Coming of Age 2021

May 2 2021 The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills

2020COMING

OF

AGE

2021

2020-2021 COA STUDENTS & MENTORS Students Maya Clevenger Jude Kashlan McKenna Kimberlin Evan Kreg Henry Thornton

Mentors Lindsay Downs Mark Mortimer Janie Elliot Jay Pullen John Armstrong

Events Craftsman Living Newtown Store Launch

ABOUT

CREDO STATEMENTS Credo is a Latin word, which is

They are then tasked with

generally translated as “I

taking what they have learned

believe,” but its literal

and apply it to their own

meaning is closer to “what I

worldview to develop a credo

set my heart to.” Throughout

statement. The 2020-2021

this course youth learn and

Credo statements are a

discuss social justice, values,

snapshot into the hearts of

community, leadership, and

these amazing young people.

our own Unitarian Universalist

-Jennifer McGlothin, DRE

tradition.

MAYA CLEVENGER challenging the idea that all people are inherently good.

I have grown up in a world which appears to be surrounded in hate and discrimination. This has shaped my beliefs as a person. As a teenager, I’ve been exploring my views, not just on the world but also on society. These views have been dramatically shaped by recent events in the media,

MAYA

Growing up in Gen Z has me

including BLM protests and the "me too" movement.

Before George Floyd, I was mostly unaware of the complete discrimination and racism people of color face every day. I became aware of the Black Lives Matter movement mainly through social media. This movement has made me realize how privileged I am. As a young white woman, I did not have to grow up learning to fear the police. For many people of color, I can now see that they do not feel the police are there to protect and serve them or their communities.

This saddens and angers me. In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, I have seen flags in people's yards and bumper stickers stating “blue lives matter” which has reinforced my negative opinion of people.

Being a woman has also been one of the largest factors in shaping my view on the world. From the everyday misogynistic jokes from male classmates to fearing walking alone at night, has made me develop a very negative view on people.

At my school, the required dress

MAYA CLEVENGER

code is directed at the female

Our services are focused on

students. We are not allowed to

treating people fairly and I think

wear shorts above the fingertip,

that really helps to teach

tank tops, or crop tops. This is

members to be a good person

teaching boys in my generation that

amongst so much hate.

women are sexual beings and nothing more. Instead of men being

I recognize that Gen Z is so open

taught to control themselves,

minded and embracing towards

women are taught to cover up. It

everyone. At 14 I have so many

upsets me to see misogyny being

friends who identify as part of

continued even in 2021.

the LGBTQ community and this seems to be our “normal”. While

After learning more about the

I’ve found a great friend group

world, I’ve thought to myself many

that is so open and embracing, I

times if people are really good? The

realize not everyone is like this.

best answer I could come up with

Although to most of us this is

was just no.

just part of our everyday life. I have hope that my generation

Joining Sunnyhill has also been a

can be the light in this darkness.

big factor in developing and challenging my views. Although I believe many people are inherently bad, here I’ve learned about love, honesty and compassion.

Sunnyhill actively asserts Black Lives Matter and embraces the LQBTQ community which gives me hope that there’s some good in the world. " I HAVE HOPE THAT MY GENERATION CAN BE THE LIGHT IN THIS DARKNESS."

I still believe that there is some good in the world even though it’s hard to find.

Even if there is a definitive answer

JUDE KASHLAN As I set my mind to articulating my beliefs, I remembered a statement I had once heard. “There are no

to a question, that can always create deeper questions about the meaning or significance of that answer. I

answers, only better questions.” This

choose to question all that is thrust

has rung true to me throughout my

upon me in a search for greater

life. While some choose to answer a

understanding. I believe that even

question like “Is there a higher

though we are all tiny drops of water

power in this world?” with a strict

living on a speck of iron ore, we have

“yes” or “no” answer, I have always

extreme significance, to the world,

believed in asking further questions

and to the people around us. We all

such as “Is there any way to prove a

know hundreds of people, all with

yes or no answer,” “Would it really

their own conscience, and every

affect me, or the way I acted” or “Is

action we take has the potential to

there any reason to not believe in something?” Such questions could

Simply sitting next to someone at school and having an engaging conversation with them could be the focal point of their day for weeks.

This is one reason why I attempt to make deep bonds with others

JUDE

be asked indefinitely.

impact every single one of them.

around me.

I have had trouble embracing traditional religions. While I questioned my beliefs with my mentor, it took a great deal of deep thought. I can not see how I could read a book and say something like “I believe in every aspect of this in its entirety.”

