My personal faith journey has been anything but linear. As a child, I was baptized, received my First Communion, and was later confirmed in the Catholic Church. These rites of passage marked significant spiritual milestones in my life, but the time in between them was filled with uncertainty and confusion. During those years, my parents began attending a Hindu temple, and suddenly, I was introduced to a belief system that was unfamiliar and complex. For a child who had only ever known the stories of Jesus and the teachings of Catholicism, this shift was difficult to process.

 

I remember feeling spiritually displaced. I still believed in God and longed to return to the church that brought me peace, comfort, and a deep sense of belonging. The Catholic church felt like home, a place where I could talk to God, feel safe, and be still. Despite the exposure to another faith tradition, my own faith in God never left me. I clung to it, even when I didn't fully understand everything that was happening around me.

 

Looking back now, I can see how my journey moved through different stages of faith. As James Fowler describes, I began in the Intuitive-Projective stage, absorbing the rituals, prayers, and images of faith in childhood. The shift to another religious space pushed me into the Mythic-Literal stage, where I tried to make sense of the contradictions and differences between what I had been taught and what I was now experiencing. I struggled, but also questioned, reflected, and sought my own answers. As I grew older, especially during high school, I entered what Fowler calls the Synthetic-Conventional stage, where faith became more personal, integrated into my relationships, values, and identity.

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Now, as an adult and an educator, I would say I’m entering the Individuative-Reflective stage. I think critically about my beliefs, take responsibility for my relationship with God, and seek to live out my faith in tangible ways. Catholic Social Teachings, which I once saw only as abstract concepts, now inform how I teach, serve, and support my students. Teachings like “Life and Dignity of the Human Person” and “Option for the Poor and Vulnerable” speak directly to how I create inclusive, compassionate spaces for all students, especially those who feel unseen or misunderstood.

 

One of the most meaningful ways my faith has come full circle is through teaching others. Every Saturday, I return to my parish, not just as a participant, but as a teacher for students preparing to receive their Confirmation. Standing in front of young people who are on the same journey I once was on is a powerful reminder of how faith continues to grow when it's shared. I see myself in many of my students, their questions, their hesitations, and their hopes. It’s a privilege to walk alongside them as they explore their relationship with God.

If I could give my younger self any faith advice, it would be this: It’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to feel confused. God never left you. Faith is not about perfection or clarity, it’s about continuing to seek, love, and trust even when it’s hard.

To my students, I would say: your faith journey is yours alone. Let it unfold in its own time. Know that God meets you where you are, through your questions, your doubts, and your experiences. You are never alone on the path, and the love of Christ is constant, no matter how winding the road may be.

 

Through my journey, I have also come to deeply respect all religions and spiritual paths. While I personally find strength and identity in my Catholic faith, I believe that we are all connected by our shared humanity and our desire to love, serve, and belong. As a future Catholic educator, I hope to cultivate a classroom that welcomes this diversity of belief, where all students feel seen, valued, and supported in their own spiritual growth. We are all one, and through understanding and compassion, we live out the very heart of Catholic social teaching.