Kibbutz Re’im Volunteering Project

Summer 2024

One of the most impactful parts of my summer in Israel was the partnership we formed with Kibbutz Re’im, which has grown into an ongoing initiative.

A kibbutz is a unique type of communal community in Israel, where members share resources, responsibilities, and a collective positive spirit. On October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked by Hamas, and Kibbutzim including Be'eri, Nir Oz, and Re’im were deeply impacted, leading to the forced evacuation of their residents. Entire lives were uprooted, homes were burnt to a crisp, and many families lost loved ones.

During my Birthright Excel fellowship this summer, we created a beautiful partnership with Kibbutz Re’im. Every 2 weeks, Excel Fellows, including myself, volunteered to help restore the kibbutz. We focused primarily on the physical clean-up—removing overgrown weeds, planting flowers, and tidying the land—but no amount of work can erase the emotional pain these residents will carry for the rest of their lives.

I worked closely with two families: a young couple with their two toddlers, and an elderly woman, all of whom was returning to the kibbutz for the first time since the attacks. Despite their circumstances, the kindness of these residents was remarkable. They welcomed us into their homes, offering us fresh fruit, a place to shower, and shared their stories of horror and resilience.

Through this journey, I connected with Shahaf and Omer, kibbutz residents and volunteering coordinators. They shared heart-wrenching accounts of what happened on October 7 and introduced us to Cafe Otef, a model for healing and rebuilding community spirit. Named after the Otef Aza (Gaza Envelope) area, these cafes around Israel serve as safe gathering spaces and workplaces for residents of the hardest-hit communities to come together. Each cafe has about 10 staff members, all from the community being represented by that location. The manager of each cafe earns 15% of the profits as an incentive for success.

Moved by this initiative, I gathered some of my cohort members to visit Cafe Otef in Florentine. Seeing the cafe bustling with activity on a weekday evening filled me with hope. I sat down with Omer over pastries and coffee, reflecting on the resilience of this community.

Our partnership with Kibbutz Re’im continues to evolve. Past Excel Fellows are now offering their expertise in business and technology to help residents navigate their journey of rebuilding—whether it’s optimizing the way they manage their homes or supporting new ventures like Cafe Otef.

This video captures the challenges, grace, and inner strength of Re’im residents, as well as the emotional investment from the Excel Fellows who stepped up to help.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NxzCmaP8CqVvyCDNTIayPWgYoTl67O2R/view?usp=sharing

Birthright Israel Excel Fellowship

June 2024

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Birthright Excel Fellowship, a transformative program designed for top students eager to immerse themselves in the dynamic business landscape of Tel Aviv. As one of just 60 selected global fellows, I embarked on a journey filled with professional growth, cultural exploration, and personal development.

During the fellowship, I interned at General Motors, where I contributed to a project focused on camera extrinsics validation for autonomous vehicle parking. I designed and implemented test-driven, object-oriented Python code, and obtained hands-on experience in Agile software development. This hands-on experience allowed me to apply my programming knowledge from college courses in a real-world setting and contribute to GM’s autonomous vehicle processes. I had the chance to collaborate with a team of incredible engineers and gain insights into the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.

I had the privilege of attending 2-3 speaker events per week, featuring some of the most influential leaders in their fields. Highlights included Alex Crisses, Managing Director at General Atlantic; Yitshak Kreiss, Director of the Sheba Medical Center; Sivan Yaari, CEO of Innovation: Africa; Dina Ben Tal, CEO of El Al Airlines; Kfir Damari, CEO of SpaceIL; and Adi Soffer Teeni, VP and GM of Meta Israel. Each of these exceptional leaders shared their personal journeys and insights, including how the events of October 7 have impacted both their professional and personal lives. Our discussions with them were both thought-provoking and inspiring.

We were also fortunate to hear from two NOVA survivors as well as Moran Stella Yanai, a released hostage. We also visited Palmachim Airbase and heard from high-ranking generals and soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Air Force, adding a profound dimension to our understanding of the region.

