When a new semester began, students were notified of the new chapel requirements, which consist of 25 chapel attendances compared to the previous 35 chapel attendances and 10 absences allowed during the past spring semester of 2024.
Before I wrote down students’ opinions, I started with a short prayer that I may not write down misleading information about the chapel. For those who don’t know the story behind this scene, in the past semester of spring 2024, there was a significant change in the chapel requirements— everyone was confused, including myself.
I met with Joshua Fieldson, the Associate Director of SL (Spiritual Life), for writing misleading information about the chapel requirements. After the meeting, I’ve been extra careful when writing articles, and I have also started to make a habit of praying before writing to limit mistakes. Those interested in reading last semester’s chapel requirements and knowing students’ opinions can click here.
Mark Choi, a sophomore majoring in allied health, said “I see not much difference in the chapel system, so I’m going to keep doing what I was doing like last year, so I usually go three times a week until I reach my requirements. I’ll actively attend when I complete my requirements but feel less pressured.
Sam Jang, a nursing sophomore, says, “My strategy is to attend chapel four times a week to meet the requirements faster. After finishing the regiments, I believe that I will be able to attend chapel with a light-hearted heart and worship God.”
Ian Jin, a sophomore majoring in nursing, claims that the changes give him a physiological pressure factor: “With the changes in removing the absence and lowering the requirements, I feel slightly more pressure. I understand it is not different; the fact that you’re unable to be absent adds a psychological factor to my need to go to chapel.”
Jin also shared his plans after completing the chapel requirements: “I love Jesus Christ. I plan to attend chapel four times a week; when I finish the requirements, I will still attend chapel even though it’s not required!”
Ruth Kim, a freshman in the arts, says, “My strategy is to consistently go to chapel at the beginning of the semester and strive to fulfill all the requirements so that later I won’t be worrying about it, especially when finals week comes.”
Before I share Cinematic Arts sophomore Brian Peveler’s opinion, I would like to share about him using a quote from Korea… “Some people may not have met Peveler once, but none on campus have met him multiple times.” Being the man he is, Peveler kept his response simple and powerful, “My strategy for filling in the chapel credits is to attend all the chapels offered.”
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
As we finish week four of our academic year, I must confess that I have only completed “eight” chapel requirements. A little confession has to be made, but for those who are reading this article, I plead that you may be a better role model than I and be responsible adults to thrive to complete your chapel credits in your strategy, or I hope the different strategies shared by students would enlighten effective ways to participate in chapel.