What is it Like to Attend University of Richmond

What is it Like to Attend University of Richmond The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Rafy earned his Bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Richmond in 2013. He is now a Washington D.C. tutor specializing in Calculus tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, Biology tutoring, and several other subjects. Check out his review of the University of Richmond: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Rafy: The University of Richmond campus is beautiful, secluded, and safe. The campus is only 15 minutes away from downtown Richmond and several shopping areas. Having a car is a big plus since the city's transportation system is not great. However, the university provides shuttles to the popular shopping areas and to several volunteering destinations. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Rafy: Most professors do not have teaching assistants. Given the small class sizes, the professors are available during class and in their offices. Most professors have office hours, and they are available to set up meetings outside the classroom. Academic advisers are also available throughout the semester, and they set up meetings before semester registration to make sure their students are on track to graduate. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Rafy: Over 90% of the students choose to live on campus all four years. I think that shows that campus life is absolutely a big part of the college experience at the University of Richmond. There are several dorms, townhouses, and apartments to choose from. You can also choose to live in a single bedroom or have roommates. Students are also allowed to purchase parking passes for their cars all four years. There are several dining options on campus. The main cafeteria has fantastic food with a wide variety of options. There are also several special dining days like Caribbean nights, sushi nights, etc. In addition, there are several other dining options, such as fast food and sandwich shops around campus. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Rafy: The programs most represented at the University of Richmond are business-related, like business administration, marketing, and international studies. I majored in biology with a concentration in pre-health studies because I wanted to apply to dental school. The university has a good pre-health program, with several events and guest speakers to raise awareness about the program. This is reflected in the high acceptance rate to medical and dental schools. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Rafy: The students in general are very friendly. Most students are always looking to make new friends, especially during freshman year. Given the small school size, seeing the same people on a daily basis also helps in making friends. Greek life is big on campus, and it plays a significant role in the campus social life. However, most of their events are open to all students, which means most students do not feel pressured to join Greek life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Rafy: The Career Center at the University of Richmond has several good resources for students, starting with writing resumes and cover letters to helping with interview preparation and the career search. The Career Center website is also very helpful, as several companies post their internships and post-graduation positions on the website. They actively look to recruit students from the university. Several reputable companies, especially ones in the Washington, D.C. area and New York City, recruit students and conduct interviews on campus throughout the academic year. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Rafy: There are several study areas that are readily available to students. Dorms have study lounges, but they are not very big. Most students choose to study in academic buildings or the library, which is open 24/7. The library can get crowded during busy evenings, but you can always find a place to work. There are different sections designed for different study habits. There are silent areas, quiet areas, group-study areas, and rooms available for individual or group work. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Rafy: Richmond is a great city. It is not a very big city, but it is also not a small one. The city has great history that is well presented in many areas. There are many local restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries in the area. There are several festivals throughout the year that give Richmond its own identity. In addition, the downtown area is very alive during the weekdays and weekend. Many students go downtown for these festivals, restaurants, and other events. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Rafy: The undergraduate student body is just over 3,000 students. It is small enough to see the same faces on a daily basis, but it is big enough to always meet new people. The class sizes are typically small. The introductory courses never exceeded 30 students per class. The higher-level courses that I took, which were in the science field, never exceeded 12-16 students per class. I was very pleased with the small class size because I always knew that I could raise my hand and ask the professor to repeat any concept I did not understand during class. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Rafy: One of my favorite professors at the University of Richmond is Dr. Krista Stenger. She was the reason I became interested in molecular biology. I took several courses with her. She was more than a professorshe was a mentor to any student who sought her help. She also assigned students to do part of her research in the immunology lab course. I gained experience in several lab techniques that most students do not gain during their undergraduate studies. In addition, she was very excited to help me with my applications to dental school and applications to work in research labs. Check out Rafys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How to Use Your Smart Phones and Laptops to Perform Better Academically

