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College Bound

Adat Shalom series made college
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SHOP SHERWOOD...
IT'S WORTH IT.

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6644 Orchard Lake Road Just S. of Maple
West Bloomfield 248-855-1600
Hours: • Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat. 11-7
• Tues & Wed. Closed • Sunday 12-5
SALE ENDS DECEMBER 31, 2012
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44

December 13 • 2012

JN

I

remember walking into school
many schools had cafeterias that
on my very first day of ninth
served kosher food! Though I do not
grade and thinking to myself, "In
keep strictly kosher, the idea that I
four years, I will be in college:' Now,
will be able to keep Passover as I have
nearly four years later, I am trying to
every year and have a place to go for
wrap my head around the fact that
Friday night Shabbat dinners is not
only intriguing but alluring as well.
I have to make a decision that will
ultimately change the course of my
The second session included a
panel of representatives from Hillel
life. It's stressful, to say the least, not
to mention that I have to start prepar- Jewish Student Centers from schools
ing myself to leave what I
in Michigan. They shared
know and am comfortable
what they know about
with.
Jewish life on campus,
Lucky for me, I have
gave advice and answered
people in my community
numerous questions —
from "Are High Holy Day
who help me along the
way, and I try to take
services available?" to "Can
advantage of whatever
we stay late at Hillel to
resources I am given. One
study?" A Michigan State
of the most helpful was
student gave her perspec-
the College Bound series
tive about how Jewish life
Rac hael
I attended with my mom
impacts her education and
Bra dley
at Adat Shalom Synagogue
experience.
in Farmington Hills.
Teen2 Teen
The last session was
Staff Writer
College Bound was a free
about ways to find schol-
arships and money for
program made possible
through a grant from the Mandell and education, and truly helped everyone
Madeleine Berman Foundation.
discover alternatives for paying the
Generally speaking, the series
huge college tuition that so many par-
focused on making the transition
ents dread.
from high school into college easier
Lisa and Michael Betman of West
to understand. For me, it also gave
Bloomfield, parents of Noah, a senior
me confidence, a sense of ease,
at West Bloomfield High School, said,
information that would impact my
"The session on financing college
with speaker Mary Berman from JELS
decision-making process and, most
importantly, it made me even more
(Jewish Education Loan Service) was
very informative and offered many
excited to attend college, something I
had been extremely nervous about.
ideas and options on how to finance a
The program was divided into
college education.
"Although the idea of financing
three sessions. During the first
session, a group of college-bound
college is overwhelming, Mary made
teenagers and their parents talked
it seem much more manageable by
explaining the different options avail-
to us. This session was particularly
eye-opening for me. I found out my
able. The College Bound program
mother and I share many more views
really helped to prepare our family
than I thought when it comes to my
for the next step in the journey to
college life and how Judaism will play
college:'
I am extremely grateful for this
a part in it.
In all honesty, I hadn't thought
College Bound series. It not only
about how being Jewish was going to
eased my parent's mind when it
affect my decision. I was under the
comes to college, but it also helped
impression that college was more of a me understand better how college
will work, and how in the coming
neutral setting, where many different
races and religions were shoved onto
years I will create a perfect mesh of
one campus and no one really talked
my education and my Judaism.
about it. This College Bound session
showed me otherwise, and how my
Boohoo! Bradley, 17, of West Bloomfield
religion will come into play wherever
is a senior at Farmington Hills Harrison
I choose to attend next fall.
High School.
For example, I had no idea that

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