I have spent a decade of my life at MJDS. Well not exactly. I haven't spent every second of every hour of every year of that decade inside the doors of this building but you get the point. I came in as a tiny, little junior kindergartener and now am leaving as a big, teenage eighth grader. I remember when I was little the eighth graders looked so big, they were at the top of a mountain that I wasn't tall enough to reach. Given that I was three-and-a-half feet tall I thought I could never be a big eighth grader.

Now, here I am today. Still not very tall, but you get what you get. Wow, it has been an amazing journey. I'm definitely not the same Amalia as the one that entered in 2008. Now, standing on the mountain that is my journey of MJDS, I see all the fails, attempts, and smiles that shaped me into who I am today. Sometimes climbing up wasn't easy, but challenge is what makes you learn. MJDS has made me feel like I can be a leader and make a difference in the world. From MJDS I have learned that many people are not as fortunate as me and it's our job as a community to repair the world, tikkun olam. By doing mitzvah projects like Voice of The Children and volunteering at St. Ben's Community Meal Program, which provides meals for those in need, I feel I have a purpose, and can do anything I put my mind to.

I can take on any mountain that comes my way; for that I say, thank you MJDS for helping me reach the top. It's a great view.

Mazal Tov on 36; I am so lucky to have been a part of it!

Amalia Steinberg

MJDS Student, Class of 2018