Importance Of My Place In History

In my home, there is always a before, and an after. At the time of the accident, I was sixteen years old. Before the accident, my childhood was rigorously structured. After kindergarten, I was enrolled in one of the Greater Toronto Areas’s private schools, where I was expected to achieve top marks. At the same time, my course load was predetermined. I was expected to study mathematics and sciences, maintain three language courses, and include time for Jewish studies classes. After classes, I was made to study the Korean martial art of Tae-Keuk-Do, and attend weekly tennis lessons. Not once was I asked what I would like to study, nor whether I enjoyed the arts or sports I practised. None of this is to say that I was not privileged. I am the grandson of two holocaust survivors, …show more content…
At Western University, I centred my undergraduate career on those elements that had begun to form the core of my personal identity. I chose the faculty of history where I would be exposed to the world’s richest stories, and be allowed to investigate some of history’s most intriguing characters. Most importantly, I became aware of my place in history, and my relationship to those who had laid the foundations for the world I once took for granted. To strengthen my linguistic skills, I chose to pursue a minor in French language and translation. To improve my Hebrew and broaden my faith, I travelled several times to Israel. On two such trips I volunteered as a field assistant on archaeological excavations of some of Judaism’s oldest settlements. In my university community I decided to dedicate myself to the Jewish community. I serve on the executive board of Israel on Campus, where I currently hold the position of Vice-President. In addition, I am an active member of the Jewish student community centre, organising and participating in community meals and