Birthright 2012: A Voyage into the Heart and Soul of Israel: Or How I Found My Heritage and Myself in the Land of Milk and Honey

Born in Cooper City, Florida, I have had a passion for science, nature, and the environment since I was a child. I grew up watching the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, and give credit to shows like ＂Wild Discovery＂, ＂Blue Planet＂, and ＂Walking with Dinosaurs＂ for instilling an intense appreciation for other living things. As I grew older, I began to study biology and soon became hooked. As I studied marine affairs at the University of Miami from 2008 to 2012, I incorporated my love of science with my desire to help others. I was active in many student groups, including the student newspaper and a philanthropic organization called Random Acts of Kindness. I also honed my desire to express myself through artwork and writing, and have used science as a subject for many of my articles and paintings. My experience in nonprofit work landed me a position on the constituency board for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Miami. I have also compiled my written works and experiences into a book, ＂From the Blogosphere: The Written Philosophy of a College Student＂, that was designed to help college students think positively and critically about the ways of the world. I also started a blog called ＂The Written Blit＂ to serve as a digital compilation. I studied fossil coral reefs in the Dominican Republic in 2011, and have experience in biology, geology, chemistry, and psychology. My goal is to help others realize their potential as they understand the wonders of our beautiful planet. My passion lies in my goals to help others and to further grow as a person through the understanding of science. I have begun work on interesting projects for the Billfish Foundation and am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree at the University of Miami.