A gap year after high school is a good way to relieve stress, take up personal interests, or travel. For senior Elan Assayag, a year spent in Israel next year will help him mature into the man he hopes to become and make up for time missed with relatives in Israel.
Completing four years of high school is no easy task and moving on to college to begin the next step into becoming an adult is no walk in the park either. Many young students decide to go into college not prepared for the workload and the long hours of work needed. Elan for sure will have a good outlook on his life and goals when he gets back.
Elan says, “Throughout my life I have been been fortunate enough to have done a good deal of traveling”. This has inspired him to go to Israel and try to embrace the culture and learn new things about himself. He has a lot of family in Israel and is excited to see them again.
Elan refers to this next chapter in his life as something that is “a road less traveled by” but has the full support of his parents and family. He says, “I couldn’t do it without their great support.”
Leaving behind his two brothers, two sisters, parents and Grandma will not be easy for him. Boarding the airplane to leave for a year will definitely bring out mixed emotions. Many people are supportive of what he wants to do but also many are going to miss him.
His girlfriend, Shelby, has decided to go with him to Israel and is also leaving behind family and friends. Elan says, “She is the love of my life and I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.” Both are excited to experience new things together and see where this trip could bring them in their relationship.
As a senior, Elan has had some time to reflect on his experience at WHB and really appreciates all that this school and community have done for him. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be raised. I love all my friends from WHB, the teams I’ve been apart of and the lessons I have learned. I have learned that hard work pays off and it doesn’t matter if your not the smartest kid in school, or aren’t the best at a particular sport, effort is what truly matters.”
We all wish him luck in whatever he does and all hope that Israel is a great experience for him.