JEWISH MOM: WOULD IT KILL YOU TO READ THIS?
Sneak Preview: This summer, my kids got a glimpse of what their college life will be like
by Emily Raij
R ecently, I dropped both of my kids off at college for the first time. Well, sort of. In June, my 15-year-old daughter Tilly attended the Summer Media Institute at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, and my 11-year-old son Adam participated in a STEM camp at the University of Miami. Both kids stayed in dorms for the week, had roommates, ate in dining halls, and were away from home for the longest stretch thus far in their lives. While the kids were away, Mom and Dad even spent a few nights at Amelia Island on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. I’m happy to report that we all did pretty well!
Tilly especially loved her summer camp at UF. She learned about creating local journalism with a global impact, finding story ideas, communicating during a crisis, and
awakened me in the middle of the night, but when I checked in with Adam the following evening to apologize, he nonchalantly explained that he gave his roommate some snacks in exchange for soap. His roommate’s mom had packed not just one but two giant bottles of soap for her son, a fact Adam also made sure to share with me. I was simultaneously relieved and proud that my son managed to remain unflappable…but not unclean. My kids’ week at their summer camps gave me a little insight into how things will go when the time really does come to drop them off at college. I think we’re all going to do just fine…we just need to remember to pack soap. Tilly in her dorm room at the University of Florida, where she attended the school’s Summer Media Institute
Adam at a STEM camp this summer at the University of Miami
useful college admissions tips, exploring a university campus, locating your DoorDash driver outside the dorm in a crowd, and having fun with other high schoolers from across the country and beyond. Adam’s camp offered a little less independence due to his younger age, but he still learned some practical, real-world skills, such as working as a team and scheduling showers when you’re sharing a bathroom with three other kids. He also proved to be quite adept at bartering for soap to use in said showers. That’s right: this self-proclaimed queen of lists slipped up and forgot to send even a single bar or bottle with her tween son to a week-long camp. That realization actually
pitching stories to media outlets – all from industry professionals and professors. Being a writer and college journalism major, I wanted to join in like Rodney Dangerfield did in the comedy Back to School. This 1980s movie reference should reveal both my age and how successful (not!) that would have been. My daughter’s week also included learning
Emily Raij is a writer for J Life , an educational book editor, and the author of more than 50 children’s books. She lives in Winter Park with her husband, daughter, son, and dog.
36 J LIFE | FALL 2025
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