I have always felt welcomed and accepted — no matter what.

“I am a disabled, queer Jew with invisible disabilities such as ADHD — and I have faced a lot of challenges and successes with my identity. I struggled a lot with self-acceptance and finding a balance between my Judaism and two other identities that aren’t often discussed in the Jewish community. It took me a long time to figure out how they all interconnect and make me, me. I can honestly say, now that I have figured that out, I have never felt better and more complete.

“The Simmons Hillel community has supported me by accepting me as both a person with a unique perspective and as a member of our Jewish community. I have always felt welcomed and accepted no matter what, and felt like I was valued in that space.

“I would say my favorite Hillel memory is from one of the first events I went to at Simmons. It was a challah-making event and is still one of my favorite Hillel memories. The dough was pre-made but we braided, decorated, and baked it and it was a lot of fun.

“I think that I have grown more comfortable with myself and my identity in college. I would tell other queer Jews to find your people. It can be hard to navigate but you will find your own people who accept you no matter what and that is so important. And to other disabled Jews, I would tell them to believe in themselves. Being disabled in any way — invisible or visible — is incredibly difficult, but there’s so much waiting for you on the other side of whatever you’re going through right now.” — Sasha Green-Kaberman, Simmons University

As told to Maddie Solomon, writer in the Hillel International Writers Program.