Day School Alumni Spotlight: Fay Koyfman

School(s): NorthWest Yeshiva High School (2019), Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle (2015)

How has your day school education shaped your life, values, and your involvement in the Jewish community?

The reason I am so committed and involved in the Jewish community in college is because of my Jewish education at NYHS. It isn’t easy being a Jewish and Zionist student on college campus, but because of day school, I arrived with a strong Jewish identity and background that gives me the confidence to be proud and involved. This was most definitely because NYHS  provided AIPAC programming, StandWithUs guest speakers, and fundamental Jewish subjects. NYHS also taught me the fundamental values of community and leadership. Despite going to a college across the country and not being in a Jewish environment, I learned to find community which to others might seem impossible. Yet, being part of a community has always been a value of mine and NYHS has taught me to embrace other communities and know that I can always rely on the NYHS community. While at NYHS I was involved in leadership positions and knew that I wanted to carry that over to college which is why I am not only involved with the Jewish community on campus, but I am taking on leadership roles. I also feel more secure in my Jewish identity because of my experience at Midreshet Torah v’Avodah and I know I couldn’t have gotten that experience without the help of NYHS. I greatly appreciate all the help and support NYHS provided throughout the gap-year process. I am extremely grateful to NYHS, Samis, and everyone that made my Jewish education and beyond possible. 

More about Fay

Fay Koyfman is a graduate from the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle and the Northwest Yeshiva High School. She is now a sophomore at Bryn Mawr College majoring in chemistry and Russian. She is on the Chabad and Hillel board at Bryn Mawr, is a Gift of Life Marrow Registry College Ambassador, and is involved in undergraduate research.