Last March, I received my class ring, along with the experience of a Ring Ceremony and Ring Dance I had awaited since my freshmen year.

I had not, however, expected to find out the meaning behind the ring that I received, and the significance of the diamond shape etched into the onyx that I would wear on my right ring finger.

Now, every time I look at my ring, I remember the story Fine Arts teacher Michael Gaudreau told, and think of how important that little etched diamond shape is to the JC community.

It is because of this that I can’t quite understand why plans have suddenly changed for our administration. They are planning to tear down the chapel, making way for a new chapel that, while still retaining its significant diamond shape and only becoming a little bigger, will have many windows, be more open, and be located in the front of the building.

While I  agree that faith is a central aspect to the school, I don’t find it necessary for the chapel to be front and center to show that. I believe in the small quiet privacy of our current chapel, the peaceful escape the JC community has experienced for over 30 years. Because the chapel is not blatantly displayed for all to see does not mean that faith is put on the back burner.  It  is more of a testament to the strength of a humble faith.

Yes, it would be nice to be able to fit more people in the chapel, but I disagree with forcing it to the entrance. We don’t need to place a chapel in the front of our building to distinguish us from other high schools. We already have the private chapel within that holds so much significance.

I believe that the smallness of the chapel makes it more intimate and inspiring, but if an update is what we need, we can make such an important part of our school larger and more accessible without straying from the theme of a sanctuary.

The chapel being the first thing everyone sees when they come into the building allows for more distraction and it becomes less sacred. Placing windows in a once darker but more intimate space to make it look pretty makes it less of an escape.

The dimly lit and aged chapel we all know now may not be the most attractive or spacious place, but you cannot deny the quiet meditation it evokes, or the sense of peace it brings to the center of a loud and bustling high school building.

Maybe I’m just holding on to an out-of-date part of our building because it’s what I’m simply used to, but for some reason I just can’t get over the opinion that it belongs where it is.

Alex Bahr can be reached for comment at [email protected]