MAY 28 • 2020 | 13

“I really just needed a year after high school to explore my 
identity and myself before stepping into the academic world 
and realizing what I really wanted to do,
” she said. 
The program she chose, called Hevruta, brings Israeli and 
American students together. The American students in this 
year’
s class were sent home, and Olivia Feldman worries next 
year’
s program might be canceled altogether. 
No decisions have been made yet, but she’
s hoping American 
students will just be asked to quarantine for two weeks upon 
arriving in Israel in September. 
Despite all the uncertainty, the class of 2020 is staying hope-
ful. Fogel said it’
s helped his grade come together in new ways. 
“The vast majority of people in my grade have been really 
hopeful and positive… [it] kind of builds that community 
which maybe we didn’
t have as much of in high school,
” he said.
Above all, this year’
s graduates feel that while it’
s upsetting to 
lose the end of their senior year, there’
s still a lot to be grateful 
for. 
“I’
m still living life like I have a big future ahead of me and 
hopefully this is just a blip on the radar,
” Emily Feldman said. 
“
And while it is really difficult and challenging, and these expe-
riences are real, I’
m just lucky to be healthy and safe.
” 

the summer, are also being conducted virtually this year.
And although several universities have committed to hold-
ing in-person classes in the fall, many schools — including the 
University of Michigan and Michigan State University — have not 
made any official decisions on whether they’
ll let students come 
back to campus. 
Fogel is hoping he’
ll be able to start college at U-M in September 
as planned, but he’
s heard of people who are considering switching 
to a school closer to home or taking classes at community college 
because of the uncertainty of the pandemic. 
Shienbaum will attend West Point military academy in the fall 
and play on the school’
s football team. He’
s supposed to start basic 
training in New York on July 13, and he hasn’
t heard any instruc-

tions to do otherwise yet. 
“To be honest, I think that I will have the opportunity to go to 
New York soon and go to college,
” he said. “I’
ve just been worried 
because obviously nobody wants online [learning], but it might be 
the norm. I hope everybody gets to go, and I hope it’
s safe.
” 
Olivia Feldman plans on taking a gap year in Israel after grad-
uation. She’
s been looking forward to the opportunity for a long 
time. 

“I planned these few months of 
my life and looked forward to 
them for so long and to have none 
of that happening — it’s tough.”

— EMILY FELDMAN

“The vast majority of people
in my grade have been really
hopeful and positive… [it]
kind of builds that community 
which maybe we didn’t have
as much of in high school.”

— JAKE FOGEL

Emily Feldman

Jake Fogel