On December fifth of this past year, great things were happening in Boston. Fourteen thousand students from all over Massachusetts and as far away as New Jersey gathered at the Fleet Center to confront and combat racism, bigotry, and hatred.

After a long summer apart, all my friends and I gathered to share stories about our experiences from around the country and world. When one friend asked me what my favorite part of this summer was, I thought to myself, “Where should I start!?” Was it meeting and becoming close friends with 56 Jewish teens from all different political, religious and geographical perspectives? Or living in the George Washington University dorms right in the heart of Washington, D.C., and having the time and freedom to explore our country's capital?