Growing up, church was always a regular part of my family's Sundays. We would wake up, pray together in the morning, and drive to a mission in Tampa where we praised God and had social time with other Hispanic Catholics. And during my teenage years, I would attend youth group, where I would get together with other teenagers and discuss how we can include God more in our lives. So how did all of this churchgoing and discussion effect me?

One of the main beliefs in all of Christianity is that there is an afterlife where one either goes to heaven or goes to hell. Due to this belief, Christianity can fill one with hope in life after death, and to look forward to doing good deeds and entering the kingdom of God. Christianity has given me hope that I'll one day be able to walk through the gates of heaven and spend the rest of my days with God and the saints. This makes my days a little brighter and my darkest days not so dark.

The belief that there is life after death also brings a purpose to life, therefore getting rid of any existential dread in one's heart. A problem I frequently faced throughout my life was asking what my purpose was in life, and if there was any purpose to life. This existential question was one I often asked myself, and I never could provide a concrete answer. But religion fixed that for me, as it filled me with purpose, the purpose to serve God and do good deeds.

Passing most of my time at church also allowed for me to make various friends and connections with people. Another problem I frequently faced through my teenage years was making true, authentic friends. Religion also fixed this for me, as attending youth group allowed me to make authentic friends who believed the same things I did and walked the same path I did. Religion allows for social connection with others, as more often than not the people in the same religious demographic believe in the same values.

Throughout my life, religion has allowed me to find hope, purpose, and social connection when I had trouble in those areas.