By Esther Shemtov
I will never forget the night before I left home for the first time. The suitcases were packed, online check in completed, but I still felt unprepared. I was 15, the daughter of Shluchim in Cape Town, South Africa, about to move to Eretz Yisroel for high school.
The next day, a smile pasted onto my face to hide my fear, I was off.
The years that followed were a rollercoaster ride of navigating roommates and friendships, learning a new language, and most importantly, getting to know myself. The life experience and independence that I gained have shaped me into the person that I am today.
Each year, thousands of young women leave home for the first time, moving cities, states, and countries. Whether your new home is a high school dorm, seminary in Israel, or apartment in the city with friends, you are now responsible for your wellbeing, personal growth and life in a way that you never have been before.
My own experience has inspired me to work with many girls in this stage over the years, as a seminary teacher and health coach, and I have come to believe that your first few years living on your own are the most foundational time of your life. The individual person that you become, the decisions that are made as a result, set the stage for who you and your future family will become.
My goal is for frum girls today to feel empowered and supported in their newfound independence, to have resources that I wish had been available in my own high school and seminary years.
With this goal in mind I began to interview educators and experts from around the world to give guidance, support and tools on topics that are relevant specifically to this unique stage of your life.
As Shlucha, Marriage & Family Therapist Mrs Fraida Kaplan said in one of the interviews; “being independent doesn’t mean that you never need help. It means that you know how to ask for help when you need it, from the right places.”
The On your Own Podcast releases bi-weekly episodes, interviewing guests from a variety of fields on topics including Mental health, Budgeting, Emotional regulation, Nutrition, Personal growth & much more.
You can learn more about us and follow for new episodes here:
www.onyourownpodcast.com
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So needed
Even as a mom of kids leaving home, I have greatly enjoyed these insightful and relevant talks
Yashar Koach for filling a much needed gap!
thank you