Five life changing stories

Ready to overcome my fear of cockroaches. Mai Losche 

There are people who have phobias and I am one of them. People with a phobia are miserable when facing it they panic, they go into shock, their terrified and have anxiety. It is very hard to deal with it but possible, it needs to be done with courage, willingness, and desire. My phobia is cockroaches.

One day, I was sitting on the coach when all of a sudden I noticed this extremely big cockroach. I was thirsty and so I wanted to go towards the kitchen but his presence frightened me. I just wanted to get a cup of water when I saw that disgusting creature staring at me. I panicked and the cockroach seemed to be very calm and comfortable. All of a sudden, it started moving towards me and I started to scream. I didn’t know what to do. Its steps were so quick that I thought that it has already climbed up my long leg and made its way up to my shirt but it didn’t.

I was all alone in my house, more than that I felt alone in the whole world. Suddenly, my mother came into my thoughts. I remembered that she always used to tell me that when I feel anxious or scared I should sing to myself and imagine beautiful things that make me happy, and so I did. I started thinking about my tiny dog and about the feelings I get when I’m around its presence.

All at once I understood that the disgusting cockroach is so tiny and can’t hurt me at all. I sang to myself and let the little creature move until it got to the door and went outside. At this point I knew that I am ready to face this fear thanks to my mother’s advice.

Becoming a teacher. Maayan Fleischmann

I never imagined I will one day want to become a teacher, but life had surprised me with a twist in the plot.

It all began with my first class of soldiers. I was 18 at the time and had just finished my commander’s course. Although I received them with open arms, I intended to turn them into the disciplined and Zionist soldier figure I had in my mind. Only during the second day, did I realize what I was standing up against. Some of them had no intentions of becoming soldiers, let alone take orders from a woman their age. They would not want to wake up, eat, or train, or have professional lessons about Weapons, first aid, orientation, etc. I had a schedule to follow and a goal to accomplish, so I did my best in teaching the ones that were willing, and in the meanwhile had endless conversations about discipline and difficulties in the army with those who were not willing to obey.

One particular soldier named Eyal, had difficulties with both attending the full daily schedule and studying. I made a deal with him that I would sit with him after our lessons and explained again what we learned, and in exchange he would have to behave and be a part of the entire daily routine.

In this process, we went through good days and bad days. Gradually Eyal changed and become more disciplined, learning to postpone his will and becoming a part of a class of soldiers. I learned to be patience, caring but also not to compromise on my values. I learned how to overcome difficulties and approach each solider as an individual with a background and family, not merely a number. At the end of a long and hard process, Eyal finished boot camp successfully. I was so proud of him and this experience made me realize that I could make a difference in somebody’s life.

As I look back, I am thankful for this experience that showed me what I really want to do.

To become a teacher, to influence, to lead and care for those in need.

Meeting my expectations Lee Ann Lankry

Every child at a certain point in his life begins school, and each one has a different opinion and view on his teachers and the school. Experiences are everything in life, good or bad, they distinguish our life and help us eventually come to our goals. For me, an experience unlike any other made me realize I wanted to become a teacher. Ever since I was a child, I had a way with children, I loved to take care of them, teach them and even just sit and talk with them. At this point in my life I was around twelve so the decision to become a teacher wasn’t prominent yet. When I reached the age of sixteen I decided to start tutoring English at a minor level, and at this point I fell in love with teaching and English altogether.

My first student and my first experience as a teacher which led to my never forgotten moment of pure clarity. Clarity in which I could distinctly see my future, see my life’s main purpose. My student, Linoy, didn’t speak a word of English and was failing with no hope of ever reaching a new and

improved level of English. At first I was afraid and didn’t know if my abilities of teaching were good enough to teach English from scratch. From the beginning, I took particular notice to the fact that I could manage to have confidence even if I wasn’t sure myself and that I was convincing.

My greatest fear starting off was that with my school work and hers I would not be able to manage my time and juggle them both together. What surprised me is my new profound responsibility and how I could not only meet with her whenever she needed but her scores were increasing. I was determined to not only advance her level of English but to help her appreciate the language. With my guidance though the three years I taught her, she became an A student and no longer needed my help.

