As a child, before smartphones became a major part of everyday life, I developed a passion for photography. I especially enjoyed travel photography and capturing moments from the places I visited. Whether it was a historic landmark, a unique building, or a beautiful landscape, I loved finding the right angle and lighting to create a memorable photograph. Photography allowed me to see the world differently and helped me develop an eye for detail and creativity at a young age.

As I grew older and entered college, my interests began to expand. I developed a strong passion for nonprofit and humanitarian work to make a positive impact on the lives of others. I became interested in how organizations address social issues, support vulnerable communities, and create meaningful change. At the same time, I discovered a passion for media, particularly marketing, writing, and communications. I enjoyed learning how messages are created, shared, and used to connect with people.

As someone who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, I often faced challenges with social cues and communication. There were times when understanding social situations did not come naturally to me, and I sometimes struggled to fit in with my peers. However, these challenges also helped me develop resilience and self-awareness. Over time, I learned to embrace my strengths, including my creativity, attention to detail, and determination.

Looking back, photography, writing, media, and humanitarian work all share a common theme: they allow me to connect with people and better understand the world around me. Discovering these talents helped shape my goals and continues to influence the path I want to pursue in the future.

One of the experiences that helped me discover my interests was my first trip to Europe at eighteen. During the summer after my junior year of high school, I spent five weeks in Rome completing volunteer work required for graduation. While there, I worked with a group of volunteers helping to care for cats at a shelter. Beyond the volunteer work itself, the experience gave me the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, build friendships, and experience a new culture for an extended period.

My Time Abroad

That trip helped me realize how much I enjoyed connecting with people and contributing to causes larger than myself. It also strengthened my interest in humanitarian and nonprofit work. I became increasingly interested in organizations that bring people together, support communities, and work toward positive social change.

What inspires me most about nonprofit and humanitarian work is the idea of solidarity and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Over time, as I explored my own beliefs and perspectives, I found inspiration in individuals and organizations working to promote dialogue, peace, and understanding. Seeing people from different backgrounds work together toward common goals reminded me that I was not alone in my desire to build connections and contribute to a better future. One of my favorite organizations is Standing Together that fights for equality for Jews and Palestinians in the State of Israel and abroad. 

Solidarity Interest and Potential Work. Logo Credit: https://www.standing-together.org/en

These experiences helped shape my interests in both humanitarian work and communications. They showed me the importance of listening to others, sharing stories, and using my skills to connect with people in meaningful ways.

When it came time to choose a major in college, I found myself drawn to Education Studies. While some people associate education solely with teaching, I saw it as something much broader. I was interested in understanding how people learn, how communities are supported, and how social change can be achieved through education and advocacy.

Education Studies felt like the closest fit to my interests in nonprofit and humanitarian work. Many nonprofit organizations focus on education, community development, youth programs, and social services. I wanted to learn skills that could help me work in those areas in the future.

I was also excited that the major allowed me to explore topics related to communications and media through elective courses. My interests have never been limited to one field. Instead, I have always been drawn to the intersection of education, communications, and social impact. I enjoy learning how ideas are shared, how people connect with one another, and how organizations can use storytelling to create positive change.

Choosing Education Studies was not just about selecting a major; it was about finding a path that connected many of the interests and values that I had developed throughout my life.

Part of the reason I became interested in nonprofit and humanitarian work comes from my own experiences growing up. As someone diagnosed with autism at a young age, there were many times when I felt different from the people around me. I often struggled to relate to others and sometimes felt unseen or misunderstood. There were moments when I felt like an outcast because I had difficulty connecting with my peers the way others seemed to.

Those experiences were challenging, but they also shaped my perspective. They helped me develop empathy for people who feel excluded, overlooked, or unheard. Because I know what it feels like to struggle with belonging, I have always been drawn to causes that focus on inclusion, community, and support for others.

Over time, I realized that many people experience feelings of isolation for different reasons. Whether because of their background, beliefs, identity, or personal circumstances, everyone wants to feel seen and valued. This understanding is one of the reasons I became interested in nonprofit and humanitarian work. I want to contribute to organizations and communities that help people feel supported and connected, not alone.

Just next door to IFC Center, a burger bar resides within the West Bank. Fat Ronnie, a meat restaurant, offers chicken, burgers and sandwiches. As I entered the establishment, I was welcomed by Ronnie and Cece with kindness and was shown the menu and ultimately I chose the chicken caesar salad. 

I’m someone who tends to be a picky eater so to be able to choose something from the menu that is healthy and doesn’t have large portions is the best. This allows me to obtain a healthy meal without experiencing stomach aches, but overall I enjoyed the meal.

As I started eating the caesar salad it felt crunchy at the same time but not too hot as well when I ate the chicken. The ginger ale tasted good and I liked that it was iced. I got to witness employees making the salad which was nice. 

Overall, I had an excellent time at Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar NYC in the West Village. The staff was helpful, kind and provided great service. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and family. If you would like to try their chicken and burger sandwiches. Bring the coupon below for 15% off your purchase. 

Just a block away from NYU on east ninth street rests a pizza shop, Nuovo York, an italian pizza shop offering different kinds of pizza from mozzarella to vegan choices. As I stepped in, I was greeted by Atalay the owner and his employee Angel who were both so warm and welcoming to me and even showed me the bathroom when I had to use it.

