively. Instead, listen with open ears and respect their opinions and faith. Ask questions, fuel conversation, and make them feel comfortable discussing a very personal aspect of their life. More open dialogue, fueled by respect, will benefit every identity, every student and every member of our high school community.