College was an exciting intellectual journey. In my time at Princeton, I took a range of courses in the humanities such as World Drama, Politics, Music, and Art. Additionally, in my spare time I enjoyed working in theater, appearing in a number of plays as both an actress and director. I have thus cultivated my critical abilities in a range of disciplines utilizing a variety of resources throughout the campus.
I have several years of tutoring experience through peer tutoring and programs such as the Jewish Youth Encounter Program (JYEP), where I was matched with a student for whom I would provide the first exposure to Jewish culture through weekly sessions.
However the most eye opening and academically inspiring experience I have ever had was not as a student, but as a teacher. For a number of summers, I have also tutored individuals with special needs, ages five to fifteen, on a variety of academic subjects as part of a summer program for disabled children. Of all the children that I worked with, one has left a permanent mark on me as a teacher, student, and person. When I met this boy, I had been told that just a few years ago he was nearly nonverbal. I was astonished to hear this, noting his talkative and friendly disposition whenever I interacted with him. I always wondered how it was that he overcame his handicap. One day, I was asked to tutor him in math and warned that math was particularly difficult for him. As we worked through the problems, I guided him step by step. Just a few minutes in, he looked at me and with a smile, declared, "next time, I am going to do it all by myself." It was at that moment that I learned power of perseverance. I have carried that message throughout my years at Princeton and will forever see this student as one of my greatest teachers.