Charli Ernstein shares her feelings towards NCSY and her experiences with the youth organization.
I really have a hard time being able to put the description of these last eight years of NCSY into words because I can't seem to figure out exactly when I began to be inspired — if not from the start. I can say for certain it changed my life and that maybe as I keep forcing myself to write and reflect, I will be able to show you my experience.
I'm sad, yet excited. And simultaneously, nothing feels different. Yes, I've now turned a page to NCSY alumni, but NCSY will be with me wherever I go — all the lessons, inspiration, Torah, memories, and swag (of course). My second family. My second home. The place where I found “me.” The place where no one judges your background; people are just there for you and want to learn from you no matter who you are.
I have learned so much from every person I've met on NCSY, whether it be staff, advisors, NCSYers, or an MC.
NCSY began changing my life in just fifth grade, and because of Midwest NCSY, I have been learning Torah as seriously as I could've ever dreamed for myself at this age and time.
NCSY brought me back to my roots and helped me find my inner strengths. Because of that, I found who I wanted to be and am now on my way to becoming myself every day.
NCSY taught me the meaning behind so many of the challenges that come along with being a religious Jew and enhanced my relationships with Shabbos, kashrut, dressing modestly, my peers, my prayer, G-d, Torah, and myself.
NCSY has helped me understand that everyone is struggling somehow, but just because we don't know doesn't mean we should act as though nothing is there.
Here are my three parting words of advice I shared with Midwest NCSY on Shabbos:
Number 1: Embrace opportunities and rise above peer pressure — stay true to yourself. It can be scary and demanding, but for me (as it can be for you), it was an opportunity that eventually came to change my life when I decided to stay true to myself and what I truly wanted.
Number 2: Be brave and step out of your comfort zone. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I was able to grow in my academics, extracurriculars, community, volunteering, and so much more. I threw myself into NCSY, a literary magazine, soccer, the Ida Crown fashion show, and more — look at everything I have gotten out of simply stepping out of my comfort zone.
Number 3: Ask questions and challenge yourself. If I didn’t ask tons of questions and make myself curious, I wouldn’t know all of the things I know now. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to reach out to have a chavruta — learning with a peer, teacher, or NCSY advisor — and double my knowledge even outside of school. So please, take it upon yourself to learn more with people who challenge you, whether it be a teacher, rabbi, NCSY advisor, older sibling, etc.
Analyze the opportunity cost — is it worth it? Is this other opportunity a better one to take? Less risky? Analyze the risk and reward, and stand with your values and the decision you make.
Make sure that you can look back and say just what Dr. Randy Pausch said: “I look back, and there’s nothing about my life that I would have changed.”
Be brave. Enjoy new experiences and discoveries. You will grow immensely and quickly and add more substance to your journey to becoming a better you. As Dr. Randy Pausch said, “Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”
This goes hand in hand with stepping out of your comfort zone; it can be scary to ask questions and to work to accomplish a new or difficult task, but that is exactly what makes it so important. Questioning because of wonder and questioning yourself through challenges will propel you forward in growth in any aspect of your life; as Dr. Randy Pausch said, “Never lose the childlike wonder… Don’t complain, just work harder… Never give up.”
As I say “see you later,” I also have to add that any time you're feeling down, know that Hashem has a plan and “לטובה זו גם”, this too is for the good.
Thank you, NCSY, for giving me all of these opportunities to escape my comfort zone to be able to enjoy new experiences. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn and to be inspired. Thank you for helping me to always see the brighter side of everything because of all of the emunah and bitachon of mine that came to be because of NCSY programming. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of changing my life for the better. Every NCSYer, every director, advisor, and MC, thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a beautiful team that impacted so many teens this year.