Beyond the professional aspects, the fellowship provided an enriching cultural experience. I explored the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, immersing myself in its diverse neighborhoods, rich history, and culinary delights. Our trips to the North, South, and Jerusalem offered additional cultural and historical insights that deepened my appreciation for the region.

The Excel Fellowship’s ongoing support and mentorship, a hallmark of the program, will continue to guide me as I navigate my career path and refine my goals. The focus on leadership, networking, and personal growth has been and will remain invaluable in shaping my future aspirations.

Go Baby Go!

April 2024

In April, within my biomedical engineering lab, we crafted a customized toy car for Joan, an adorable 3-year-old who adores Peppa Pig, Cocomelon, and Daniel Tiger. Joan faces mobility challenges alongside a visual impairment caused by optic nerve glioma leading to optic nerve atrophy. Collaborating with my team of four fellow Vanderbilt biomedical engineers and receiving support from Belmont’s occupational therapy graduate students, we tailored a car specifically to Joan’s physical requirements and aesthetic preferences. This adaptation aimed to empower her with independent mobility and ensure she enjoys essential playtime like other children her age.

The culmination of this experience was delivering the car to Joan at Belmont University, where we taught her and her mother how to operate it. Witnessing Joan revel in the newfound freedom and joy was incredibly gratifying and fulfilling. This experience provided not only technical and hands-on learning but also a firsthand understanding of how our efforts can profoundly impact someone’s life for the better. I am extremely grateful to Vanderbilt’s BME Department, Belmont’s OT staff and students, and, of course, the delightful Joan for this unforgettable opportunity.

Medtronic Tour

April 2024

I had the remarkable opportunity to visit Medtronic's spinal and orthopedic sector at their Memphis, Tennessee location as part of a Vanderbilt Biomedical Engineering industry field trip. This experience was truly enlightening as I delved into Medtronic's impressive medical products and had the privilege of meeting the passionate engineers driving their innovative advancements.

Our journey was a round trip of six hours on a bus, but every moment spent at Medtronic was enriching. We engaged with engineers across various departments, from research and development to marketing and even those collaborating directly with surgeons on product implementation. The engineers showcased product demos, offered valuable insights, and gave us an extensive tour of their laboratories.

Medtronic has been of interest for me throughout my college journey, aligning seamlessly with my personal and professional interests in biomedical engineering. This experience further solidified my admiration for Medtronic’s contributions to changing lives through groundbreaking medical solutions.

I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage with Medtronic again in my future professional endeavors, continuing to explore the intersection of innovation and healthcare while making a meaningful impact in people's lives. This visit has been a pivotal moment in affirming my passion for biomedical engineering.

Permobil Tour

December 2023

Towards the end of November, I submitted my application for an industry field trip to Permobil, and I was fortunate to be among the seven undergraduates selected to participate. We went to the Lebanon branch and spent the day immersed with nine engineers working in various disciplines at the company. It was an eye-opening experience: from engaging in product demonstrations and engaging in Q&A sessions to embarking on a comprehensive tour of the production floor. We also had the privilege of learning about each engineer's unique career journey, providing invaluable insights into their experiences.

I walked away from the visit not only with a deeper understanding of Permobil's groundbreaking work but also with a renewed sense of admiration for the exceptional team behind it all. The support and guidance provided by both the Permobil team and our biomedical engineering professors, Dr. Lowery and Dr. Del Bosque, significantly expanded my horizons. They revealed the extensive array of opportunities awaiting exploration within this field of expertise. Each employee that I met has an unwavering dedication that extends beyond the products and the company's success. Their passion resonated deeply with the mission to positively influence the lives of individuals dealing with life-altering conditions.

I am passionate about pursuing a career in the medical devices/medical products sector once I graduate from college. This visit solidified my belief that, as a biomedical engineer, I hold the power to genuinely transform lives and elevate the healthcare sector, patient by patient. Witnessing human-centered design that revolutionizes the lives it touches is truly inspiring, and I am looking forward to immersing myself in this field.

See this post for my quote on the Vanderbilt University Department of Biomedical Engineering LinkedIn page.

