Adaptation Strategies and Christian Identity Preservation Among Students in A Muslim-Majority School at SMAN 1 Simpang Kanan, Aceh Singkil Regency

Abstract

Religious minority students in public schools navigate everyday relationships within institutional cultures shaped by majority religious practices. This study examines how Christian students at SMAN 1 Simpang Kanan, Aceh Singkil, adapt socially while maintaining their religious identities. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the study draws on interviews with nine Christian students and one teacher, supported by observation and school documentation, and interprets the findings through Michael Rutter’s resilience framework. The findings identify three interrelated practices: maintaining friendships across religious boundaries, respecting Islamic activities without participating in their religious rituals, and adjusting behavior to everyday cultural sensitivities. Students described attending Islamic Religious Education (PAI) lessons while receiving adjustments to particular assignments, illustrating both practical accommodation and a curricular challenge. One student described choosing not to bring pork-based food to school, while another reported difficulty accessing food when the school canteen closed during Ramadan. Religious identity was maintained through personal commitment, church attendance, and parental guidance. Students’ accounts further indicate that supportive relationships with peers and teachers provided important resources for navigating social uncertainty. The study demonstrates that social participation and religious identity maintenance can coexist through boundary negotiation, although adaptation also involves practical constraints within a school environment shaped by majority religious practices.