In my senior year of high school, I applied to about 13 colleges which would all have entailed a two-hour daily commute. Mrs. Taub very wisely reminded me that I live two blocks away from school and am still late every single day. She then gave me one of the best pieces of advice ever: go to Brooklyn College - and so that is what I did. During my second year, I decided to go to Neve Yerushalayim in Israel. Originally, I was supposed to only stay for a semester but I loved it so much that I stayed the whole year. I came back a little bit different than I left =). After returning from Israel I finished college and got my Bachelor’s degree in Public Communications and Marketing.
I would encourage every single alumna, no matter what point of your life you are in, to go to Neve for as long as you can. Whether it’s a week during winter break, a month in the summer, or a semester. You can even get up to a year’s worth of credits. It was one of the best things I have ever done!
CAREER PURSUITS
Currently, I am a graduate student at Brooklyn College. I am working towards my Master’s degree in Bilingual School Counseling. I remembered recently that when I just started college I wanted to do something psychology-related, but my first Psych class was so horrible that I was traumatized and quickly changed my mind. My next dream was Advertising and marketing, which explains my major. Once I graduated from college, I wanted to go to law school. It was just then that I met my husband, got married, and was too busy being nauseous from my pregnancy to do well on the LSATs. I ended up not retaking them and I do not regret it at all. I believe that at this point in my life, it is the wrong time to embark on a legal career. I love the fact that I am (almost always) home and get to catch every little new thing my baby does - it’s priceless. Still, I always tell my husband that when all our kids grow up, G-d willing, I will become a lawyer.
As for advice for anyone choosing a career - if there is ANYTHING at all that you can do for the Board of Ed and enjoy, go for it! Here are the huge advantages of working for the Board of Ed:
1. You work less than 200 days out of 365 (You have the entire Summer off, every Jewish and legal holiday off)
2. You get amazing health benefits for the entire family.
3. You get a great pension plan which will pay half of your highest salary to you once you retire. This means that once you retire, you are still getting paid! (This is aside from getting the money you have been putting away through the pension plan).
4. A typical work day ends between 2:30-3:00 PM.
So on that note, I am very excited to be graduating in about a year and a half and becoming a school counselor!
FAMILY LIFE
I got married to Aron Rosen on November 30, 2003. Our little cutie, Shmuel Asher (Sammy) was born in September of 2004.
FONDEST BHI MEMORY
My fondest BHI memory is just being excited every single morning to go to school. I didn’t even realize it then but looking back, I was. I was excited to see my friends, to find out what great new activities are coming up, and even to see Amado and hear what crazy story he has for us today. Oh, and the cook always gave me extra pickles, which is still my favorite food (after sushi, of course!)
I WISH I REALIZED THEN...
how quickly time flies!!! I can’t believe it’s going to be 6 years since I graduated, that I am married and have a baby...that I’m in a Master’s program...that I’m almost 24! Life flies by, it’s so important to make the best of every stage of it.
ON A FINAL NOTE
We live on Avenue M and East 2nd. We make really good food (my husband actually cooks - he’s an ex-chef!). So if you live around here, want to walk, or will be in the neighborhood for Shabbos, give us a call - Home: (718) 382-7371; Cell: (917) 913-1523.
Have a great rest of the summer, everyone!