TOM Makeathon

November 2023

Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) is an Israeli-based organization dedicated to harnessing innovation and collaboration to create practical solutions for people with disabilities. TOM brings together a group of diverse makers and problem solvers to develop accessible technologies, ultimately striving to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities (Need-Knowers) worldwide.

At Vanderbilt, this comes together in a 72-hour Makeathon in early November. I was in a group with eight other engineers of different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. We worked with a patient who had EDS syndrome, which affects the connective tissues in the skin, bones, and other organs. She needed both physical and emotional support, and our products enhanced both of these. We developed a personalized cane and walker for her to fit each of her specific needs and desires. We worked with her each day of the project, fine-tuning both solutions with tailored features and adjustments.

The process of developing this product taught me an incredible amount about human-centered design and engineering principles. I am excited to further collaborate with engineers through TOM, exploring innovative projects alongside new Need-Knowers.

Data Science Minor Spotlight

September 2023

Ever since I learned to code with blocks in middle school, I was interested in using it for practical applications. I didn’t envision myself  stuck in an office coding all day, but I knew that there were other opportunities. I wanted to combine my passion for medicine and enhancing healthcare with technology. That is when the data science minor called my name. I took a course in Python, and followed it up with an introductory data science R course. These abilities in data cleaning and visualization have been invaluable in my research lab, internships, and subsequent coursework.

I was recently honored with a Data Science Minor Spotlight, which is attached here, as well as in the photo.

Gun Violence Awareness Campaign

April 2023

In light of the recent devastating shooting at Covenant School in Nashville and my direct experience with the Highland Park shooting on July 4th, I could no longer just express “thoughts and prayers” and remain silent. Students across our nation have become desensitized to the frequency of school shootings, and our safety is constantly at risk.

Motivated to make a difference, I rallied over 30 students from the Vanderbilt community to take action. Together, we composed letters and emails addressed to local government officials, advocating for stricter gun control measures. In addition, we sold bracelets to raise funds for the Covenant School, spreading awareness about the consequences of gun violence. We wrote and sent around 50 letters, and donated $300+ for the victims’ families. Though this campaign proves we have a voice, there is more work to be done.

Gun violence affects everyone in our country, whether we lost loved ones or have simply become afraid to attend public events or send our children to school. It's time for us to come together and take action to prevent more tragedies from occurring. As we mourn the 146th shooting in our country just 100 days into 2023, it's crucial that we collectively recognize the urgent need for meaningful action to ensure the safety of our communities. We must continue to advocate for measures to address this pressing issue.

Please contact your elected officials, attend a protest or march, or start the necessary conversations with your friends and family to fight for gun reform. Follow @mobilizenashville, @nash_studentsforchange, and @marchforourlives on Instagram, or check out https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/take-action/promise/ to learn more.

A tangible reward for club dedication

November 2021

As Stemology is a brand-new club, applying for a financial grant seemed like a stretch to my co-founder and me. Nonetheless, we pored over our financial data and purchases from the past 11 months. We created several documents and a concise spreadsheet to better organize our funds and receipts. We analyzed the trends of our purchases and common materials needs, ultimately pulling together a proposal that aligned with our recent and prevalent monetary choices. After reading and reviewing our application, we submitted it, feeling confident but trying our best to stay realistic. When we received word that we got the full $1000 grant that we requested, we were overjoyed. The president of the committee was extremely impressed by our organization and the attention to detail that we included in our application. We are excited to use these funds on materials for experiments, fun goodies for our participants, and hopefully new technology (like coded Sphero robots) to expose the students to new STEM innovations.

Serving the community through art and awareness

October 2021

WINGS Chicago is the largest domestic violence service provider in Illinois, and they focus on providing housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. Their unique efforts align with our goals and objectives in Girl Up, and as a local organization, we have collaborated with them for several years. This year, I discovered a remarkable opportunity for our club members to take on. We heard from a representative from WINGS, who helped us understand domestic violence and the actions that victims, as well as the general public, can take. We created art tiles, using small canvases and acrylic paint, beautifully decorated with encouraging words and phrases and calming images that will hang in Safe Homes. These homes are available for any woman who feels unsafe in her home and needs a place to stay for any length of time. When she leaves the Safe Home, she can take one of the tiles home with her. We are so incredibly inspired by our work making a true impact in these women’s lives after they lacked true human connection, and that we can touch their lives, even in a minor way.

