After taking a gap year, many students are left wondering, “What’s next?” For people in their early 20s, this can be a frightening question.
But Masa Israel Journey fellows at the end of their gap year experiences find this question to not be as daunting. Simon Lagrange, a San Diego native, is finishing his gap year with Masa, and will soon have to make decisions about his next steps. Masa Israel Journey is a gap year program for young adults where they spend a year volunteering or working in Israel and are fully immersed in Israeli culture.
Lagrange spent his gap year volunteering in the emergency department of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. He went into Masa wanting to know “whether or not medicine would function as a suitable career path.” Now that his year has ended, he can either continue his studies and work in Israel or return to San Diego. Both, Lagrange said, are exciting options.
Masa offers opportunities to help participants decide where to go after their year has ended. This year, Masa held three separate events for their fellows.
The first, the “Next Step Event,” prepared students for their first moments on college campuses and, according to Masa staff, helped them to find on-campus Jewish clubs and organizations. The event featured lectures from various speakers. For example, Israeli judoka Olympic medalist Ori Sasson spoke to students about taking on an “Olympic mindset” as they continue their careers.
Some fellows, like Lagrange, attended the Masa Career Fair. Approximately 30 companies participated in the event, and fellows were offered numerous interviews and job opportunities.
More than 120 fellows also took part in the Masa Leadership Summit. According to Masa officials, they were taught to expand their horizons, develop lifelong skills and to become advocates for the Jewish community.
When volunteering, Lagrange’s days were busy, but his schedule did not disturb his overall goal.
“Through immersing myself in Hebrew almost every single day and remaining resolute in my goal to provide the best possible service to the hospital and its patients, I have found meaning and purpose in even the smallest of routine tasks, such as taking a patient’s vitals, helping to perform EKGs, translating for those with little to no knowledge of Hebrew, and transporting individuals to different medical wings within the grand scope of the emergency department,” said Lagrange.
Not only does Masa set young Jewish minds up for a career, but it also immerses them in a new and exciting place, said Lagrange.
“I chose to come on Aardvark Israel gap year program with Masa to do volunteer work with the intent to fully immerse myself in Israeli culture and society,” he said.
Lagrange, throughout the year, experienced Israeli culture with young adults from more than 60 countries. He ate Israeli food, attended Jewish services, learned about Israeli history and celebrated Jewish holidays with other fellows.
The experience, Lagrange said, will continue to benefit him for the rest of his life.
“Throughout my time here, I have borne witness to so many incredible things and have had numerous experiences that have left indelible impressions on my life.”
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Preceding provided by Masa Israel Journey