Leadership + Community Service

Highwood Teen Advisory Board

I have been a member of the Highwood Teen Advisory Board since 9th grade. The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is a volunteer group of middle and high school students that give back to the community by helping to plan library programs for young adults, suggesting books and resources for the Library, doing service projects, and developing their professional skills. The library exists to serve and enrich the community and accommodate the large Spanish speaking population. Through TAB I’ve organized a Day of the Dead celebration, a family fair, and have given out school supplies to local families. I’m passionate about the work I do with TAB for many reasons, but an added bonus is that I can use my Spanish skills to connect with the community members. I was in a dual language immersion program for 6 years, meaning that half of my classmates were native Spanish speakers. Through this experience, I developed a high proficiency in Spanish and a deep interest in Hispanic culture.

English Teacher in Costa Rica

I taught English in Costa Rica last summer for a month, refining my Spanish every day and working with kids and adults of all ages. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to watch the kids grow and meet some great people.

West Point SLE

In the summer of 2024, I attended the United States Military Academy’s Summer Leaders Experience as a cadet candidate. I got to experience life as a cadet and the intense military drills, academics and physicality of first year basic training. The week was intense, but I met some of the most incredible and impressive people I have ever encountered, and I learned a lot about honor and what it means to serve.

BBYO is a Jewish youth group that focuses on building community between Jewish teens. I have been on the board for 3 years, including positions such as the head of recruitment and the head of marketing/social media. As the head of recruiting, or the Moreh, I’m often the first person that welcomes a new teen into the group. I love facilitating new friendships, and it is an incredible experience for me to be able to contribute to my Jewish community.