A statement I have heard numerous times from those around me is that high school is a time for teens to ‘find themselves’. For a while, I could barely even comprehend what that meant. How could simply being in a new school with new people allow me to ‘find myself’?

Did it mean finding what hobbies I was most interested in, or what career path I wanted to pursue, or what friend groups I wanted to be a part of? Or was it just about growing up?

?These questions haunted the back of my mind as I grew closer to beginning a new chapter of life. I was tirelessly stuck on keeping up with the crowd, ensuring I didn’t fall behind, and finding the answers to all my questions.

?It wasn’t until I took a step into the BBYO community that I began to slowly reach a conclusion about what it means to find myself in high school. Rather, I realized it had nothing to do with high school at all. As I began to get involved in Jewish events, learn more about Jewish holidays, attend Shul whenever I could, and learn about all the different ways I could celebrate my Jewish identity, I truly felt as though I had found myself in my community. It encouraged me to celebrate more holidays, study Torah, teach my family, and love myself.

?My Jewish faith has become of utmost importance in my life, and has truly kept me afloat amidst the hardships of the past few years. BBYO has given me a safe space to explore my identity as a Jewish teen, and has encouraged me to be proud of my faith, even when it feels so difficult. In the end, I realized, the way to find myself was to learn about myself — my faith, my community, my identity, and my history. Now, I cannot imagine myself any other way.

?I owe so much of my life today to BBYO and the connections it has allowed me to form. Surrounding myself with other Jewish teens has helped me build confidence and feel unafraid to express myself, even in less accepting environments.

?I am in no way oblivious to the world around me. It is eternally heartbreaking how there are so many areas in the world where people aren’t as lucky as I am; where Jewish teens don’t get the safety and encouragement to explore their identity. I hope that my story motivates them to build the courage and motivation to connect with their own faith, in whatever way is safest and most comfortable for them.

?Although I am in no means finished with my journey of connecting to my Jewish faith, my love for BBYO and the connection it has helped me form with Judaism has already profoundly impacted my life, and it will continue to do so for a long time to come.