What I Gained From Studying Abroad in Israel

Blog image - What I Gained From Studying Abroad in Israel

As a kid, you look up to your parents. You want to be just like them. You grow up hearing their stories, especially the ones from when they were young and did all these incredible things. For me, Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss) gave me stories of my own. I had always heard about 1996, when my dad spent two months in Israel during his junior year of high school. He would talk about Dov, the best teacher in the world, and how he changed his life. I remember flipping through his old Judaic studies notebooks, learning about Israel the way he once did. And when it was finally my turn, I knew I’d get to do the same.

 

Now, I have my own notebooks and my own pictures. And one day, I’ll pull them out for my own kids. I’ll tell them about my teacher, Aubrey, who brought the same passion to the classroom that Dov once did for my dad. Aubrey lit a spark in all of us, inspiring us to learn with the same fire that he teaches with.

Muss didn’t just prepare me to return to high school with a new passion for learning; it gave me a glimpse of the kind of education I want for the next four years. I plan to study international affairs, and honestly, it’s because I’m hoping it’ll be even a little like Muss–immersive, meaningful, and driven by purpose. There, I gained perspective, independence, and a deeper connection to my identity. It taught me how to think critically, ask questions, and see the world through a wider lens. I didn’t just learn about history–I stood in the places where it happened. I didn’t just hear about leadership–I practiced it every day, living with peers, managing responsibilities, and finding my voice.

 

It gave me lifelong friendships with people who shared my values and pushed me to grow. It gave me teachers like Aubrey, who didn’t just teach from a textbook but sparked something in us, something real. I left Muss more confident in who I am, more curious about the world, and more committed to making a difference in it.


It wasn’t just a semester abroad experience; it was a turning point. It shaped the way I want to learn, the kind of communities I want to be part of, and the future I want to build.

 

Nina is a high school senior from Atlanta, GA. To learn more about Alexander Muss High School in Israel, visit www.amhsi.org. To access up to $7,500 in tuition support towards a study abroad program in Israel, visit jnf.org/dreamisrael.

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