How to Use Your Smart Phones and Laptops to Perform Better Academically Today, everyone has a smart phones and laptop and educational institutions are using technology to reach out to students increasingly. In such a scenario, it would be to your interest to employ technology well and learn better and here’s how you can do it! Your Smart phones can help you plan better Whether it is exam schedules, class schedules, assignment and project submissions or important dates to remember, use your Smartphone’s calendar app or some cool notification app to keep abreast of it and plan better. Not only that, you can also spend more time with your studies by managing your notifications better. For instance, turning off notifications for social media apps can help you concentrate better on your studies. Simply optimize the notifications and set alerts and reminders for important events! You can even schedule a reminder for your online tutoring sessions on your phone and manage time way better! You can connect with tutors online via your Smart phones or laptop Now you can study on the go with your Smartphone or laptop. With campuses being Wi-Fi enabled, it is ever so easy to connect with your tutors or professors online. Simply login and listen to recordings of the class, chat with your tutor to get doubts cleared or get online math homework help in a jiffy. It’s that simple! Cloud can help with your storage Store all your audio and video lectures, online materials and your assignment or project work on cloud and access it anytime you want. You can also share your resources with friends! With access from anywhere and at anytime, you are bound to study better and this will reflect in your grades. Download the right apps and study effectively There are some apps that help you with tricky areas such as physics topics and math topics that are difficult for you. Similarly, there are apps that give out flash cards and you can use them for learning. You can even take tests and work on problems in specific subjects with certain apps. Some apps target to help you score better in exams while some help you with day to day college work. Choose the right app that will help your end goal and install it on your phone or laptop. Seek the right help If you are working on an assignment and need some help with it or simply need to get clarity on a specific topic, you could look up online assignment help or online tutors in specific subjects and connect with them instantly. Using your Smartphone wisely can help you score better grades and learn better too! Manage those notifications, download the right apps and connect with the best tutors and ace your exams. Good Luck!

How to Choose Your Extracurricular Activities

How to Choose Your Extracurricular Activities The following piece was written by Eddie LaMeire. Eddie has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand has previously worked in admissions at Loyola University and University of California at San Diego. He is also the founder of LaMeire College Consulting. There are not many people who need to be told that the past 20 years have seen college admissions become alarmingly selective. Even as recently as the early 1990s, admissions were conducted largely on the basis of grades and test scores. Back then, to provide a reference point, Stanford University had a freshman acceptance rate of over 20 percent. Stanford now accepts seven percent of freshman applicants in an age when a flawless transcript and near perfect test scores are necessary (but not sufficient) conditions for consideration for selective colleges. But, again, the increasing selectivity of top-tier colleges is common knowledge. Whats not as clear is what to do about it! How do we handle a situation when perfect isnt good enough? What tips most students into the admit pile? Often, it is the students extracurricular activities, or EAs. EAs consist of more than the clichd captain of the basketball team and editor-in-chief of the school paper. Theyre volunteering, professional research, and everything in between. They help to show commitment to a particular field, demonstrate an ability to lead, and provide evidence to support what a candidate says (and doesnt say) about herself. Regardless of how a college uses a students EA profile, all schools want to see consistency and growth. In other words, scattered, random activities are unimpressive. Movement forward in terms of depth and responsibility is coveted. To make it easy, think of a students progression through their significant EAs as the climb up a ladder. Lets start the description of this EA Ladder with a few caveats and qualifiers: The students EA profile will be filled with activities, many of them that the student does just superficially. Thats fine. The ladder approach should be used for the significant EAs: the one or two for which the student has a real passion. For the ladder to truly work, the student should have a general idea of what he or she wants to pursue academically in college. The earlier in your high school career the student starts working his or her way up the ladder, the better the EA profile ultimately appears. To illustrate the process, take an (ambitious) 8th grader interested in the sciences. Hes not too sure of what he likes specifically, but he knows that he loves animals. We would start from here and build: volunteer activities at animal shelters, the local zoo and aquarium, or a veterinarians office. He could even participate in an academic summer program such as the Center for Talented Youth (managed by Johns Hopkins) or the Education Program for Gifted Youth (run by Stanford), both of which offer fantastic enrichment classes in the sciences. During his first year in high school, our student would take on a bit more responsibility. He would join in-school organizations in order to get more exposed to the life sciences; every high school will have a science/biology/pre-med club on campus. This way, he can stay apprised of science competitions, programs, and fairs. The summer after freshman year, our student could potentially earn acceptance to the California State Summer School for Math and Science, managed by the University of California; of course, there are a number of similar programs around the country. When he returned, he would apply for research assistantships at local universities. You would be amazed by how many science professors like to help out younger students if theyre bright and proactive. Our sample student could move forward by competing in science fairs, further assisting with research, or earning acceptance to uber-selective summer programs like the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program, and the Research Science Institute administered by MIT. Were obviously dealing with a sophisticated high schooler here, but the idea is similar for students of any level: get them started on a path that gets progressively more challenging from one year to the next. The concept behind this approach certainly isnt rocket science, but it is an approach that few students take. Many 8th and 9th graders can be pretty scattered in terms of their interests, and even committed students get frustrated with the progressively increasing intensity of the activities. However, for motivated students interested in elite colleges, this focused, dynamic approach to EAs works brilliantly. And, with summer steadily drawing closer, now is the time to begin planning how the student will spend those precious hours. Visit LaMeire College Consulting for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Comparing fractions 2