My camper engagement dovetailed with counselor experience

June - August 2021

Since 2014, Chippewa Ranch Camp has been my home away from home, the place I feel like I can express myself with no judgment, and laugh until I cry. For six years, I was a camper, maturing from a small nine-year-old afraid to jump in the freezing lake, to a sixteen-year-old leader, standing in the front row of silly dances and leading 60+ campers and staff in color wars. It was only natural for me to continue my passion and deep endearment for CRC as a junior counselor this past summer. I received my lifeguarding certification, excited to be on the lake all day interacting with and helping campers swim, sail, ski, and paddleboard, and attended pre-camp to prepare for my responsibilities and work to get camp in tip-top shape. Never did I realize the substantial preparation and constant behind-the-scenes functioning that it takes to run an overnight camp until this year. My nine-week camp experience was eye-opening into light fun activities that I could help assemble and manage, to deeper mental health issues that almost all of my campers faced. I resided with and mentored fourteen thirteen-year-old girls, obviously at the peak of their teenage years, where, unfortunately, drama and anxiety took over. I dealt with friend affairs, body image concerns, and even gender identity issues, compounded with the work I was doing around camp. I would not trade this incredible experience for anything, as I developed phenomenal relationships with my campers and co-counselors, as well as empathy and compassion for others. I look forward to returning next summer as a senior counselor, and continuing my legacy in 2022.

Co-organizing a blood drive (twice!)

November 29, 2020 + March 13, 2021

With COVID cases on the rise again, my friend and I had been feeling lost and were looking for ways to have a positive impact on our community during the pandemic and make a real change. When she texted me asking if I’d co-organize a blood drive with her through Vitalant, I was immediately on board. We recruited close friends and family to donate and support the cause, reaching out via text messages and social media. Once we had collected a sizable group of willing donors, we were ready to go. 

We arrived at 11am, and both donated ourselves before our friends and other recruits arrived. It was my first time donating blood, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it was. We had anticipated certain challenges: social distancing measures meant that each donation took longer than it would under normal circumstances, and some volunteers were turned away for low iron levels and other health complications, but luckily we had enough walk-in volunteers to make up for those losses. In the end, we had a successful day and collected more donations than we had originally expected to. It felt rewarding to see our community come together because of something that we created. After witnessing such an impressive turnout, we resolved to plan another drive in the coming spring.

Our second drive in March was just as successful and inspiring as the first. We brought new donors with new excitement, and are so excited that we were able to extend Vitalant’s range in our community.

Stemology for Kids - my largest leadership role

December 2020

Back in December, I was explaining how to draw a unit circle to my geometry tutee, Mia. STEM has engaged me since day 1, but I have come to realize how important it has become for me to “share the wealth”, pass on my knowledge. What better way to combine these two passions than to create an organization to teach younger students in my community about STEM principles? I established a local chapter of Stemology for Kids in Highland Park and brought it as a club to my high school in March of 2021. Stemology is a non-profit organization that aims to inspire younger children to become more engaged in STEM by combining principles of STEM and environmental science in interactive virtual lessons, culminating with a knowledge-based game and cool experiment. My peer, Ella Kaplan, co-founded Stemology with me; we have worked tirelessly since December to get the club up and running. We have run several lessons with local students in the Hispanic community through a location called Nuestro Center, as well as lessons with students from several elementary schools. Our efforts are always rewarded - we get to see the bright smiles on the students’ faces as they run the experiment with us from their own homes, learning about density by creating a real-life lava lamp or playing our Kahoot about oil spills. I look forward to working with our new team of intelligent students at HPHS to keep giving back to our community and bringing STEM to our younger mentees. Additionally, we are creating a Diversity Chair on our board to be a Spanish-speaking liaison to Nuestro, and to recruit members to make Stemology a more culturally varied club.

