My name is Yanai, and I'm an 11th grade student in Tel Aviv. The events of October 7th and its aftermath have profoundly impacted my life and sense of security.
On that morning, I woke up to the shocking news of the attacks in the south. Like many Israelis, I spent hours glued to the TV, watching in horror as the scale of the tragedy unfolded. The images of people fleeing for their lives and the reports of widespread violence left me feeling numb and deeply shaken.
In the days and weeks that followed, my daily life changed dramatically. The streets of Tel Aviv, normally bustling with activity, became eerily quiet. The constant threat of rocket attacks has made me hesitant to leave home. Every time I hear a siren, my heart races as I rush to find shelter. This new reality has taken a toll on my sense of safety - I find myself constantly on edge, even when walking familiar streets in my own city.
The fear isn't just about the sirens and rockets. There's a new, unsettling worry that violence could erupt anywhere, at any time. This fear of potentially being harmed while going about my daily life in Tel Aviv is something I never imagined I'd experience.
School has been disrupted, with periods of remote learning and uncertainty about when things will return to normal. It's challenging to focus on studies when the country is in such turmoil. The emotional weight of the ongoing situation - the loss of life, the hostages still held, the constant state of alert - is hard to bear.
Now, months after the initial attack, there's a lingering sense that things will never be quite the same. The feeling of security I once took for granted has been shattered. Despite this, I try to hold onto hope for a more peaceful future, even as I navigate this new, more anxious reality.