JUDE KASHLAN For example, if God is all powerful

While there are many other beliefs I

and is always kind, why should a

could speak of, these things I have

loving mother or her child die in

spoken of are the dearest to my

childbirth. They, especially the

heart. These thoughts I believe will

child, are doing nothing wrong,

stay with me for many years to

and it is how He designed us humans that would have made death in childbirth possible. I believe that most humans want what is best for the world, and that it is not their human nature that is corrupted, but their sense of what is good that is corrupted.

Humans have done terrible acts in history, but they have almost always believed it was for a greater cause, such as the spread of religion or the benefit of their people or family.

come. While everyone questions what they believe in throughout their life, this congregation has aided me in creating more contemplative questions to further my understanding of my beliefs at a deeper level. The coming of age program has led me to speculate about how I should live my life, and what I should care about in it.

Forever will I continue this quest, to continue along my spiritual path.

"I BELIEVE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ALL TINY DROPS OF WATER LIVING ON A SPECK OF IRON ORE, WE HAVE EXTREME SIGNIFICANCE, TO THE WORLD, AND TO THE PEOPLE AROUND US."

MCKENNA

For a long time, when it came to my religious values and beliefs, I pressured myself to choose and make defined choices about how I felt about different things. But again and again, I hit a wall, finding that things that worked in some circumstances didn’t work in others.

I think that a lot of people hold comfort in the doctrine of traditional religion, but to be honest, I can’t say the same for myself. Having a strict set of rules no matter what has always made me feel claustrophobic, especially once you see how rules applied unfairly can actually make things worse.

I believe in quantum physics more than anything else. The idea that

MCKENNA KIMBERLIN I’ve always been pretty indecisive.

So it makes sense that I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what to write about. I got really frustrated during this assignment, because I felt like no matter what topic I chose, there was always some reason it didn’t work. So I’ve decided to write about my lack of decision making skills themselves, and how it affects what I believe in.

everything is possible, and that nothing is truly set in stone. I feel like this leaves a lot of room for change in your beliefs. I am also big on philosophy, particularly the idea that everyone perceives things differently and therefore everyone’s experience is different. Overall, I think that we cannot possibly know what is true about any god or higher entity, or even just what is most important in the world.

MCKENNA KIMBERLIN I believe that we won’t always know the right answer, and we don’t necessarily need to. We should just do what we think is best with what we are given in a situation. I do not believe that there is such a thing as good and evil, but I think there are good and bad actions. Even if they don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, they matter to us. I think it is important to analyze the circumstances and then create a well-formed opinion. The world is always changing and growing, and if we are not willing to adapt our beliefs, progression in society would be impossible. I feel as though when you start to write rules as though they are set in stone, it is much harder to change them and adapt them when you come across an exception.

I feel that this system helps me

"I BELIEVE THAT WE WON’T ALWAYS KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER, AND

make good decisions and grow as a

WE DON’T NECESSARILY

person, so it’s what I personally

NEED TO. WE SHOULD

believe in, and how I choose to live

JUST DO WHAT WE THINK

my life.

IS BEST..."

EVAN KREG When I heard that I was going to write a credo statement, I started going through different religions and seeing what core values I agree with or what gods and goddesses I might identify with. I learned the basics from Jen and watched

anything that encompassed what I believe. While I don’t believe there is any sort of all-knowing and powerful god, at the same time, some things are too coincidental or strange to be proven by science...at least not yet. I eventually changed my focus to my core values as a human- what I feel is important personally, and to society as a

EVAN

multiple services and couldn’t find

whole.

I arrived at the idea of empathy and

I believe that it is important, even

being able to put yourself in

necessary, that people learn to be

someone else's shoes. Especially

able to empathize with one

during this pandemic, I feel many

another. I remember being in the

people struggle with understanding

hospital a couple of years ago, and

what it is like to be in someone

wondering what was happening in

else's situation, and instead attempt

the outside world since I didn’t get

to convince other people they are

to see many people outside of the

right, and nothing else is.

hospital.

EVAN KREG Afterward, I had to stay inside my

They had never experienced full-

house and do online school

time school online, at least I had

because of stomach issues, and I

some preparation and knew what

remember whenever my friends

to do. When the pandemic was

would call me and have an issue, I

hitting its peak here, and people

would always remind them, “At

began to voice their opinions a lot

least you aren’t stuck at home all

more than we were used to, instead

day.”

of listening to their concerns and fears and trying to understand,

However, as time went on I

many of us just told them, “you’re

realized maybe being at home all

wrong”, or “That’s not how that

the time wasn’t so bad, and I

works” I admit I was quick to jump

began to put myself in my friends’

to state my own opinion and

and families’ situations and began

“correct” my friends at times.

to be able to connect and comfort

However, I made a conscious effort

them more; in return, they did the

to try to have an open mind and

same for me. All of this made me

heart and listen and attempt to

realize that empathy was an

understand others’ points of view -

extremely important core value of

even when I could not find any

a good person. Once I began to go

common ground.

back to school, the pandemic hit soon after, and I was once again forced into my home twenty-four hours a day. At first, I was

"I BELIEVE THAT EMPATHY IS A CORE VALUE MANY OF US SHOULD TRY TO USE MORE

devastated, then I thought about

IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND

some of my friends' situations.

