When my friend told me about this program, I was excited because it was what I had always wanted.

I chose to study abroad because I wanted to try something new with school. I have always gone to the same public school program. I went to an elementary school, middle school, and high school at Abington. I also thought that coming to Israel was an awesome decision also. I have always wanted to travel on my own and also to Israel. This program gave me this opportunity. When my friend told me about this program, I was excited because it was what I had always wanted. Some of my goals that I wanted to achieve while on this program were to become more independent, responsible, and mature.

I have never passed up on a chance to travel away from home, whether it was with my family or with a youth group. This summer, I went to camp, New Hampshire and Florida. I was extremely excited to travel and explore the country. Coming to Israel has helped me expand my traveling because I have only been out of the country once before, but it was a resort and there was not much of the native culture. This program has shown the culture that Israel contains and it has also expanded my traveling experiences. I have never seen a different style of living until I came to Israel. 

Coming to Israel has made me more independent because it has showed me how to live on a campus without my parents and having to do more of my own things. I have had to become more independent to make sure that I do well here. If you aren’t independent than you won’t have as great of a time as possible. I have become more independent because I have had to get my own snacks, pay for my own food, and be able to live without my parents with me. I have felt that it was not as difficult as it sounds because I am having a blast with my friends here. 

I have also become more responsible while here. I feel this way because at home I never had a credit card. I felt so much more powerful, but I had to use my money wisely which made me more responsible. While here I also had to become more responsible of my belongings. I had to make sure that I didn’t break or lose them. I have done a pretty good job doing that so far. 

Becoming mature was also a goal that I have achieved while on this program. I feel that I have matured in a different way than others. I have definitely become less mature and more mature at the same time. I am still a child in the head with jokes and doing funny things, but I have learned to be more serious with important things. I am not completely mature, but I am for sure becoming more mature than I have been.

Coming on AMHSI was an amazing decision and it has helped me get a kickstart on my lifetime goals. I have never thought that a program could be this awesome and changing.