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Reflections on my time at HU

By Tracy Wilder, Toronto

When I was 16 years old, I went on seminar with Camp Ramah to Israel. As part of our trip we were given a tour of the Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew University. And I distinctly remember, walking around the campus in total awe. I knew right then that I would come back to attend Hebrew U. It had a magnetic pull for me and was by far my favourite year of university.

I decided to spend my first year of university at Hebrew U, not my second or third. It was a year full of discovery for me. It was about growing up and becoming independent. I was able to indulge in my love of travel and took great advantage of time off. I went to Kenya, Turkey, Greece, Scotland, England, France and Poland during the school breaks.

I made lifetime friendships and my love for Israel and Jerusalem was cemented, and has only grown stronger since. I remember clearly, after travelling around Israel that year being amazed by the feeling that anywhere I was in Israel, I was standing on top of so much world and Jewish history. I also remember distinctly feeling like it was very freeing to feel like I wasn’t a minority. I never had that growing up in Waterloo, so it was a life changing time for me.

  • Tracy spent many years as a strategic advisor in the recruitment industry in Toronto. She attended the one-year study abroad program at HU’s Rothberg International School from 1987-1988.