from the jewish journal 2019 and 2020:
"I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY SPACE. ... I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE EXCITING THAT I WANT TO DEDICATE MY LIFE TO."
Elisheva Gross:
Promoting Girls in Science and Space
GAON Academy
Elisheva Gross has kept herself busy throughout high school by participating in extracurricular activities and volunteer programs, honing her leadership skills and combating stereotypes against female engineers. As a dual-enrollment student, she also took classes at Santa Monica College (SMC), expanding her social bubble and preparing herself for the rigor of college-level courses.
'I've made quite a few friends in my classes [at SMC]. Going to Jewish school all my life, I've gotten to know a very specific community, and it's nice to be able to see different types of people," she told the Journal.
Gross, who lives in Westwood, was on her high school's debate team and participated in Jewish mock trials. For the past five years, she has volunteered with Friendship Circle Los Angeles, a program that provides social, recreational, educational and Judaic experiences to Jewish children with special needs.
"DURING LOCKDOWN I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT MYSELF AND THAT THINGS DON'T MATTER NEARLY AS MUCH AS WE THINK. THAT IS THE BEST GRADUATION GIFT OF ALL."
Rachel Judah:
Learning About Myself in Lockdown
Harkham-GAON Academy
THIS YEAR THERE IS NO GRADUATION party, no cap and gown, no family or friends to see me graduate, and no walking up to receive my diploma. What a crazy reality we're living in graduation validation has gone in an instant. But why is this so upsetting?
Truthfully, I'm not so sure. I have never known exactly what to expect at a graduation.
Maybe having parents who weren't born in America has something to do with this because their Euro-culture never offered a high school graduation, and as the older in my family, I have no firsthand experience of the great graduation experience.
Graduating from high school is a big deal, don't get me wrong, and even more so when you graduate on your 16th birthday with two years of college credits completed. But I don't understand the hype, and maybe that's why graduating over Zoom hasn't really upset me. During lockdown I have learned more myself and that things don't matter nearly as much as we think. That is the best graduation gift of all.
ALUMNI: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Sam Hodara
Class of 2014
IDC Herzliya Graduate - Finance
Merrill Lynch Wealth Mngmt
"HGA taught me how to manage my time, how to work independently, and how to direct my freedom & choices productively.
I am proud of the lifelong connections I made with the Faculty and Administration at HGA."
Elie Benzaquen
Class of 2016
Yeshiva University -
CompSci & the
YU Yeshiva Rabbi Program
"HGA really helped me to develop my ability to learn individually and taught me self discipline."
Noah Wachtenheim
Class of 2016
Real Estate Agent -
Keller Williams
Hollywood Hills
"HGA helped me to become self motivated and give my best effort to
pursuing goals. Being at HGA gave me confidence to put myself in social situations comfortably.’
Alex Schwartz
Class of 2015
Served in IDF - Tanks Division
Made Aliyah & Attended
Jerusalem School of Tech
Business/CompSci
"HGA was the first school where I could connect to my Rabbeim personally, instead of them just being my teacher; I looked at them more like a personal Rebbe to me.
I grew as a person at HGA, but it was
my connection to the faculty that I
appreciated the most."