I’m someone who doesn’t eat a lot of dairy products due to health reasons, stomach aches, acne prone skin and inflammatory reactions from food, especially dairy. As I ate the slice of pizza I didn’t feel like that at all, it’s actually one of those pizzas that didn’t make me have stomach pain.

For the food, I got a slice of square pizza and sprite & water. As I ate the pizza with basel and shredded cheese it tasted something that I hadn’t eaten before even though I ate pizza multiple times in my life. I got to go behind the scenes and visualize and see the pizza chef shred the cheese and put oil. It was fascinating because I don’t usually see people cook close up to me but I got to see it from a nearby presence.

Afterwards I sat down and watched people walk outside while eating the pizza and drinking my soda. It was well deserved after walking in the humid weather that so much reminded me of my hometown Fort Lauderdale/Miami. The food tasted like the ones I’ve eaten in Italy when I was there 3 years ago. 

Overall, I had a great time dining at Nuovo Pizza in the East Village within proximity to my campus. The staff was kind, helpful and provided excellent customer service. I’m recommending this place to my friends. If you like to try some of their pizzas, bring the coupon below and student discount for 20% off. 

Growing up in an American-Israeli family, I was surrounded by both big ideas and small, everyday gestures that shaped my sense of responsibility. My parents didn’t just talk about being proud of our Jewish identity or respecting elders they showed it, whether it was by inviting neighbors for holiday meals or pausing to greet elderly community members in the street. These moments, sometimes ordinary and sometimes memorable, wove values into the fabric of my daily life.

Our house was always a jumble of languages: English in the kitchen, Hebrew for homework help, and Yiddish when my grandparents wanted to tell secrets. Learning Hebrew didn’t just mean memorizing words; it meant being able to join in family jokes or read prayers out loud at synagogue. My parents insisted we celebrate holidays together, no matter how busy we were. Sukkot stands out in my memory: I can still picture us hanging decorations on the sukkah while my dad told stories about his own childhood. These moments helped me appreciate my heritage in a real, hands-on way, not just as an abstract idea.

Respect for elders wasn’t just a rule, it was part of daily life. I learned early on that listening to my grandparents’ stories wasn’t optional; it was expected. My great-grandmother, for example, used to sit at our table and speak about her journey to America, often while peeling apples for dessert. Hearing about the difficulties she faced gave me a bigger sense of perspective, especially when I felt frustrated by things that now seem trivial in comparison.

Responsibility started small: drying dishes, taking out the trash, checking on my younger brother’s homework. At the time, I just wanted to finish quickly so I could play video games, but looking back, those chores taught me the basics of being accountable and sticking with commitments. My parents let me know that it wasn’t just about getting things done, but about building habits that would stick with me as I got older even if I didn’t appreciate it then.

School was another place where responsibility played a major role. I was expected to put effort into my academics and work hard, even when subjects were difficult. Like many students, I experienced both successes and challenges throughout my education. Learning to manage schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities taught me that success often comes from consistency and determination rather than perfection.

Kindness was something my parents talked about a lot, but putting it into practice was sometimes messy. I dealt with bullying at school, something I rarely talked about at home. I never understood why some kids could be so cruel, and even now, I sometimes wonder if there was something I could have done differently. I always wanted to believe that people could change, which meant I forgave people more than once, even when it hurt. Looking back, I realize I sometimes put up with things longer than I should have, thinking that being kind meant never standing up for myself.

Those experiences forced me to rethink what kindness and forgiveness really meant. I learned, sometimes the hard way, that being kind doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. Forgiveness might help you move on, but it doesn’t mean you have to forget or let it happen again. Setting boundaries was something I only figured out later, but now I see it as another kind of responsibility to myself.

As I got older, responsibility stopped being about chores or homework and started being about my own choices. I made mistakes—sometimes big ones—and had to learn from them. Responsibility meant owning up to those mistakes, but also being willing to grow. It also meant figuring out how to balance my family’s values with my own opinions about the world. 

The values I grew up with—pride in my heritage, respect for others, kindness, and responsibility—are still at my core, but life has taught me that these things aren’t always simple. Sometimes, they mean making tough choices or admitting I don’t have all the answers. It’s a work in progress, and I’m learning to be okay with that.

Looking back, I’m thankful for both the lessons my family taught me and the times those lessons were put to the test. The good and the hard moments have shaped who I am. As I head into college and whatever comes next, I know I’ll lean on these values—even as I keep figuring out what they really mean for me.

Of all our family traditions, Sukkot was the one I waited for every year. It wasn’t just a religious holiday, it was a chance for our house to become a hub of laughter, stories, and, sometimes, total chaos. Our sukkah looked a bit different every year, covered in paper chains, old family photos, and prayers scribbled in both Hebrew and Yiddish. Friends and neighbors drifted in, and the kitchen turned into an assembly line for schnitzel, steak, salmon, and a dozen different salads. Those nights felt magical, with everyone crowded together, sharing stories long after the meal was over.

When I was little, I only knew that Sukkot meant staying up late and eating good food with lots of people. But as I got older, I started to realize it was really about opening your doors, making space for others, and making sure everyone felt like they belonged. Watching my parents welcome guests, even when it meant more work, taught me that responsibility isn’t just chores or grades; sometimes, it’s about making other people feel at home.

Looking back, those nights under the sukkah shaped me as much as anything else. They connected me to my Jewish heritage in a way no lesson or textbook ever could, and they taught me that some of the best moments in life happen when you’re surrounded by family, friends, and community.

By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major minoring in Digital Studies. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future. 

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