These twins are only in ninth grade - and you will not believe what they are doing

Yael and Lior from Petah Tikva decided last year that they want more than what the school offers, and signed up for the "Odyssey" program of the Ministry of Education and the Center for Future Scientists.

Today they are already studying quantum engineering at Bar-Ilan University and enjoying every moment.

This is their story (and they are not alone ..)

In collaboration with the Center for Future Scientists

10/01/2022

Monday, 10 January 2022, 18:11

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"It would have seemed interesting to me, so I signed up."

Lior Cohen (Photo: PR)

The challenging load does not deter her.

Yael Cohen (Photo: PR)

If you had heard about two brothers, who are already studying quantum engineering at the university in the ninth grade, you would probably have concluded that they are under enormous pressure.

But this is not the story of Yael and Lior Cohen from Petah Tikva, who decided on their own to enroll in the most challenging program for outstanding students, even when their parents were not really interested.

Yael and Lior are studying quantum engineering at Bar-Ilan University.

Last year Lior saw a post by the Center for Future Scientists about the Odyssey program, talked about it with his sister - and they made a joint decision to go for it.

More on Walla!

The program that will help your children break through all boundaries

In collaboration with the Center for Future Scientists

Odyssey is a program for academic studies in science for gifted and outstanding youth, and it is not just a program, but the most challenging framework there is for post-primary students.

The Odyssey program is one of the most sought-after programs in the education system for outstanding female and male students: four years of compulsory academic study, in parallel with high school studies.

A program that does not give up and does not make "discounts" for the youth, but provides them with quality tools, high-level training and skills required to integrate into the world of science already in high school.

Mia and Lia (Photo: PR)

The studies brought us closer to each other

"It's theirs," says Halit, the mother of Lior and Yael, ninth-graders and first-year participants in the Odyssey program. "It was their initiative. , She said, adding that her children really enjoy the program, the challenge and the time they have created for themselves.

"They came to our school to give a lecture on quantum physics and it seemed interesting to me, so I signed up," says Lior simply, adding that his sister Yael - who attends another school - heard from him about the program and joined the ambitious idea. "We thought about it together and went to exams together. Also in Odyssey we are pretty much together, comparing homework answers, traveling together, coming back together," he says, adding that in addition to academic gain, the program also brought him closer to his twin sister. "There are more common interests and we talk about it a lot," he said.

The load and challenge of studying quantum engineering at the university does not deter Lior and Yael.

"At the moment it's not busy yet, which will be busier in the future, but a school combines it well, we have a coordinator so we can talk to her on all sorts of issues, for example if we have to postpone tests," he says. With the studies and there are quite a few teenagers who do it. "

"I had some challenging moments last year, but the team helped me get through it."

If this story sounds inconceivable to you, you should know that the Odyssey program teaches quite a few more ambitious sibling couples, who share a love for science.

Rachel Adi Junger, a tenth-grade student from Moshav Sde Avraham, has been studying for a second year in a multidisciplinary science program in the Odyssey program at Ben-Gurion University, and this year her brother Nevo, a ninth-grade student, also joined her.

Rachel Adi with her brother Nevo (Photo: PR)

"It's a lot of fun to participate in the program. I had challenging moments last year and the staff helped me a lot, and so did the lecturers, everything was very enveloping and warm. It was not an easy year, I learned a lot of zoom, and they helped me and gave me a lot of tools. My time and enjoy the knowledge I receive, "she says, adding that she is waiting all week for Thursday to go to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. One of the reasons she's been waiting for this so long is new friendships that managed to form in the first year of the program, even though they learned to zoom. "Throughout the year there are a lot of social activities," she explained.

And this year, to this rich world of Rachel Adi was added another positive addition - her little brother.

"My brother loved this field even before," she says, "at first I was a little weird that it was also there, but now it is not. Our breaks at the same time, and we talk and eat together. Our relationship has always been good, but it brought us closer, there We have a common language and a common world. "

Rachel Adi is studying chemistry this year, and Nevo is studying an introduction to mathematics.

"It's very difficult in the first year because you study introductions to all the subjects, but in the second year you can focus so I focused on chemistry, and that's very interesting," she explained.

"Nebo had a test now and I helped him, it's fun. Last year I had a hard time and when I help him - it does him good."

Yael and Michal Dolgin (Photo: PR)

We do not lack social life, on the contrary

Lia and Maya Tabuch, twins and ninth-grade students from Holon, also study together in an odyssey in the physics track at Tel Aviv University. "The program is very good, very fun and interesting for me there, and especially nice that we were both there because we can help each other with homework, assignments and everything," says Lia. "We both wanted to be in the program. In the end, we both realized we wanted physics and it was a joint decision. "

Asked how at a young age they manage to combine both challenging studies and social life, Lia replied that "in terms of social life, we are both in a gifted class, so everyone has common interests and it's really nice. Although there is a lot of work in academic studies, Odyssey is really social life "By themselves, we have a lot of friends from there, and we do not lack social life."

She added that she and her sister had already met friends at the prep school in the summer, "and we just correspond every day, talk, meet, do homework together, everything."

"I recommend everyone to try to get accepted to the Odyssey," Lia added, "It's a crazy experience.

That's really the best thing I could have done for myself. "

For the Q&A event on the Facebook page of Future Scientists, click on the image (Photo: PR)

My childhood began to blossom

And how does it feel on the part of the parents when both children learn so much? Madlena Dolgin is an artist by Yael and Michal, who are both studying in an odyssey in the multidisciplinary track at the Technion. "They both enjoy the program, because in a regular school they connected less with the children, but as soon as they arrived at the Technion - they started to flourish," Madeleine proudly says, "it was lacking. Goals, which the studies interest them that the world intrigues them - that is very important. "

Along with the pride and peace of mind that accompanies the fact that her daughters have found their social place, Madeleine adds that the program sometimes requires parental involvement as well. "It requires effort from the parents," she says, "transportation, the completion of schooling. The studies at the Technion are demanding, so when they do classes and have difficulty - you have to be available, help and answer questions as much as possible."

But for Madeleine, this is the best investment she could have made.

"I think it contributes to them, broadens horizons, gives them the society they need. For me it's really the invention of the century, otherwise these kids just get bored and lose motivation, that's how they have a development horizon. It's good to have that."

Odyssey Program - A program for academic studies in science is implemented nationwide in 6 academic institutions: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Bar-Ilan University, the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and Tel-Hai Academic College.

The program takes place during ninth-twelfth grades. For details and registration, visit the Future Scientists Center website.

• Scientists of the future

Tags

• academic studies

• Education

• Gifted

• Outstanding