As students choose classes for next year, there is an option that is unique to Utah. Since 1912, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been directly involved with high schools through a program known as seminary. Seminary is an optional class for students that is meant to provide a calm moment during a day of chaos. Being in Utah, high schoolers are lucky to be offered the option of taking seminary classes during school hours, due to something known as religious release time. But what is seminary, and what makes it special?
At Alta High School, and many high schools in Utah, seminary takes place at a separate building just off the edge of campus. The principal of Alta Seminary, Matt Bardsley, has been in charge for the past five years.
“Seminary is a place where students can come and get away from the hustle and the bustle… of school and focus on things that are less right in front of their face and a little more… of the reasons why they’re getting an education,” Bardsley described. “It’s a nice, relaxing separation, but it also gives them the reasons why… they want to learn and progress and develop skills.
Seminary is also beneficial for students because it is a place where everyone is welcoming, kind, and non-judgmental. Many seminary students will say that they love seminary, that it’s one of their favorite parts of the day.
“For me personally, it just makes my whole day better,” explained JJ Clark, an Alta senior and regular seminary attender. “It’s a class I always look forward to. It’s something that clears my mind and makes me realign what my focus is on the day.”
Clark is also a member of the seminary council at Alta. Seminary council is a group of recommended Alta seniors who regularly attend the class. This council typically consists of a president, vice president, secretary, and a limited number of council members. Having a seminary council is very important for Alta.
“It gives the students a more direct way to connect,” Clark said.
Throughout the country, there are only 17 states that offer an optional religious release time, Utah being one of those. Because of that, high schoolers in Utah are allowed to do things like seminary during school. Students at Alta have the privilege to catch their breath at seminary in the middle of a crazed day, where many other states don’t.
Students who attend Alta High School are incredibly fortunate to have access to seminary. Run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, seminary truly is a loving place of no judgement, where students can go to escape and focus on why they do what they do.
