On Friday, September 8th, the senior class spent a day of preparation for college at Lynn University, a private university located in Boca Raton. Seniors participated in various activities that would help them come closer to their ultimate goal of graduating and joining the college of their dreams.
The “College Boot Camp” commenced at the early hour of 7 a.m. Students in attendance were bused to Lynn’s campus and, upon arrival, said morning prayers and were then greeted by university staff. The first activity of the day was a scavenger hunt, where students were asked to find various campus landmarks. The winners of the challenge were treated to Lynn merchandise, while all students were given access to a smorgasbord of snacks and sweets before beginning their first lesson of the day.
The 12th grade was split into three groups that went on rotation between three different lessons. The lessons included Common Application readiness with college guidance counselors Ms. Tusing and Ms. Slone, college essay reflections with Mr. Butler, and gap year programming with Rabbi Greene (followed by a lesson on how to confront stress with Hillel’s guidance team).
Before the final lesson of the day, Rav Oded Karavani led a game of “Mega-Jenga” between senior girls and boys. For each wooden block pulled from the tower, a student was required to answer a trivia question or group up with other students to play mini-games that tested speed and precision. After an hour of nail-biting tension, it was the boys who were eventually victorious.
The boot camp concluded with a final rotation and the senior class returned to Hillel at around 5:00 in the afternoon.
The retreat left the Class of 2024 with an idea of what their lives may look like after graduation. Each student in attendance got to experience what it is like to be a student on a college campus and each lesson helped the seniors contemplate what they look forward to in their futures. Above all, the day offered the grade yet another opportunity to bond as they spend their last year together.
