I’m a Near Eastern Studies major with a certificate in French Language and Culture.
Role(s) held in the Humanistic Studies Program:
Behrman Society
Activities on campus:
OneVoice Fellow, Glee Club and Chamber Choir, Decem
Honors:
Behrman Society Undergraduate Fellow Streicker Fellow, Dean’s Commendation for Academic Achievement, Fred Fox Fund Recipient
Why I decided to study the humanities:
Studying the humanities has helped me to explore an intangible aspect of empathy that seems to exist not in the pursuit of knowledge but in the embrace of “known unknowns.” I have experienced in it the Behrman Society, the HUM Sequence, and through a course examining narratological structures in the novels of Nabokov. In all cases, people of disparate backgrounds came together to ruminate on how we know what we know. Such questions seems to transcend boundaries to connect us to something greater than ourselves. Well-aware that there will always be “known unknowns,” this intangible empathy seems all the more important for our society.
What I have gained from the humanities:
Studying the humanities has changed the way I approach texts. I went from searching works for supporting evidence for a pre-crafted argument to beginning with a clear mind and devoting hours to analyzing a single paragraph. In short, I learned to let the author speak for him or herself and to discuss patterns intrinsic to the structure of the argument. While I absolutely adored the HUM Sequence with its study of the evolution of philosophical thought, I think perhaps what was most valuable for me in my broader study of the humanities has been learning the importance of every, single word in communicating ideas.
Independent work:
My senior thesis seeks to explore the failure of Quartet’s Road in the context of America’s relationship with Israel and the Two-State solution.
