Our Graduates share their experience at Gmax Jerusalem

Anna Pomson

By the age of 6 I had lived in 3 countries, and when I was 13 my family decided to move to Israel. By the end of my family's second year in Israel I had almost given up on school. I couldn't do my best in anything since it was all in Hebrew.

I went with my parents to meet with the people in charge of GMAX and my parents and I liked it, and decided to enroll.

During my year in GMAX I finally felt like I was learning properly and my grades were reflecting my efforts. Not only was I enjoying myself in class but I could also participate in areas of high school such as the school play and putting together the year book. Activities I would not have been able to contribute to, if they had been in Hebrew. Since GMAX I have worked back stage, stage managed, and assistant directed a number of different plays. Thanks to GMAX I can accomplish things I never thought I could.

Anna

Lexi Ben-David

Hi,

My name is Lexi Ben-David. When I was 11 years old my family made Aliyah with Nefesh B'Nefesh from Boca Raton, Florida. At the time I was very unhappy and not willing to adjust. I moved Bat-Mitzvah year and had to miss all my friends' Bat-Mitzvahs and had to go to girls' parties that I barely knew. It was very hard and the truth is that I only started to enjoy living here about 2 years ago. I've been in many different Israeli schools, and I just didn't feel like I was even coming close to reaching my full potential or even half. It was very hard for me to absorb the language and the material all in one class. From 6th through 10th grade I struggled.

Finally, towards the end of the 10th grade when I was already in my second high school, I asked my parents to look into different options. I explained to them how unhappy I was and they promised to look into different schools that would make me more comfortable. My parents researched a little and spoke to a bunch of different Anglos who had the same problem with their teenagers. We then went to talk to my principal and he ironically suggested GMAX just a couple of days after we had already found out about it.

I started GMAX and immediately felt a lot more comfortable. It was such a relief to be able to study in English and feel like I understand what's going on. GMAX really helped me realize that I do have the potential, and that if I just tried a little harder I could reach my goals.

After GMAX I started as a Bat-Sherut working in the Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. I started in Orthopedics and later on switched to the Maternity ward. It was such an amazing feeling to wake up in the morning put on my uniform and really feel like i'm making a difference. I wouldn't have been able to be where I am today if it weren't for GMAX.

Lexi