Comparing fractions 2 Learning about fractions is one of the basic and important topics in math. A fraction is number written in p/q form. Where p is the numerator and q is the denominator of the fraction. The denominator of a fraction cannot be equal to zero i.e. q not equal to zero. Different mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division can be used to compare any two fraction numbers. While comparing fractions we can check if the fractions are less than, greater than or equivalent to each other. Example 1: Compare the two fractions 7/10 and 9/10. Which of them is a smaller fraction? Solution: Given are two fractions 7/10 and 9/10. Here both the fractions have the common denominator 10. Since the denominator is the same compare the numerators of the two fractions. The fraction with the smaller numerator is the smaller fraction. This gives 7 10. Therefore, 7/10 9/10. Hence, 7/10 is the smaller fraction. Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.) Compare the fractions according to the shaded region in the circle below? Which fraction is greater? 3/6 4/6 a) 3/6 b) 4/6 c) They are equal. d) None of these. Correct answer: option b. Explanation: Are two fractions 3/6 and 4/6. In the fraction 3/6, 3 out of 6 regions are shaded. In the fraction 4/6, 4 out of 6 regions are shaded. Since the denominators have the same value the fraction with the greater numerator is greater. Hence 4/6 is greater.

5 Most Common Italian Pronunciation Mistakes

5 Most Common Italian Pronunciation Mistakes Suzy S. Do you want to speak like an Italian native? Below, Italian teacher Giulio G. shares the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how to avoid them Italian is a relatively phonetic language, which means that almost each grapheme corresponds to a singular phoneme. In other words,  the Italian language is spoken as it is written. Thanks to this characteristic of the language, it is  easy to  learn proper  Italian pronunciation just by knowing the alphabet. However, there are still some  letters and combinations that may  be difficult to pronounce, especially for students who are  just beginning to learn  Italian. Below we explore the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how  you can avoid them. 1. The Letter C The first common mistake that many beginner students make  is related to the letter C, as this tricky consonant can have a hard or soft sound. Proper Pronunciation of Hard C The sound of a hard C, which precedes the vowels A, O and U, is pronounced as a /k/, as in the English word car. Common Italian words  with  this type of sound are: cane (dog) cosa (thing) cultura (culture) Proper Pronunciation of Soft C The sound of a soft C, which precedes the vowels E and I, is pronounced as a /Ch/, as in the English word chair. Common Italian words  that  have this particular sound are: cena (dinner) cibo (food) Exception:  If the C is followed by an he or an hi, it has a hard sound, meaning that the /Ch/ has to be pronounced as a /K/. 2. The Letter G The letter G is another problematic consonant. Its pronunciation essentially follows the exact same rules of the letter C, in that it has both a hard and soft sound. Proper Pronunciation of Hard G G has a hard sound if it is followed by the vowels A, O and U. The sound of the Italian hard G is the same of the G in the English word game. Examples of Italian words that contain a hard G sound are: gatto (cat) gola (throat) gusto (taste) Proper Pronunciation of Soft G G has a soft sound if it is followed by the vowels E or  I. This sound is the same as the J in the English word journey. Some examples  of common Italian words containing the soft G are: giraffa (giraffe) gelato (ice cream) Exception:  If the G is followed by he or hi, it has a hard sound. 3. The Letter Combination Gli The letter combination gli is one of the most difficult sounds to pronounce. Beginner students, who are not familiar with the Italian language, mistakenly pronounce it as the English word  glee. However, gli has a soft sound, not a hard one.  The best way to perfect your  pronunciation of gli is to say the English name Lee, but, instead of touching your teeth with the tip of your tongue, you have to position the  central part of your  tongue on your palate. 4. The Letter Combination Gn The fourth common Italian pronunciation mistake is related to the sound gn. This letter combination is present also in the English language; however, in Italian, it is pronounced in a totally different way.  Essentially, the gn sound in Italian is pronounced as ny in the English word canyon. 5. Double Consonants Last but not least, the final Italian pronunciation mistake that beginner students make is not pronouncing double consonants.  Unlike in English, you must pronounce a double consonant in Italian, utilizing more energy and giving more length to the sound. For example, the words capelli (hair) and cappelli (hats) are pronounced in two different ways. To pronounce the word  cappelli, its necessary to put more energy into saying the consonant P. If this proves to be difficult for you, another possible solution is to pronounce the consonants  separately without pausing too much. For example, try pronouncing cappelli  as kap-pel-lee. For even more tips on the Italian pronunciation rules, check out this quick summary from Italian teacher, Liz T. Lets face it: The proper pronunciation of Italian words can be difficult. However, you now have the tools to help you, so you can continue  to practice and eventually perfect your speaking skills! Post Author:  Giulio G. Giulio  G. teaches in-person Italian lessons in New York City. He is originally from Florence, Italy and is currently a student at the University of Florence for Languages and Intercultural Relations. He has been teaching lessons since 2009.  Learn more about Giulio  here! Photo by  Michael Foley Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Critical Reasoning Question Types-Strengthen Or Weaken Questions - Private Tutoring

