Alla Umanskiy's Chanukah Message for 2024

This season, my family is celebrating the accomplishments of my older daughter who has received acceptances to several fantastic universities in the area. Seems mundane? It’s not. These acceptance letters are a result of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance on the part of my child. She grinded day in, day out, as well as partook in tons of activities, volunteering, and community engagement. She wrote essays, solicited recommendation letters, and studied for standardized tests endlessly.

This season, we celebrate our girl because she deserves it! Wherever she decides to attend, it will be a school with strong connections to the Jewish community. Thank you to all the wonderful teachers, mentors, friends and family who have supported my daughter over the years. You are our village. Congratulations to all the high school seniors getting into college and/or paving their paths forward in a way that feels authentic to them! Mazel tov and happy Hanukkah!

Alla Umanskiy is a writer, mother and wife, living, working and raising a family in the Atlanta area.