A Letter to My Younger Self

Lauren Wise reflects on how joining FZY became a defining leap of faith, shaping her identity, leadership, and sense of belonging through years of transformative experiences and community.

December 5th, 2022: the day my life changed forever

Dear Loz,

I know we have never been very good at going to new places on our own, but this is a leap of faith you need to take. FZY used to seem like such a foreign idea to us - always known as the movement that Imi was head of for two years - but wow, Loz, it is so much more. If you go tonight, I guarantee your life will never look the same again.

You will get the chance to travel the world, meet new people, learn incredible leadership skills, and most importantly, learn to accept yourself. The friends you will make in FZY will not only be there for you in the hardest of situations, but will also become your friends for life. Your first Veida will seal the deal for you, and your face will light up when you see just how much your brother loves this movement. You will be heard, understood, and for the first time, truly accepted for who you are.

Your Zionism will grow even stronger, and you will want to live in Israel throughout your twenties. It may not always work out in your favour, but you will learn to accept this - and more importantly, you will learn how to improve your reactions to situations. I know you are worried because your year never got to go on Tour, but do not let that stop you from becoming part of something bigger and so vital to the Jewish community.

Loz, let me tell you about all that you will accomplish with FZY over the next few years, and the huge role it will play in your life. You will lead a summer camp in 2023 - and yes, it won’t go as planned - but in the long run, it will make you a better person. You will travel to three new cities: Lisbon, Madrid, and Budapest - all incredible weekends where you truly get to be with your FZY family. You will share a room many times with Charlie, Anya, and Ayelet, and you will meet Jews from all across Europe.

From a small town outside Madrid where you sing Hatikvah with a Jewish man and his guitar, to the thermal baths in Budapest, you will experience moments you could only have dreamed of. At the end of October, you will take part in an incredible leadership weekend called HadSem, where you will lead both Had Aleph and Had Bet, form new connections, and help the next generation become leaders. This will shape your leadership journey and truly polish your skills.

Your second year leading will be your favourite. You will have the privilege of leading a fantastic group of Hadracha Bet kids who you know, without a doubt, will become exceptional leaders in the future. However, your favourite weekend of the entire FZY calendar will be Veida - the FZY AGM. It will teach you the impact you can have on the movement, and you will be given the opportunity to use your voice. You will be nominated for multiple awards, strengthening your confidence, and you will write motions and play a huge role in the Banter Box. You and Jamie will recreate the famous Dirty Dancing scene, and it will go down as one of the most iconic videos in FZY history.

FZY is not just a youth movement - it is your second family and the place where you will truly feel at peace. You will have bumps in the road, but these are not failures; they are redirections. Stay true to who you are, and remember that FZY is truly a gift. You are so lucky that you have finally discovered it.

It will bring you closer to your family - something you have always wanted - and you will be given the incredible opportunity to spend meaningful Shabbatons with them and grow those relationships.

You will always leave an FZY weekend feeling better than when it started.

So remember: take a deep breath, get in the car, and go to Kenton.
I promise you, Loz - you will never regret it.

Best wishes,
Future Lauren