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My first customer service job

June - September 2020

The search for a summer job was relatively simple - apply to a multitude of places, and see which companies would offer me an interview. The first opportunity to approach was Portillo’s, a fast casual restaurant chain centered in the Midwest. I was immediately interested, as my friends and I were frequent customers there. I got offered a spot on the team during my interview, and decided just as spontaneously to accept it. Orientation was fairly repetitive, but my second day there, I was thrown in, filling orders and frying up hundreds of potatoes. After one day on the job, I had fallen in love with the community atmosphere, inviting coworkers, and constant engagement. I returned day after day with a huge grin, eager to jump into my spot as the “fry girl”. The job felt less like work, and more like an enjoyable way to relieve stress and build meaningful relationships. I went in each day to serve my customers, but as I discovered new strengths and came to recognize my own value to the company, I ended up serving myself just as much.

DanceConnected

May 6, 2020

During the global pandemic of COVID-19, staying optimistic and working to find good in everything has been essential. Though I have had the privilege of working out and dancing with my studio and the instructor, I realized that many children may not be able to. This made me want to help bring movement and dance into the lives of younger children, share my passion for dance, and encourage others not to lose motivation in their practice of the art form I love most. I created videos teaching some basics of ballet and other techniques and publicized my site around my community through social media.

The first spark of my engineering passion

November 2019

During my freshman year of high school, I engaged in a year-long Introduction to Engineering course. It provided a solid foundation of my engineering knowledge, from the widely used engineering design and documentation process to the utilization of computer-simulated designs to 3D print solutions to innovative challenges. We used CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, as well as concrete materials to create prototypes. Our biggest design challenge was with a real company, Horizon Pharmaceuticals. We were provided with a rare medical issue and asked to create a product solution, ranging from a coded app to a real, working prototype. Our groups of four-five were given several weeks to research, brainstorm, design, create models, evaluate and redesign our projects. We worked alongside mentors from Horizon Pharma, who guided us with the knowledge of the disease. We presented professionally to employees from the company, and they choose two groups to advance to the second level. My group was chosen, so we were able to go to a small conference with other schools at Lake Forest College and present our solution. The experience deepened my understanding of the real design process, and offered me incredible exposure to a successful company and their work. I’m grateful for the professionalism and leadership the opportunity provided me with, and I continue to develop these skills.

A founding day for my STEM interest: GirlCon

June 15, 2019

I had the privilege of attending an extraordinary event called GirlCon, hosted at Google and focused on empowering girls in various career fields through technology (visit girlcon.org for details). I first learned about this motivational conference from my sister and school engineering teacher, leading me to attend in 2019. GirlCon broadened my perspective on STEM's diverse applications across industries and left a lasting impact on me, particularly in terms of female empowerment.

Inspired by my experience, I applied to join the planning team for the 2020 conference and was honored to be accepted onto the National Team. In this role, I collaborated on reaching out to potential sponsors, organizing the day's logistics, and promoting GirlCon through various channels. The conference itself was a dynamic gathering of around 200 girls, including myself, participating in breakout sessions led by influential female professionals spanning fields like medicine and art. These sessions not only provided valuable insights and advice but also fostered connections and heightened awareness about gender gaps in technology.

GirlCon brought together empowered girls and inspiring role models, creating a platform for networking and learning. Despite the virtual format this year, the event remained impactful and successful in its mission to inspire girls nationwide. I eagerly anticipate contributing to the planning of GirlCon 2021 and continuing to empower girls in STEM fields.

Key Club International - a relaxing club that turned into a fulfilling leadership opportunity

Fall 2018

During my freshman year of high school, I was on the lookout for collaborative clubs that engaged my interests. Key Club and its goals caught my eye. It is an international service organization, and it is extremely rewarding to directly serve my community. I was able to participate in fun service projects with my friends in meetings at school, as well as cool activities outside of school to sign up for. The article below includes a photograph of a few friends and I packing weekly lunch + dinner baskets to go out to the low-income families in my community. I applied to be on the board for Key Club after my first year doing club. After being interviewed and accepted, I had the privilege of planning several events, working with promotional marketing, and introducing new ideas to the board. Next year will be my third year on the board, and I am elated to be back in-person to work with my new peers and members.