After high school, I attended Barnard College in New York City which has a large Jewish population. I attended it primarily because it had a kosher meal plan option, in addition to its reputation as an academically gifted school. Had I done things differently, I think I would have immediately booked a plane ticket to Israel and studied there for at least a year. I missed out on seminary and I truly regret it. It is hard to go back to Israel once you miss your initial opportunity.
ME TODAY
I am currently working as an English Teacher at Bronx High School of Science. I'm in my third year there, and G-d willing, I will have tenure at the end of this year. I love teaching and I love my students. I have 155 students and despite all of its difficulties, I intend to stay in teaching. I'm actually thinking of going back to graduate school for a Ph.D in education. I decided to become a teacher primarily because of the great teachers I had in Be'er Hagolah -- Miss Sorkin, Miss Newman, and Miss Lichtenstein. Although I had them only for a short time, they left a great impression on me and it's largely because of them that I chose to become an English Teacher (against my parents' wishes who were praying that I'd end up in law school or medical school). For anybody who wants to be a teacher, my advice is simple: observe what your teacher do and if you like it, emulate it.
MY FONDEST MEMORIES OF BHI
I remember the garbage can we had to place in our ninth grade classroom because the roof was leaking. I remember that I felt special to be a seventh grader because it meant I switched from the blue-plaid uniform to the green-plaid uniform. I remember Miss Sorkin teaching us what it means to be indecisive by standing in the doorway and jumping from one side to the other indefinitely. I remember Miss Newman teaching us that according to the Little Prince, "What is essential is invisible to the eye. Only with the heart can one see rightly." I remember Miss Lichtenstein teaching us vocabulary and my fascination with Greek and Latin roots. I remember watching Les Miserables on Broadway in tenth grade and Cosette's song about building castles in the air. I remember the stories Miss Newman used to tell us.
IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME…
I wish I had known how precious time was and how quickly it passes, like sand through your fingertips. I wish I had known that it doesn't matter how smart you are, what lipstick you wear or what college you end up in. To paraphrase Rabbi Heschel, "When I was younger I admired smart people. Now that I am older, I admire kind people." What matters is the kindness you perform for others. Additionally, as Shakespeare said, "To thine own self, be true." It's more important to impress yourself and admire the reflection in the mirror than it is to impress others.
A MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW ALUMNAE
Love yourself. Remember that you were created in G-d's image and nobody can take that away from you.
