In what ways has your experience at Seeds of Peace impacted you as a person?
Innumerable! I arrived at Seeds with an agenda, but the very fact that I was sharing the same bunk with an Israeli, an Indian, an Afghan, and a Palestinian was not far from being a miracle.
The Seeds experience is a blessing. Values such as conflict resolution, non-violence, and understanding the "other side" are applicable to all aspects of life. Last spring, I was elected as Student Body President at St. Lawrence University and my position has served as a terrific platform to translate these values on a larger scale, balancing and representing the needs of student organizations and the university.
As you embark upon your professional career, how do the lessons learned at Seeds of Peace inform your ambitions?
Jack Kennedy once described himself as an idealist without illusion. My Seeds of Peace experience led me to become just that—an idealist without illusion. As I embark on my professional career (uncertain as to what exactly that is going to be), I feel better equipped to deal with the realities of the workplace and the market—while balancing them alongside my heritage, culture, and faith.