I am THE church girl in my church. I spend hours at my church a week. Wednesday’s are religion, and Sunday is for mass and youth group.

But it does not stop there - during the week; countless other events are going on.

It all started with the choir in middle school. I joined with my neighbors, and we killed it. We were not only the oldest, but also the best (not to toot my own horn but, toot). Sadly, we aged out once we entered high school, but we got so much out of it. I can sing most hymns by heart, and I know the numbers of many, too. We used to have competitions to see who could find the song the fastest. Here’s a tip: If you write them down on a piece of paper, you will always win.

I will never forget the time when a third-grader told us that she saw ghosts having a full mass during our practice. In the end, a dad sat down in a pew and apparently sat on top of an old ghost, and she yelled at the dad so loudly. That day is still the best day of my life. There is now a new choir director, and even though I am no longer a member, he still manages to get me to sing. I sing for the communions in May and in return, he buys me lunch - Chinese of course.

Then, in seventh grade, I began to help teach religion classes.

I started out helping my grandpa’s neighbor, and I loved doing it. I enjoyed being an assistant so much that six years later, I am still co-teaching. I am with a different teacher this year; however, I still love it. So far I have only worked with the second grade, but I plan to stay at this age because I love every minute of religion.

They are so excited to learn new things and always want to know more. I love to see their smiling faces and feel their sense of achievement when they correctly answer a question. Communion is such a big stepping into their lives, and it makes me so happy to see them achieve it. Next year, I will have a class to teach by myself for the first time. I am already planning the crafts and activities that I will do with my class. My little cousin will be in seventh grade next year; I hope that I can get her to help me.

The youth group is a whole other story. On Sunday nights, the high schoolers in my church get together and discuss a topic that two of the eighth leaders have decided on. I am one of those leaders. I’m the president of my youth group; I have been for three years. I determine who is running the meetings and I carry out all youth group events from bowling nights to volunteer dinners.

Last year was an incredibly rough year with an all-time low of members. This year we are doing everything humanly possible to bring numbers back to where they used to be. So far it is working by adding more trips and volunteer opportunities.

Being a church girl comes with its ups and downs.

On the plus side are I am going straight to heaven when I die because of everything I do for my parish. There are always the best snacks in the kitchen that I can always find. However, I was bullied in seventh grade by my best friend at the time because of how religious I was. Also, in my religion class that year, some people bullied me because they believed that I had a calling from God to become a nun. But, if I ever decided that marriage is not gonna work out for me, I know a few convents that are “holding a spot for” me.

In reality, I love my religion. I love being a Roman Catholic especially under Pope Francis who is evolving the church at such a crucial time in society. The people in my church can get on my nerves, but I am glad that I was raised in this church under my favorite priest and religious education director who is sadly no longer at my church.

Everyone tells me I need to find a cute church boy - I really do. If anyone knows one, reach out because I am currently searching for one.