Critical Reasoning Question Types-Strengthen Or Weaken Questions BobbiM Feb 6, 2014 Determining an arguments necessary assumption, as weve just seen, is required to answer and Assumption question.  But it also is required to answer another common type of question: Strengthen or Weaken the argument. One way to weaken an argument is to  break down a central piece of evidence.  Another way is to attack the validity of any assumptions the author has made.  The answer to many Weaken the Argument questions is the one that reveals an authors assumption to be unreasonable; conversely, the answer to many Strengthen the Argument questions provides additional support by affirming the truth of an assumption or by presenting more persuasive evidence. Lets use the same stimulus as before but in the context of these other question types: Allyson plays volleyball for Central High School Therefore, Allyson must be over 6 feet tall. Remember the assumption holding this argument together?  It was that all volleyball players for Central High are over 6 feet tall.  Thats the assumption that makes or breaks the argument.  So, if youre asked to weaken the argument, youd want to attack that assumption: Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument? Answer:  Not all volleyball players at Central High School are over 6 feet tall. Weve called into doubt the authors basic assumption, thus damaging the argument.  But what about strengthening the argument?  Again, the key is the necessary assumption: Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? Answer:  All volleyball players at Central High School are over 6 feet tall. Here, by confirming the authors assumption, weve in effect bolstered the argument.

Program Starts Week of October 1st! - Heart Math Tutoring

Program Starts Week of October 1st! - Heart Math Tutoring Program Starts Week of October 1st! Program Starts Week of October 1st! September 12, 2018 Heart Tutoring Volunteers We are excited to begin the program the week of October 1st! Due to school cancellations and Hurricane Florence, Heart Tutoring will be delayed one week from what was previously communicated so that we can finish program pre-assessments. The program will begin the week of October 1st with orientation, and tutoring will begin the week of October 8th. Please refer to your email titled Startup Logistics Heart Math Tutoring to RSVP for your orientation session and complete your CMS background check by September 27th. We have been in the schools meeting your students, and they cant wait to have tutors! Many thanks, and see you soon, The Heart Math Tutoring Team P.S. If you are reading this and you arent yet signed up, we still need you to be a tutor! Sign up at www.hearttutoring.org/become-a-volunteer.

