Throughout the journey of life, decisions grow increasingly more complex and require extra forethought. Starting from childhood, I always knew what my next step would be; Elementary to Middle School, Middle School to High School. Unfortunately, the comfortable predictability ended when I graduated twelfth grade. My next step was no longer a given, and I was required to make the first real decision of my life. Though it is prevalent in my community for students to study in Israel for a year before attending a local university, I did not want to travel abroad simply to meet the neighborhood benchmark. I came to the conclusion that I would only take a gap year if my sole motivation is a sincere desire to gain from what the experience has to offer, …show more content…
I then faced a further perplexing question- which school would best enhance my spiritual and emotional growth? There is a myriad of gap-year programs in Israel, each with a slightly different goal for its students. I researched thoroughly, attempting to distinguish between the mentalities of each school. It was my first opportunity to independently define my values and standards, and choose a school that would best cement these beliefs and set me on a path towards a gratifying future. Thankfully, I strongly feel that the school I decided to attend has uniquely provided me with clarity of direction, an intellectual and academic challenge, and a plethora of opportunities to experience Israel and give back to the local and global …show more content…
Once a week we have the opportunity to participate in a trip in different areas of Israel. During these trips, our tour guide explains the history and customs of the community. For example, I participated in a trip to the Belz community. Our tour guide explained that one of the fundamental aspects of the community is the sincere and utmost respect that the community has for their authority and leaders. Broadening my knowledge about the values and priorities of each community trains me to think what system of values I would want in my own community. Even if I do not choose to be part of that specific community, I can make a mental list of values that are important to me and eventually find a group that I fit into. Another area I visited was Mitzpeh Yericho, a settlement that overlooks the walls of Jericho. The family that hosted me also educated me about how the system of that the settlement runs on. One of the more beautiful things they explained was the acceptance and feeling of family that is prevalent in their community. Each person in the community played a crucial role in the contribution to the continuity of the community. I was privileged enough to experience the simplicity and beauty of having a small and unified