I didn’t always feel super connected to my Jewish identity. Growing up we never went to synagogue or observed the "lesser" holidays. We really only celebrated Hanukkah and Passover. But joining BBYO and going to CLTC changed that. I finally felt that connection I had been craving, I felt something click. My experience is going to be different than everyone else’s and I know that but those days really were some of the best of my life. I made my best friends, got bat mitzvah’d, and discovered who I was. I went in not expecting much and left knowing who I wanted to be. I also knew I wanted to go on full Perlman this summer. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t in the cards for me so I live through my friends who are there. I learn what they learn through facetimes, lunch dates, and hopefully group hangouts when they all get back. I honestly do wish I was there but you can’t change the past on the present and your future. So I know that me not going on Perlman can’t be changed, but I can still make do with what I have and learn through other people.

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