A close one
The home opener for the Fighting Knights basketball was this evening. It was an exciting game, with the Knights ahead for most of it. However, the last 60 seconds was very close, and the Knights lost by two points at the buzzer. Fellow blogger Gene is the student manager of our basketball team. Gene, if you’re reading this – keep up the great work; I look forward to a great season! On the plus side, I won a drawing for a $50 American Express gift card at the game! It’s always nice to have some extra spending money for the holiday season.
Schmoozing at the GA
This past week, I attended the Jewish Federations of North America (formerly the United Jewish Communities) annual General Assembly (GA) in Washington, DC. I traveled to the conference with the current student president of Hillel at Lynn University, Jeremy Slonim. Following a successful experience at the 2007 GA in Nashville, TN, I thought this would be a prime opportunity to network with Jewish professionals, attend intriguing seminars, visit the exhibit hall, and enjoy some fresh autumn air in our nation’s capital.
Jeremy and I headed up to DC on Saturday afternoon, one day prior to the start of the conference. That evening, we enjoyed a walk down M Street in Georgetown, as well as a midnight stroll through the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol. DC late at night is absolutely amazing.
The conference commenced Sunday at the Marriott Wardman Park. The GA is the largest gathering of Jewish professionals, attracting over 3,500 people; the attendee registration alone is in the neighborhood of $800. But fortunately for us students, the Jewish life organization on campus, Hillel, offers a highly subsidized rate of $150 for two nights hotel AND conference registration!
President Obama was scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers of this event; however, his appearance was cancelled due to the tragedy at Fort Hood. As the memorial took place when he was supposed to speak on Tuesday, the President sent White House Chief Of Staff Rahm Emanuel in his place. Additionally, we heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many other dignitaries and professionals. You can say security was tight!
Major themes of the GA this year included inspiration, innovation and engagement, developing leaders for tomorrow, global Jewish responsibility, building community and service delivery, and politics advocacy and action.
I left the conference with renewed motivation to continue the Jewish traditions of community activism and service, as well as an understanding of new ideas during these unprecedented times. I highly recommend that any prospective or current college student consider becoming involved with a club or organization on campus. After all, you never know what awesome national conference you may attend!
School, Work and Baseball
Balancing the time demands of school and work is challenging as is; how about adding to that mix the World Series. My team, the NY Yankees, are fighting for the pennant this year. Although we lost tonight, it’s amazing just to think abut this incredible season – and it is not over yet!
Earlier this evening I commenced my Fall II classes. I look forward to sharing with you the amazing attributes of the Lynn MBA program over this weekend…when I have a little more time on my hands! Until then, happy early Halloween!
To pull an all nighter or not to pull an all nighter…
That is the question. I apologize for not posting as frequently as I’d like. The work involved with the MBA program has been keeping me busy, albeit a very productive busy. And, yes the title says it all – I’ve pulled 2 all nighters this early in the game. All to finish assignments for class. Was it worth it? Yes, of course. Do I regret saving it for the last minute? You bet! A word of advice to ALL students: plan to finish assignments well in advance and during normal human hours! In today’s distracting world it is challenging to balance school demands with work, family and friends.
The second annual Civility Week commences at Lynn tomorrow! This (and EVERY week) is a perfect opportunity to do some good in our community…and be nice to others. That is, treat others the way you would like to be treated – with respect and integrity.
Happy October! Until next time…
Hey, You Never Know
Last night I attended the Bruce Springsteen concert with a friend of mine at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL. The performance was great and we had a blast, but there was one distinguishing factor that made last night’s concert different than most others I’ve attended: I won the tickets from Sunny 104.3, a local radio station. As I was getting ready to head out to my first-ever MBA class on September 1, I heard the jingle over the radio. I picked up my cell phone and within 30 seconds I was caller 10, out of thousands trying to win.
Just as the slogan from the NY Lottery goes, “Hey, You Never Know.” This was not the first time I’ve been the lucky winner of a contest, but it got me thinking. If one does not try something, then there’s no chance of the desired end result ever occurring. I’m not telling you anything unknown here; in fact, it is pretty obvious. I am encouraging you to attempt to do things in life that you otherwise wouldn’t bother doing; things that you desire. Winning concert tickets is just one example I am using to make my point. Someone has to win! It is not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Take that chance with something you’ve wanted to try for a while. Apply for that job you think is impossible to get. Ask that attractive peer out on a date. Try out for that team. And, of course, next time an opportunity to win something cool comes your way…go for it!
9/11/01: Never Forget
Today marks the eighth anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks on the United States of America. It is a historic day in which our sense of freedom was tested by those with no understanding of the value in human life.
We often hear the stories of how others will never forget where they were when they were informed of the tragic events that unfolded that morning. I grew up with my parents telling me how their generation will never forget where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated. I never truly understood how they remembered the details of that day decades down the road. Until 9/11/01 that is.
I was sitting in my morning Social Studies class at George W. Hewlett High School in New York, about a 40-minute commute from the World Trade Center. I was a freshman, exposed to high school life for only a few days. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, and my school was buzzing with students attempting to make it to class on time. A few minutes into my first class of the day, the voice of Joyce Bisso, the school’s Principal, came over the PA system with an important announcement. After explaining what had happened, Dr. Bisso instructed teachers to halt teaching and turn on the TVs in each room to bring live news reports to us. We were told that it was permissible to use our cell phones and contact our loved ones.
At first, many New Yorkers thought of the news as minor – maybe a small airplane that accidentally lost its course. Only a few days prior to this tragic event, a paraglider got tangled up on the top of the Statue of Liberty! Then, we witnessed the impact in the second tower and news from Washington, DC and Pennsylvania came across the wire. We knew this was no coincidence and that our society will be changed forever.
