

USY has been an important part of my life since my last year at Pressman. I attended a Shabbaton at Camp Alonim, where I made friends with whom I'm still very close. I loved the Judaism, the programming, the ruach, and the meaningful conversations I had with the other USYers. Everyone was fully focused on being there and having the best experience possible.
A few months after that Shabbaton, I attended the regional convention, also at Alonim. It was large and a bit overwhelming, but I soon felt comfortable. I looked up to the leaders of my region, and thought that maybe I, too, would one day be a USY leader.
For ten years I have attended Camp Ramah in Ojai. After Machon - the last year of my camper experience - I went on Ramah Israel Seminar. I loved getting to know a diverse group of Ramahniks, who grew up in a similar environment to the one I was raised in but whom I never would have met if not for seminar. This past summer was my first year as a Ramah counselor. I had quite the learning experience. I especially enjoyed having many Pressman students as my campers during second session.
When I started Beverly Hills High in 9th grade, it was difficult at first because I didn't know anybody. As I got involved in school activities, though, I started to become comfortable there. I joined the basketball and cross country teams, and I ran track and field from 9th grade to the first semester of 12th grade.
This year I am proud to be co-President of the student body. My responsibilities include running meetings and facilitating student activities like homecoming, clubs, and our recent fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Being in ASB a big time commitment because we meet for an hour each day.
As though I didn't have enough on my plate already, I decided to run for USY president in December. I am passionate about youth group and Conservative Judaism. I love USY more than anything else I do. At the election at USY's International Convention, there was no campaigning allowed, so the election came down to a public candidates forum and a presentation of a speech. We all answered questions on the spot and gave a prepared speech a few days later. I ran against people from across the country and even one from Canada.

Before college, my dream is to take a gap year in Israel on the Nativ program. After that, I plan to come back to the US and attend college. Otherwise, my parents might disown me. I've applied to colleges all over the country, but I don't know where I'll wind up. People ask me if I'm concerned about BDS on campus, but I'm not afraid to go to a school with a strong BDS movement. I'm going to stick to my roots and continue to embrace my Judaism. I will never back down from my convictions, my commitment to my tribe, and to making the world a better place.
Photo credit: Adrian Baird, Endless Entertainment.