A Catholic School...from a different perspective

As I was growing up, I've always heard of St. Johns University and have known it was a private Catholic school, so therefore I thought only catholic kids were allowed to attend. Obviously, I grew up and learned more and more and knew anyone can go there.

I am Muslim and enjoy the fact that in America we can essentially do most things as freely as possible. Even after being accepted and declaring that I'd be attending St. Johns, I didn't know what to expect from the Catholic perspective. I thought there would be requirements that relate to Catholicism, and in that thought I was right because we need to take classes in theology. I also thought it would be sort of like a missionary school in which there would be people that would sway people to change faith, even with only subtle motives.

Now looking back at my first year, I was definitely wrong on my second point. This school is just as religiously free as any other, except for the fact that there is a church smack dab in the middle of the campus. I am able to learn about Catholic views from a distance, meaning I can view it as a historical experience rather than spiritual. All in all, I do enjoy the fact that a Catholic founded school is very religiously friendly to people of other faiths.