Second Semester Senior

I can't believe it has been a full five months since I last wrote a blog entry. Senior year got super busy and I just ran out of time. But, wow, so much has happened since my last post! I finished all my college applications and even decided where I'm going, and the answer is somewhere I was never expecting. I will be beginning college at Princeton University this fall, and I could not be any more excited! I love the academic rigor, small campus size, focus on undergraduates, location near Philadelphia and New York City, passionate students, acclaimed professors, and so much else. I plan on majoring in English and minoring in History & the Practice of Diplomacy, which is a minor in their public policy program. Since the last time I wrote, I have also begun to rethink what I want to do with my life. I had wanted to be a teacher for a long time because I wanted to make a difference in children's lives. As you know, I like to write, which is why I have this blog in the first place. I am also passionate about the causes I believe in, from women's rights to disability advocacy to gun reform and more. I have been thinking about combining my interests and going into a field involving nonprofit or government work so that I can enact change on a wider level. Part of this shift in careers was inspired by a Disability Advocacy Day that I participated in through BBYO, my Jewish youth group. I learned from leading disability policy experts and then lobbied staffers from two Virginia Representatives. I wrote about it in an article published on EJewish Philanthropy, and you can read about it here. I am excited to explore my career options during college, and I hope to get involved in the campus newspaper and political advocacy groups.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next couple months as I end high school, enjoy my summer, and start college. It is an exciting and nerve-wracking time for my whole family. It has been a goal of mine to go to college independently for a long time, and now it has become more of a reality. I have four months left at home before I embark on a new journey! The Office of Disability Services has been fantastic, and I have full confidence that they will help me in any way possible. I actually created change on campus before I even officially enrolled. Last week, I stayed overnight during a program for potential freshmen. I couldn't find a key for a lift in one of the residential colleges, and now the public safety office will give all of the police officers a key to avoid situations like this. The campus is so old, which means I will probably have a few accessibility challenges. However, I will do my best to advocate for myself and other students with disabilities so we can improve accessibility on campus.

Senior year has really gone by quickly. I am beginning my last quarter of high school, so I am starting to feel nostalgic. I would not be where I am today without the support of my friends, family, and teachers. My senior prom is next week, and in a little over a month I will be making a speech on stage at graduation. I spoke at elementary school graduation, so obviously not much has changed. I plan to enjoy this last part of high school with my amazing friends and family by my side. I would like to think that senioritis has not affected me, but it is hard to be completely immune to it. Of course, one symptom of it is doing things other than homework, which is I am writing this post in the first place. I will do my best to post more regularly as my work in high school settles down, and maybe this time I will actually succeed in maintaining that goal!