I have never attended a Catholic school while growing up. I am a Christian but my mother and father never sent me to a Catholic school. They sent me to the school that was the closest to our neighbourhood because it was convenient for me to walk to school, as it only took ten minutes. I attended church growing up but not regularly. There would be periods where my family and I would attend church regularly, quit going and then go again after a break from church. This is not because we questioned our faith but because of problems within our family. I have a few Christian influences in my life, one which includes my youth group leader which I attended from grades eight to grades twelve. Sometimes I went to youth group regularly and sometimes I did not. Sometimes I did not go because I was afraid of making new friends or because I had to work. I made a close friend at church and we are still friends to this day. She is a very positive influence on me, but we do not talk to each other enough for the influence to have a daily effect on me. All of my other friends are not Christian, so I find myself doing things that are not “Christian-like” in order to fit in with society. One day at St. Michael Community School, “Father James,” the priest from “Our Lady of Peace” Church came to visit the school. He went around to different classrooms of varying age groups asking the students what they think the benefits of Catholic education is. Many of the students in the grade 2/3 said that it is important to pray, to learn about God, to thank Him and that God helps we humans to become better people. Some students talked more than others, while others were reluctant to put up their hand to give answers. Students in the Kindergarten Class had shorter responses that were quite humorous. The students said that “we should not throw rocks at people,” “we should not hit people,” and “we should make our bed before going to school.” All in all, the students were saying how God helps individuals to become better people. The students in the school have “religion class” every once in a while. I have never experienced this class but it is a routine for the students. I hear my co-operating teacher, Ms. Norton throwing in Catholic references once in a while in her classroom. One time she asked the students: “Why did God give us brains? For other people to use it or for us as individuals to use it ourselves?” I do not hear many Catholic references, but I am sure if I was able to be at the school for longer portions of the day, then I would. It was very interesting to see what a Catholic School was like because I had never attended one growing up!