GBHS students balance school, band and religious activities

GBHS students attend Mormon seminary each morning at 5:30, and leave for band practice at 6:30 a.m.

   The sky is pitch-black and there’s pure silence on the practically empty streets. At 5:30 a.m., several cars arrive at once outside a lit-up, inviting home.

   Most of Granite Bay is still asleep at the time, but a few dedicated individuals have been up for hours and are just arriving at their first activity of the day.

   Although it requires extreme determination and devotion, four Granite Bay High School  students have learned to manage two activities they are passionate about: band and Mormon seminary.

  These committed students begin their day with seminary, follow up with zero period band, attend the regular school day and occasionally have another band practice afterwards.

   Sophomore band member and Mormon Daniel Flinders is also a member of the GBHS wrestling team, which adds even more to his work load.

   “It becomes hard when you try to throw in a sport (along with) doing band and seminary,” Flinders said.

   With so many time-consuming activities, Flinders barely has any free time.

   “I go to seminary, band, school and wrestling,” he said. “Then I do my homework and go to sleep.”

   Monday nights are especially hectic for Flinders because of the extra after-school band practice. His day begins at 5:30, and he doesn’t get home until around 9:30.

   “On Mondays, I have the usual early start, wrestling practice from three to six o’clock, and band practice from six-thirty to nine,” he said.

   Because of the high-volume of both physical and mental activities throughout the day, Flinders becomes exhausted.

   “I’m tired a lot of the day,” he said. “If I go to bed any later than nine o’clock, it really hits me the next day.”

    GBHS senior Lisa Hoffman also starts off her day at seminary and band.

   “It’s hard to get up and get there on time,” Hoffman said.

   But regardless of the early hours, both Flinders and Hoffman truly enjoy the 5:30 a.m. seminary because of its personable and cozy environment.

   “The 5:30 seminary is smaller and has kids from all age groups,” Flinders said. “It’s more of a discussion.”

    Although the 6:30 a.m. seminary is at the Mormon church, the earlier session is held at Anne-Marie Mullen’s home in Granite Bay.

   Mullen, a GBHS parent and active member of the church, has opened up her home for seminary and leads the group four times a week.

   Mullen is in her fourth year of leading seminary. She wakes up each morning around 4:30 to get the daily lesson together and cook breakfast for every student who comes.

   “Everyone who comes wants to be here,” Mullen said. “They’re not here because their parents are making them come.”

   Although getting up earlier is tougher, the 5:30 seminary has several advantages in comparison to the later session.

   “It’s nice being in the Mullen’s home and having a smaller group,” Hoffman said. “We use visuals on their computer and watch (educational) movies on the T.V.”

   Because the group is smaller, kids of all ages participate in the same lesson and conversation.

   Mullen said she loves having the older kids with the younger kids because they set examples for each other.

   “It’s fun to watch them grow up, and the other teachers don’t get that chance,” Mullen said. “I think both the teacher and kids benefit from having all ages.”

   The students also appreciate the daily breakfast provided.

   “It’s great how she makes up breakfast so that we don’t have to wake up even earlier,” Flinders said. “The location is also convenient for most (GBHS) students since it is close by.”

   But the best part of the 5:30 a.m. seminary is the amount of motivation each student has for both band and church.

   “I have no problems with discipline because I have a whole table full of motivated kids who want to learn,” Mullen said.

   Although it requires sacrifices, Mullen said she loves leading the group.

   “I love having it at my house because it creates a homely environment,” Mullen said. “It brings some warmth to the environment rather than a colder classroom situation.”

   “I think it’s easier to feel the things we want to feel when we have that environment,” she said.

   The students in the class appreciate Mullen’s dedication to creating a fun learning environment for them.

   “She does an amazing job,” Flinders said. “She is always prepared and has a great lesson everyday.”

   Mullen’s son, GBHS senior Joseph Mullen, also wakes up early for the 5:30 a.m. seminary.

   “Some people ask me why I do it and why I wake up so early,” Mullen said. “But a friend of mine said to me, ‘Can you imagine that every day before Joseph goes to school you spent that time with him sharing your beliefs and your testimony?’”

   “Seminary is a very powerful way to start the morning,” Mullen said. “The whole rest of day you feel good.”