Yunna Kolpina

"In 2009, when I was 15 years old, I decided to make Aliyah. To this day I don't know how I had the courage to leave my family. I can't remember myself thinking about Aliyah, I just wanted to be closer to Israel. Well in the end – I just couldn't leave. When I started preparations for the army I already knew this.

When I finished twelfth grade I enlisted to the IDF. I served three years as a combat soldier and medic in the Karkal Batalion. I felt immense pride in wearing my IDF uniform. I understood that I have no other country, Israel is my home.

Around four months before my release from the army I participated in the Wings pre-discharge five day course. I received so much information and so many tools at the course that I wasn't sure what to choose. It was then that I received my wonderful advisor, Anat. From that moment until today, all of my most important life decisions were made thanks to the guidance provided by Wings! Even the start of my love story is related to Wings!

Today, almost four years after my release from the army I can look back and really appreciate how much this guidance helped me and brought me to the point I am at right now. I am finishing my first degree in Communications, Sociology, and Anthropology at the University of Haifa. I am planning to start my Master's degree in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. I currently volunteer at the "Big Brother" organization as coordinator of the lone soldier club in Haifa."