How a High School found #Transformation

 

By Rachel Joseph
Jacksonville Torah High School

 

On April 5, the students of Jacksonville Torah High School were invited as personal guests of Donna Orender, founder of Generation W, to the annual Generation W conference held at UNF. This was my first time attending such an event, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The other students and I walked into the lobby and we felt a palpable energy in the air. Everyone there had one goal: to be inspired and educated while connecting with other women who had similar goals. The theme of the event was #Transformation. It was a great feeling to be part of such a growth-oriented group who inspire so much change daily. The speakers were dynamic and engaging and I learned so much in the time that we were there. 


Generation W is an organization that focuses on inspiring women from around the world to come together and make a difference within themselves and within society. Among the speakers were CEOs, artists, educators and entrepreneurs. The speaker that resonated with me most on a personal level was Dr. Edith Eva Eger, author of “The Choice, Embrace the Possible.” Dr. Eger is a Holocaust survivor and someone who overcame unimaginable struggles in her life. She relayed some stories about her life and spoke about the difference between being a victim and being victimized. Despite all that she went through, she had an infectious smile on her face the whole time she was talking. It was a very moving experience.


I am extremely grateful to have been able to attend such an inspiring event that helped me change my mindset as a young Jewish woman. I learned a lot of lessons that day that I feel I can implement in my daily life. We are grateful to Mrs. Orender for such a generous gift and opportunity, Gahanian Law for sponsoring our kosher lunches from Tomato Crush Pizza & More, and Jacksonville Torah High School for recognizing that learning takes place in many ways – not only in a classroom setting.