Ronit Goldberg, Senior

Dear Prospective Student,

    As an entering senior, I feel qualified to help you in your decision about where to go for four important years of your life. When I look back at the past three Academic years of my life, one word comes to mind: floating. ICJA is not like the high schools depicted in Mean Girls or Clueless because there are truly no set cliques or tables in the lunchroom where you cannot sit if you are not athletic or if your parents do not own a one-million dollar house. Rather, students are free to sit where they please, with whomever they want, and suffer no judgmental looks or “branding.” The atmosphere at the Academy is easygoing and welcoming, while still being highly academic and challenging. Students from all grades respect one another and are always there to help out the girl who dropped all of her books down the staircase, as well as to run and get paper towels to help clean up her bottle of Snapple that cracked on its way down.
     I can honestly never remember a time that I felt lonely in this school because someone is always willing to forgo their homework during a free period and rally me until I feel better. High school can be tough, especially in terms of academics, but ICJA stresses the importance of finding a balance between extracurricular activities, school work, and—of course—having some sort of social life. Teachers understand that students will need a break from their hectic schedules, and they form a support system to help you if you ever need advice or guidance. Most student-teacher relationships extend well beyond the classroom, and that is another reason why ICJA offers much more than just a good Jewish and secular education: It offers four years—five, during your interview—of experiences to help you grow as an individual and find where you “float.”
     I urge you to seriously consider ICJA as an option for high school because it will help you figure out the  perfect balance of growing as a part of the Jewish community and as a part of the entire secular world as a thinking and responsible young adult. Good luck with your decision!

Sincerely,
Ronit Goldberg