My favorite thing about being Jewish is that we all come together to celebrate holidays and we strive to be mensches. I also love the food.

It means a lot that I’m having a Bat Mitzvah. I am finally becoming a Jewish adult like all of my family before me. Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has taught me a lot of things. Like most big assignments I have done, I would procrastinate about practicing my Torah Portion and Prayers until the end of the day. Throughout this process, I realized that I couldn’t keep doing that. Once I started practicing earlier, I had more time to perfect what I was learning.

My mitzvah project was called “Art and Song Prompts for Healing.” I would choose a theme to draw about, like sports, and create things. After I finished each piece, they were published online for others to view. These drawings inspire people to draw too, and drawing allows people to relax and get a chance to stop and do something creative. I loved doing this project because I like that I could be making someone’s day better.

Now that I am a Jewish adult, I will continue to help people and try to be a mensch. I’m a little older, so I can volunteer and help at many places.

Eliana is the daughter of Marissa Brooks and Adam Brooks. She is the sister of Kaylie and Talia Brooks. She is the granddaughter of Eileen Schwartz of Charlotte, NC, Jose and Myung Garcia of Mt. Prospect, Illinois, and Barry and Eleanor Brooks of Winthrop, Massachusetts. Send notes of mazel tov.