Anxious. The only word I can use is anxious. As I prepare for my February 8 week trip to Israel, I am not exactly sure what to expect. I expect the first week to be challenging as I adjust to the new lifestyle, but there are so many little things that I am not expecting. The late nights with my new friends, the amazing field trips I get to experience. Through all the preparation and planning, I cannot say that I am nervous. Though everyone asks me “wow aren’t you nervous?” I can’t say that I am. I am going to another one of my homes, a place that welcomes me with open arms. Not quite scared, not nervous, but definitely anxious. Anxious for all the amazing opportunities and things I will learn and see. I am anxious to go through the airport without my parents. For the plane ride that feels a thousand hours long, all without my parents. 

I am quite independent for my age, but this is a huge step. I go away to camp every summer for 8 weeks, so the length of the trip is not a challenge for me. It’s being so far away from home, living pretty much on my own.

I fear that I will miss being home, due to my not so serious epic case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). I fear that I will miss my friends, my pets, and my family, anything new at home, and hopefully the Eagles winning the 2108 super bowl. But I know that I will be experiencing something that no one in my school or my family has ever experienced.  I am going to have the time of my life, which only makes me more and more anxious.

I will be learning and exploring. I know that I am a visual, hands-on learner, so being able to literally see the history of Israel will be super meaningful to me. I am going to make friends, hopefully some lifelong friends, which I will be able to reminisce with them on all the memories I will make. I am going to build a bond not only with my friends but also with Israel that I know will never be broken.

I applied for this Fellowship to challenge myself. I know I am a leader and I am independent, but I really wanted to prove it to myself. It has been a long process applying and communicating with my school, but wow has it payed off. In just two weeks I will be heading to Israel, to start my 8-week session. I will be as anxious as ever with butterflies in my stomach. But I know that I can do it. I will have people to trust and confide in, and I will have the best two months of my life. I am eager to start my journey and explore the true amazingness of Israel.