September 11, 2001 happened to be the first day that my class was permitted to leave the building for lunch. I walked home to see my mother crying hysterically. We hugged for a while and went to visit my grandparents nearby. She insisted I stay at home for the remainder of the day. The cell phone connections were a mess, but we finally reached my father who was working in Manhattan. He was safe, but was trapped in the city and needed to spend the night there. In the weeks ahead, America was glued to the news while remembering those innocent civilians we lost and honoring the brave men and women of the fire and police departments.
We need to continue sharing our stories to never forget. On this day, it is a honor and pleasure to be surrounded by fellow students, faculty and staff from every corner of the world. The vast walks of life represented at Lynn University stand for freedom at their home countries and at their home here. It is inspiring to see the outpouring of support and love from them as we remember those we lost on this day.
Welcome New Students!
First, allow me to apologize for having not blogged over the past few weeks. Amidst wrapping up my summer internship at JetBlue in New York (which I’ll be posting a recap about soon), packing, spending time with friends and family, traveling, unpacking, getting settled, and preparing for school, I figured it would be best to sit down and gather my thoughts with a clear mind. Now that everything is much less hectic, expect regular updates to this blog going forward!
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome the new students to campus. Whether you’re a freshman, transfer or new graduate student, you have made a great, life-changing choice by choosing Lynn. I’ve met some of you and look forward to crossing paths with the other new students over the coming months. Along the way, I’ve picked up a few tips which I’d like to share with you. I believe the following is crucial to a successful career at Lynn:
- Be organized and always plan ahead – create and maintain a system consisting of folders, contacts, tasks, appointments, etc. In the past, organization has not been easy for me, but I’ve learned that a clutter-free, organized lifestyle is priceless. Balance your time wisely – school, work, friends, family, and down time for yourself.
- Be involved – Lynn University offers TONS of opportunities and resources to maximize your academic and personal experience. Join one of the 42 fascinating student clubs/organizations; attend one of our exciting championship-winning athletics events and cheer for your Fighting Knights; enjoy the library resources; stop by the Career Center; work out in the gym; go for a swim; do something unique. Don’t let your college experience end once class is over – make the most of these precious years!
- Be prepared – always carry an umbrella (especially this time of year!) and have a writing instrument in class (professors can’t stand it when a student shows up without the ability to take notes, and for good reason – you’re here primarily for an education!)
- Be safe – use common sense both on and off campus. Like the New York City MTA says, “If you see something, say something.” Security’s phone # is (561) 237-7226. If you live on campus, program the Safe Ride # in your phone: (800) 675-6349 – this service is so cool, and it is free!
Happy September!
Welcome aboard…
Hello!
It is my pleasure to welcome you to The Jet Stream, a place where I plan to bring a taste of my life and Lynn University your way! First, let me warn you that aside from a few measly, unsuccessful attempts at Twitter, and of course the regular addiction to Facebook, I am very new to the world of blogging. However, I promise to try and keep things interesting and post frequently. I am both grateful and honored that you have allotted some time out of your busy schedule to reading The Jet Stream. I envision a truly interactive blog; one where you are not only a reader, but also a contributor. Please utilize the comments feature below and take part in the conversation! This blog will cover a broad spectrum of topics, with a focus of life at Lynn. I plan to use photos and maybe some video to keep things fresh around here.
So, this is the part where I get to tell you all about me. Let’s get that out of the way! I’m 22 and hail from Long Island, New York. Not sure why I just used the word hail, but I guess it sounds good. I’ve frequently traveled to Boca Raton, FL (New York’s sixth borough) on family vacations while growing up. Amidst the peak of the infamous college search during the latter part of high school, I was convinced that I wanted to attend a small school in the sun. Needless to say, Lynn ideally fit that description. Having just completed my undergraduate degree at Lynn, I am ready to commence a new chapter of my life – one which will still encompass Lynn, when I begin my MBA next month.
Aside from academics (I majored in Business Administration with specializations in Marketing and General Management), my undergraduate time at Lynn was rich with extracurricular activities. During the fall of my Freshman year, I was introduced to Hillel, the Jewish student life organization, by Gary Wolff, the local chapter’s programming director at the time. Early in the summer of 2006, I participated in an amazing 10-day trip to Israel, known as Birthright, with Hillel. Upon my return to school in the fall as a sophomore, I had an urge to become more involved with this incredible organization (by the way, Hillel welcomes students of ALL backgrounds to great events!). I was an active member in the 2006-07 school year, and served as the Treasurer during my Junior year in the 2007-08 school year. Finally, I served as President this past year as a Senior.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature overnight event. From Lynn’s first year hosting Relay in 2007, I jumped on board as a Team Captain. In 2008 and 2009 I served as the committee’s Corporate Sponsorships Chair. It has been so rewarding to take part in the fight against cancer.
I was a late bloomer in becoming involved with Student Government Administration (SGA), and wish I had been more active with this fascinating organization earlier in college. I served as the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee during the 2008-09 school year.
My passion for Lynn led me to become a Campus Tour Guide for the Office of Admissions. I have given dozens of tours since the fall of 2007, and plan to continue welcoming and introducing prospective students and their families to our beautiful campus over the next year.
Once again, welcome to my blog, and thank you for reading! I am ecstatic about blogging alongside my amazing fellow bloggers. We’re anticipating a very smooth flight!
Until next time,
Ryan
Blogger’s Note: I realize that my first post (above) is somewhat long – sorry, I can really talk (and type)! Please be assured that my posts will be brief, with the exception of the next few posts, as I will be catching you up on my internship experience at JetBlue Airways this summer. Where has the time gone?! It’s already August!!!