Reply To: Advice for a struggling MO teen

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Sam2
Participant

RYochanan: I can sympathize with what you’re going through. I don’t know your schooling situation or what else was available, but I want to point something out to you. Being around people who aren’t as Shomer Mitzvos as you isn’t always a bad thing. Many of the people you were in school with as a kid probably would have no Shaychus to Yahadus if they hadn’t gone to schools like yours. Schools like yours serve a major purpose in that they give kids an opportunity to know something about Judaism and feel a connection to their religion. If your school didn’t exist, these parents would probably be sending their kids to public schools and the children would never have any chance of being Frum for their whole lives.

These schools need Frum people like you in them because without the Frum people, these schools are basically glorified elitist public schools for Jews. The kids need to see Frum role models and Frum people to make connections with. People might not ever stay in touch with early childhood friends, but they do have a major influence in the course of their entire life.

Don’t be mad at your parents for sending you to a school with people who weren’t Frum. Who knows? Maybe because your parents sent you to this school you have positively influenced people for the rest of their lives–an opportunity you never would have had in a standard Yeshivish place.

And I think that if you would tell your father you’d rather learn with him more than have him help with your homework, he’d be very, very happy with you.

About the not having somewhere to learn part: Is there anyone who lives nearby that you could set up a Chavrusa with (in your home or theirs)? It could be a Rabbi, classmate, random neighbor 30 years older than you. It could be anyone. And, worst-case, learning by yourself isn’t so bad. You can get a lot done and really impress yourself. Make sure to write things down and feel free to share them in the Coffee Room. I’d be glad to comment on any Chiddushim that I see. 🙂