This essay I wrote, this story about me, could give me such a big opportunity that I never would have even imagined possible. ​

At this point, I am in plain disbelief that in just a few days I’ll be in Israel with a bunch of people I’ve never even met. All my clothes are just lying around on my floor in slightly organized piles. And to add to my wonderful mound of stress, my school decided to extend my semester by a week so I had to take all of my finals before the designated date that the rest of my school does. I had to cram my reviewing and studying in between my insane practice and meet schedule for swimming and packing. Needless to say, these past few weeks have been nonstop. 

I have always had this strong love of meeting new people and this program is going to provide me with something unlike what I’ve already experienced in the past. Not only am I eagerly awaiting this amazing trip but so is my entire extended family and all of my friends- which only adds to the excitement. 

This fellowship means so much to me for many reasons. One of the main reasons obviously being that I’ve always wanted to go to Israel. But another big thing for me was that I could write an essay simply about me. My individual experience with Judaism and how I want it to grow. This essay I wrote, this story about me, could give me such a big opportunity that I never would have even imagined possible.