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MARCH 17, 2022 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Teen Talk
By Mrs. C. Isbee
Dear Teen Talk, I am a senior in a Bais Yaakov high school. I am popular, active in all kinds of school activities, and take learning seriously. Now that it is the middle-end of the school year, you would think I’m happy to be finishing twelfth grade and excited to be starting a whole new venture. Actually, I’m really upset and currently questioning whether I am doing the right thing or not regarding post-high school plans. I love my parents. They are sincere and good hard-working people. I know it’s difficult for them to make ends meet. They don’t complain about it, but I am aware that they struggle to pay tuition for my siblings and me. Doctors’ bills, insurance, mortgage, food, and other needs all cost, and I can tell that it’s difficult for them to cover everything. I would love to go to Israel and learn in seminary there, however, I made the decision not to apply. It is so expensive, and I could not dream of putting such a burden
Teen Talk , column in
a new
TJH, is geared to wards the teens in o ur commu nity. Answered by a rotati ng roster of teachers, rebbeim, clinicians , an d peers (!), te ens will b e hearing answers to many que stions the had perco y lating in th eir minds wished th an d ey had th e answers for.
on my parents. This topic was discussed often in my home. My parents are of the opinion that one can get a quality seminary education here. By the time I started my senior year, I completely accepted the fact that seminary in Eretz Yisroel was not in the cards for me. Since it was already explored between me and my parents, I knew that it would be disrespectful of me to try to change their minds. Therefore, when my fellow students were sending out applications, I did not broach the topic any further with my parents. It was very hard at first, but I worked on my emunah and told myself I would experience a year of learning and growth by attending a local seminary. B”H, I was given a great “senior” job (head of production), and when the girls were applying to seminary earlier in the year, that was a good distraction and my “outlet.” Now that my friends have gotten their responses (and production is over), the whole topic has become real. My friends
will all be leaving to study in Israel for the year. I am not worried that I will be dysfunctional without them, as I have a lot of self-confidence, and I make new friends easily. I am worried that I will be judged (wrongly) by them and by my teachers for making this decision. Moreover, I am starting to question whether I did the right thing. Maybe I should have told my parents that I want to go! Perhaps, they could have borrowed money to fund the tuition from extended family. What really triggered my frustration with my decision are the following happenings: I was sitting with my friends during break, when one of them asked me where I was going next year. I softly answered, “I’m going to seminary here.” The reason I answered softly is because there is so much hype about continu-