Teaching is not an easy task and I have much more appreciation to teachers today than I did when I first started off as a tutor. The experience that I had as a teacher enlightened me in many ways, and I now know how I want to pursue my life and career.

I discovered abilities I did not know existed in me, but I know that I still have a great deal to learn. As Mary-Frances Winter once said “whatever you do for a living never stop learning how to get better at doing it”. Thus, the experience I had as a tutor made me realize I may have qualities that can make me a good teacher, but you never cease to learn.

Overcoming obstacles and achieving my goal Linoy Pnini

Looking back at my school years, I can only notice the vast spectrum of experiences and emotions I was faced with.

Early on, it was transparent that I was different than most kids in my class. It had to do with my behavior in comparison to the others. The reason became very clear once I was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

My parents realized I had ADHD when I was a child. I was always a bright, creative and outgoing kid but I just couldn’t remember certain things. I would forget to do assignments until the night before they were due, or not remember at all. Unlike my fellow classmates, I couldn’t keep still in a classroom for more than a few minutes. My teachers were always very harsh towards me- even when acknowledging my learning disability.

A teacher once told me, “Linoy, you will never be like your friends. No matter how hard you try.” Most teachers demanded I leave class after a few minutes.

I used to ask them “why won’t you help me? I need your help”. They used to tell me I was a “lost cause”, that there was no hope left.

To be honest I felt abandoned, disappointed and most often lost. By some miracle I made it through High School without extra assistance from my teachers. Luckily I had a good support system from my friends and family.

Two years after graduating I met a 12- year old girl. She had recently been diagnosed with ADHD. She told me her story and I felt like I was looking at a mirror of my childhood. At that veery moment I realized I needed to utilize my knowledge and guide other kids with this disability. Today, I am an elementary school teacher specializing in ADHD. My moto is “you are all the same, just a tiny bit different”.

The power of goodbye. Omri Baranes

Ever since I can remember myself, I’ve had that uncontrollable, unexplainable fear. A fear I lose people before I had the chance to say goodbye to them. I remember moments in which I was extremely anxious. I couldn’t stop imagining my loved ones being taken away from me in the most unlikeable ways. When I was fourteen-years old something happened that released me from my biggest fear.

It was morning; the look through my bedroom window was beautiful since the sky was bright and clear. It was a perfect, quiet and sunny morning of a perfect Shabbat day. Now I can tell that even though it seemed like it was a perfect morning, it was too quiet.

I got out of my bed and wandered heavily towards my parents’ bedroom, unusually it was empty. I glanced over at my phone and it showed “19 missed calls”. I held my phone and that is when  I noticed that my hands were shaking. I called my mother, it took a while, but finally she answered.

Her voice was shaking and I knew that she was crying before answering my call. I felt my heart racing, cold sweat was running down my forehead and I started to breathe heavily. After few minutes I replied “It’s me, how is he doing?”. Though my mother tried to answer my question, she couldn’t form a sentence and bursts into tears. My grandfather had passed away.

It’s been seven days since he left us, seven whole days and all I could think about was the stuff that he left behind. I feared that moment will happen but at that time, I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t even feel any emotion other than sadness and emptiness. My grandfather’s house was full with family and friends for the last week but everybody was leaving and his house remains empty. I stood there alone, just me and his presence.

I went out of the house, locked the door behind me and headed towards my grandfather Isaac’s garden.

The garden was more beautiful than ever, the sun shined upon the flowers and made them look like a burst of colors. I smelled his flowers and it was amazingly sweet and addictive. I felt an urge to touch them, so rapidly I cut some of my favorite flowers. I headed to the front of the garden until I reached a massive wall that surrounded the entire house. I felt my heart, it was racing again, only this time I could feel optimism rather than anxiety and fear as I used to. A big smile was spread upon my face as I started to paint on the massive wall using my grandfather Isaac’s flowers as my brushes. I wrote on that wall all that I wanted to say to him and I now understand that I had my own way to say goodbye.

I walked home from my grandfather’s house for the last time. During my walk home, I kept feeling a strong breeze all around me. The wind carried flower petals away and I could sense a big presence walking me safely to my own house. I’m not afraid anymore and I’m ready to know that it is never too late to say goodbye to the ones I love.