TRY TO IMAGINE OURSELVES IN A TOUGH SITUATION SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING THROUGH."

EVAN KREG I believe that empathy is a core value many of us should try to use more in our daily lives, and try to imagine ourselves in a tough situation someone else is going through. It is a large part of survival to trust one another and understand how others’ opinions and actions are formed.

Audrey Hepburn once said, “Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being’s suffering.

Nothing-not career, not wealth, not intelligence, and certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we’re going to survive with dignity.”

I wholeheartedly agree, it sums up my belief about what is important to my life, and a characteristic I wish for those I surround myself to also strive for. Overall, this belief in empathy as a core value is very important to me, and I hope that some of you will also find it important.

HENRY THORNTON A Credo is a statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions. Writing my Credo has made me think about the values that are the most important to me. I think that each person has the right to choose what he or she believes. Sunnyhill is a special place that encourages people to find out what they believe in, instead of being told what to believe.

HENRY

Sunnyhill encourages you to go on your own journey to find what values and beliefs you live by everyday. I also believe in the importance of kindness and community.

The seven principles of Unitarian Universalism are a good framework to live by. The 4th principle, which is being able to search for your own values on your own journey, is very important to me.

HENRY THORNTON I’ve been a part of Sunnyhill for most of my life and actually don’t even remember life without Sunnyhill. It has been a place where I have been encouraged to figure out what I believe in and

Mr. Rogers once said, “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind.

The second way is to be kind.

The third way is to be kind.”

what values I use to try to live by everyday. It has been such a unique opportunity to grow up and find my own beliefs instead of having them forced upon me and that means a lot to me.

Searching for your beliefs and values helps you reflect on life and defines the way you act.

The word community means “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals” and it is central to the human experience. There are so many positive aspects to being part of a group or community. Being part of a community gives us a sense of

The first principle of Unitarian Universalism tells us that every single person has inherent worth and dignity and is worthy of our kindness. Kindness is a virtue that should be embodied by everyone. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others’ as you want to be treated. It is a saying that is found in most religions and cultures. If everyone treated each other with kindness then the world would be a better place.

belonging. It enables us to share our similarities and differences and encourage each other to learn and grow. It gives us unique opportunities to learn from each other and give support and encouragement. Being part of a community gives people the chance to be inspired, solve problems, share humor, vent their frustrations, and share their achievements. It also gives people a way to get through hard times, both emotionally and physically.

Communities are a vital part of

HENRY THORNTON

success and can add so much to

Coming of Age is a big part of

people’s lives. Sunnyhill has been

figuring out your beliefs. It is a

the best community to grow up

journey of discovering, asking

in. I’ve made friends with people

questions, and deciding what you

from many different generations

believe. The beliefs that mean the

and I’ve learned so much from

most to me are kindness, the

them. I’ve learned about

freedom to figure out your own

Unitarian Universalism and other

beliefs, and the power of

religions, but I’ve also learned so

community. Sunnyhill is such a

much more. I’ve learned to drive

great community because of the

a tractor and be a part of the

amazing people that work so

maintenance crew, to be a good

hard and put in so much time to

friend, to speak German, to

make it special. Thank you, Jen,

create amazing projects out of

for putting so much into the COA

wood, and to make a mean clam

program and thank you, John

chowder, just to name a few. My

Armstrong, for being a great

Sunnyhill community is one of

mentor and friend.

the most important things to me and I hope that every young person gets a chance to experience something like this.

"THE BELIEFS THAT MEAN THE MOST TO ME ARE KINDNESS, THE FREEDOM TO FIGURE OUT YOUR OWN BELIEFS, AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY."

"THE VOICE" THERE IS A VOICE INSIDE OF YOU THAT WHISPERS ALL DAY LONG, ' I FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME, I KNOW THAT THIS IS WRONG. ' NO TEACHER, PREACHER, PARENT, FRIEND OR WISE MAN CAN DECIDE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU JUST LISTEN TO THE VOICE THAT SPEAKS INSIDE. SHEL SILVERSTEIN