Sophomore Bailey Buchman has always had a special knack for baking, and if she’s not busy with schoolwork, she can most likely be found in the kitchen of her apartment, baking an assortment of cookies or cakes.

But, throughout the past few weeks, baking has become somewhat difficult for her, since she decided to give up eating sweets and drinking pop during the season of Lent.

During the past month, Buchman has found times when it’s been hard not to indulge in the fruits of her labor. Especially since she enjoys baking so much and hasn’t been able to eat any of the things she bakes, but has still managed to resist the temptation.

“Continuing to bake during Lent … has showed me that I don’t have to eat everything that I make,” she said. “Baking is a passion of mine, and I like to share it with people, so I know that I can make a cake … and completely give it away.”

While many students might decide to give up chocolate or pop for Lent, junior Adam Lackey decided to give up what he considers the most delicious food in the world. But, it’s a food item most may not have ever considered giving up: bacon.

Lackey had never actually given anything up for Lent, but made a spur-of-the-moment decision this year on Ash Wednesday to give up bacon to test his willpower. Also, because he realized he had been eating too much bacon.

“At one point, I would estimate that I was eating probably two to three pounds of bacon a week,” he said. “I’ll eat it with just about anything, because my philosophy is bacon makes everything better, even bacon. If you wrap bacon in bacon, it’s actually better than one piece of bacon.”

Lackey said it’s been hard giving up bacon, especially when going to restaurants where his usual orders consist of bacon, but despite the temptation, he still managed to go the entire Lenten season so far without eating a single slice.

Father Brandon Farrar, priest at Annunciation Catholic Church in Baldwin City, said when people fast, or give up certain things for Lent, it’s in order to identify with Jesus when he was in the desert for 40 days. Also, it is an intensification of what people should be doing the rest of the year. Farrar said it’s in fasting that people find their limitations, and also are able to strengthen their wills against unnecessary things, like chocolate.

“Lent is for fasting and abstaining, … but it’s also not just giving up, but doing something positive in the sense of trying to work on your spiritual life,” Farrar said.

One way a person can do this is by identifying with those in need through taking less and helping others.

“Ideally, you want to live a simpler lifestyle so that others benefit, and continue that to a degree after Lent,” Farrar said.

And, that’s exactly what Buchman is hoping to get out of Lent this year.

“(Lent’s) been hard, but you’ve got to remember why you’re doing it,” she said. “We always say Jesus is the reason for the season at Christmastime and during Advent, but he’s the reason for everything. … He gave me the ability to bake, so why not share it with other people?”