Humans of USU: What to give up for Lent

The Utah Statesman interviewed Maggie White, a 20-year-old majoring in biology; Matt Lewis, a 22-year-old majoring in marketing and sales; Trace Sayama, a 21-year-old undeclared major; Emilee Griffin, a 21-year-old majoring in nursing; Mathew Ilk, an 18-year-old majoring in civil engineering; Kortee McGee, a 20-year-old majoring in agricultural business; Kortney Gardner, a 33-year-old majoring in nursing; and Bret Guercio, a 23-year-old dual majoring in biology and psychology.

Utah Statesman: What do you know about Lent? ( Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for the holiday through prayer, fasting, repentance and spiritual discipline. It is practiced by the Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Roman Catholic religions.)

Maggie White: Um, I know very minimal. People give something up to symbolize what Jesus gave for them?

Matt Lewis: Nothing. I don’t know a thing.

Trace Sayama: It was the 40 days that Christ fasted and something that you give up, I guess?

Emilee Griffin: I don’t know anything about Lent — oh, Lent, like, uh, no. Is it like a meeting that you go to or something?

Mathew Ilk: I know a little bit about it because I am Catholic. It’s 40 days that you have to give up something for what the Lord did for us by going into the desert for 40 days without food and water, and just trying to kind of equalize and sort of do the same thing.

Kortee McGee: Absolutely nothing. I have no idea what Lent is.

Kortney Gardner: I actually know about it. A lot of people, like my friends, give up meat for the 40 days.

Bret Guercio: You give up one thing for the month. That’s pretty much it.

US: If you were to give something up for Lent, what would it be?

MW: I would probably give up late-night TV. That would be a good thing I could give up.

ML: Fast food. And I would cook for my wife.

TS: I’d stop biting my nails. That’s a bad habit — I really need to get off of that. And, um, energy drinks. That’s a weakness.

EG: Probably, like, I don’t know. I’m in college right now, so I don’t watch a lot of shows anyway at the moment. Maybe I’d give up sweets.

MI: I’m not sure yet — I haven’t figured it out, but I’ve done it every year with my family growing up.

KM: Good question. Coffee. I would give up coffee.

KG: I would give up soda.

BG: Probably coffee.