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Mimi Elias in Israel during an earlier trip. Photo courtesy of Mimi Elias

The most common thing for students to do after they graduate high school is to either attend college or begin a career. That is all in the plans for Hidden Valley graduate, Mimi Elias, 17- eventually.

Elias was in the engineering program and Burton Center for Arts & Technology. She loved to run and was very involved at Hidden Valley in the multicultural club.

But after a recent trip to Israel and a lifetime of studying Hebrew and Judaism, she received her dual citizenship and has decided to serve in the Israeli Army for two years. She leaves for Israel July 30 and will officially enlist in November.

Elias was able to get her dual citizenship with the help of her father, who was born in Israel. Her grandparents are also from Czechoslovakia and survived the Holocaust.

"It was very difficult for citizenship. I called the Embassy there like three times a day for like three weeks and everything was in Hebrew. I got my passport two weeks ago. It's easier for me because my dad has his citizenship."

Mimi Elias Courtesy of Mimi Elias

After spending a semester at Tichon Rama, a Jewish organizational boarding school, Elias fell in love with the country she has roots in.

"For four and half months we studied, beginning with the Old Testament and studying the history of Israel," Elias said about her semester abroad. "Every time we studied a place we got to go there. It was a great experience."

During a camp that she has attended every year for the last six years, Elias was able to experience a week of basic training. In Israel there is a mandatory draft and every teenager enters the army when they turn 18 years of age, however Elias made the decision to join the Israeli army on her own.

"For me I always felt that serving in your country's army is really important," she said. "I think when I got off the plane and smelled the American air I felt I needed to be in Israel. So this whole year has been planning for this."

Elias is enlisting in the Israeli Army through a program called Garin Tzabar. She will be live in a kibbutz, a small Jewish community which is voluntary Communism/Socialism in Beitshean above the Dead Sea and Sea of Galeli next to Jordan called Tirat Tzi.

"It's cool, it's something different," Elias said. "There are three months where I will work and study and get affiliated with the army. I'll be with 15 other kids."

And although many American high school graduates will be packing their backs to move away to college or for a career, or even to join the United States Army, Elias' decision is very close to her heart.

Mimi Elias (right) with a friend in Israel. Courtesy of Mimi Elias

"I really care and have a lot of patriotism for Israel. I have so much respect for people in America that are in the army and keep me safe. I think it's important to partake in the army of your country."

"I'm just excited. It doesn't scare me. It's a big change in anybodies life. I don't feel like I'm ready for college," she said.

And her dreams to attend college are still in planning. She currently has a 2.5 year deferral from Columbia JTS List College and the University of Virginia.

"I do have options when I get back but if I do stay in Israel I also have options," Elias said. "I'm really interested in the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. Most people want the American dream- for me, I just want to travel."

"My friends, they are excited for me. A lot of them were dumbfounded. My friends and family are really supportive and I hope to stay in touch with all of them. My father loves Israel and anything he can do to get us involved with Israel he will do. My mom had some trouble with it at first but is coming to spend the first month with me there."

While in the army, Elias isn't sure what she will be doing yet. But after basic training she will have a list of options.

"I'd rather be more combative," she said. "I'm really into engineering and I'd rather have something more involved. It's pretty equal for women in the Israeli army, but you have to prove yourself. They have religious issues- so they have to separate men and women."