Most of my friends in public school see school as academic and social. I feel as if KBA gives me so much more. I have great friends and our classes are challenging. I know that I am often learning things beyond my grade level. Our teachers want us to succeed and are always available to talk with us. The projects they give us are interesting and creative from writing parody songs about science to creating Ted talks. But the reason I feel I have gotten so much more is that as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate how KBA expects us to be citizens of the world and to lead with Jewish values. They expect us to be role models for the younger students and we often do projects where we read to or do STEM projects with them. We go to Lions Gate to spend time with seniors and partner with a school in Camden each year to do a science project. We have been taught about our responsibility to take care of the earth and every grade does projects from planting trees to designing products for a better planet. In Judaism we believe that every life has value and purpose and KBA has taught us that everyone’s skills and talents may be different but that each of us has something important to contribute. I feel as if I am learning the skills I need to succeed academically in high school but also the skills and values to be the best person I can be.