Advice From A Senior

Hi USY! I hope you all had a wonderful Pesach. As we reach the middle of April, I’m sure we are all feeling the beginning of the end. As a Senior, I can tell you with the utmost confidence that the end of the year can not come any sooner for most of us. However, the end of senior year is definitely a bittersweet time. I know I find myself reminiscing about my time in USY as we plan our last events of the year.

Even as the academic year comes to a close, I hope you all continue to spend time with your fellow USYers, especially those closest to you, in your chapters. Some great ways to do this are to host summer themed chapter events, like a bonfire; go on an ice cream run together; or for the lucky USYers who live near a beach, take a day trip there! It is so important to keep in contact with your friends from your chapter, because chapters are where love for USY is born. I know personally I have seen that people in my chapter have grown their love for USY and their friendships through it because they keep inviting more and more people from our chapter to go to events, and they have all created a stronger bond because of it.

For seniors: while I do encourage you all to take the time to look back and be grateful for your time in USY, do not forget to look forwards. USY has taught all of us to stick together as a Jewish Community and always be welcoming to those who are looking for a place to call home. And so, no matter what your plans are for the upcoming year – college or gap year – know that you will always be able to find another USY face, and that they will welcome you with open arms into the Jewish space that they, and maybe you, can call home.