From freshman to seniors, high school students face the challenge of feeling like they belong and are accepted by their peers. While there are many different opportunities to make connections within school buildings, out of school programs provide an alternative option for many students to find their community. More specifically, youth groups. Youth groups are an outlet for all high school students to create new friendships and further their respective religious journeys – and provide a sense of connecting, according to participating Deerfield High School students.
Youth groups are congregations of high school students that bring together teenagers seeking guidance, friendships, or even just a place to go if they just have some extra time on their hands. In the North Shore, many of the youth groups have a religious basis. The religious aspect of youth groups allows students to have a stronger faith journey, which can be particularly difficult in high school.
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization – BBYO
Meredith Rivkin, a junior at DHS, is the S’ganit of the Jewish youth group, BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization). BBYO is a national organization across America that aims to foster a sense of belonging for Jewish teenagers who may feel under represented in their communities. Meredith, along with many other Deerfield students, are in the Jane Beber Abramson (JBA) chapter of BBYO. The JBA chapter is for girls in Deerfield, Highland Park, Glenview, and Northbrook. BBYO is founded on the ideas of Judaism and connecting Jewish teens with their culture. Rivkin said she has very much enjoyed her place in BBYO.
“BBYO is special to me because it has allowed me to connect with so many Jewish teens from all around the world and connect to my Judaism,” she said.
Jewish practices can get lost within most all the other extracurricular activities high school students participate in, Rivkin added, noting that BBYO has fun and modern ways to implement religious practices into teens’ everyday life. “Not every single program is centered around Judaism, but they always include a core Jewish value or just connecting with other Jews at that event,” Rivkin said. “For example, we planned a panel discussion with the Shinshinim, who are Israelis taking a gap year in America to educate and learn. We asked them questions about their experiences during the October 7th attack. This program allowed me to connect to people who experienced the attack, to other teens learning about it, and to Israel.”
BBYO allows so many teens, like Rivkin, to connect to their culture, specifically during events held by the organization. Notably, BBYO holds an International Convention (IC) every year open to teenage members across the country. Rivkin was one of the lucky teenagers who had the opportunity to attend last winter.
“I went [to IC] last year, and I met so many different people from all around the world,” Rivkin said. “Everyone is truly willing to branch out, which I think is what’s so special about BBYO, the connection found between people you may have never met.”
Students that are interested in BBYO, can contact Rivkin, or visit bbyo.org/become-a-member!
Senior High Youth Group – SHYG
There are also other thriving youth groups in the area. Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) is a Christian youth group run out of Christ Church Lake Forest (CCLF). SHYG has two separate programs within the Christ Church organization, one being at the Lake Forest campus, and the other at their campus in Grayslake. Oyinkan Adeyemi is a Senior at Deerfield High School who goes to SHYG, as well as participating in SHYG’s Student Ministries Team (SMT), which aims to make SHYG the best it can be for all students.
SHYG runs Sunday nights from 6-8 p.m with a program that includes worship, a sermon, and small group time along with time allotted for socialization with friends and other people at SHYG. Adeyemi has attended SHYG for a year now and says that the experience has surpassed all expectations. “I look forward to SHYG every week because the people there are some of the kindest, most understanding people I have ever met,” said Adeyemi when asked about why SHYG is special to her. “The girls in my small group not only bring me closer to God, but they give me a space where I am able to be myself and talk about things going on in my life without fear of judgement.”
Christianity is the foundation and focus of SHYG. Sunday nights at SHYG allow for students to come with questions and concerns about their faith, and gives them a place to grow themselves. Beyond this time, SHYG has other social and community-building events, including overnight retreats, Adeyemi said. “We do things like go to Feed My Starving Children, Bernie’s Book Bank, and have Christmas parties, but I think SHYG really thrives during retreats,” Adeyemi said. “SHYG had one retreat in the fall and one in the winter. These retreats bring SHYG students so much closer. We form bonds with each other, but also explore our own journeys in our faith and grow closer with God.”
SHYG has students from all over the north shore area. Students from schools like Lake Forest, Glenbrook North, Libertyville, and Grayslake North all come to Lake Forest on Sunday nights to see friends, and learn more about Christianity. SHYG has become an established youth group within the area because of its dedication to students and all around fun and lighthearted atmosphere.
If you are interested in going to SHYG, contact Oyinkan Adeyemi, or go to shyg.org for more information!
No matter the religion, students universally agreed that youth groups bring a much needed safe space to students all over the world, and in Deerfield. Whether the right fit is BBYO, SHYG, or one of the many other youth groups in the region, they encouraged their peers to explore the possibilities.
Adeyemi concludes, “No matter the youth group you attend, youth groups give teens a sense of community and security hard to find in other spaces. Which is why they are great for all teens, not just some.”