The Gaza Conflict An FSU Perspective

The Gaza Conflict An FSU Perspective Tatiana-Rose BeckerFlorida State UniversityYear: SeniorMajor: Political Science/ International Affairs I have spent the last two months in Israel, here for the entirety of the Defensive Edge action in Gaza, the murder of the three yeshiva boys, and the murder of the Palestinian boy. I came here for an internship in the beginning of June and I have been reinvigorated in my love of Israel. The people in this nation have truly come together to support the government in a fight for their survival. I support this country first and foremost as a Jew. I believe every people with a shared culture, history, and language deserve their own state. I support Israel because it is a free democracy with freedom of the press, minorities have equal rights, and it is a beacon of hope for modernity in the Middle East. This current conflict in Gaza was and is inevitable. Unfortunately the situation left Israel with no option. The world criticizes Israel for striking Gaza and blowing up the tunnels, yet they never consider what would happen if this were any other country in the world. Would the US ever tolerate this? Would France? No. Historically that has never happened. People ask me why I support the state of Israel, or do I stand with her in the defense of the right to exist? Yes. I stand with Israel because I will not allow innocent civilians to be terrorized by radical Islamic militants and if those same terrorists are going to use civilians to hide their rockets then Israel has her hands tied and must go to whatever lengths necessary to protect her civilians. Any country on earth has a right to do so. Israel is no different. Ethan CohenFlorida State UniversityYear: SeniorMajor: Commercial Music I was in Israel from May 12-22. Israel is important to me because it is the Jewish State as well as the founding place for Judaism. Israel is like another home for me. I felt welcomed and became part of a bigger family I had never known. My view on this is that Hamas needs to be taken out of power if there is ever going to be peace in Israel/Gaza/West Bank. I believe that a terrorist group should not have any power in the negotiating process towards peace (especially if they use their own people as a shield). I absolutely stand with the Israel 100%. Haven MillerFlorida State UniversityYear: SophomoreMajor: Political Science/ International Affairs I spent six weeks in Israel with FSU’s International Programs from May 5th to June 13th, traveling all over the country but mostly staying in Jerusalem. Israel is important to me because it is the only place in the world where the Jews are always welcome. As someone who was bullied in high school for my religion, it’s refreshing to finally be the religious majority in a country It’s my belief that what is going on is truly devastating to both sides- Israelis and Palestinians. I think that there is one common enemy of both of these groups and it’s Hamas. Hamas is a recognized terrorist organization in control of the Gaza strip that is causing trouble for Israelis and its own people. Since the current conflict started, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets into Israel for one purpose- to kill Israeli civilians. Israel retaliates by sending rockets to known terrorist sites where Hamas stores weapons, terrorist bases, or terror tunnels leading into Israel. Unfortunately, Hamas has no regard for the lives of the Palestinian people, and builds many of their terrorist networks and launches rockets from civilian areas like schools, mosques, and even hospitals. All of these are facts, there is video proving it. There’s even a video of Hamas militants driving around in ambulances to disguise themselves from Israelis. The problem is, these facts are not always shown by the media. It’s been revealed that Hamas is issuing death threats to international reporters to not report the truth that Hamas is using innocent Palestinian civilians as human shields by urging them to stay in their homes and on the roofs even after the Israeli Defense Forces warns the civilians to leave. There are no videos or photos of Hamas on the news for the reason- they won’t allow it. So rather than seeing the aggressor in the conflict, when people turn on the TV they see terrible pictures of a bloody conflict and instantly think that Israel is the bad guy. BBC did a study and found that even some of the photos shown of the “tragedy in Gaza” are actually pictures from Syria’s war. Stephanie JablonFlorida State UniversityYear: SophomoreMajor: Education The last time I was in Israel was this past May on Birthright. That was my third time there. Israel means the world to me. It probably means the world to most Jews, too. That is the center of our world. Israel is the only place on earth where we are not only free to be Jewish, but encouraged to be as well. My views on the conflict with Gaza are as follows: Israel is doing what it needs to do to protect and defend itself against the terrorist government of Hamas that runs Gaza. I do understand the sympathy for those innocent civilians in Gaza who are forced to put their lives on the line and protect their terrorist, dictating, oppressive government. I have sympathy for them too. However, I cannot fathom ANYONE who has the slightest strip of sympathy for Hamas, who oppresses its people and threatens the only democracy in the Middle East. I 110 percent stand with Israel. It is my right as a Jew to have a place to call home, just like every other religion. Leon SultanFlorida State UniversityYear: SophomoreMajor: Psychology As a Jew the state of Israel means a lot to me. The Land of Israel, is land to us that was promised to us by G-d. Following the destruction of the second temple, Jews have been in diaspora for over a millennia. 1948 was truly a miraculous year, as the State of Israel was created as a safe haven and home for Jews in the Land of Israel itself! Following its creation Israel has constantly been in conflict with neighboring countries who refuse to live side by side with it peacefully. The conflict with Hamas is no different. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the E.U., U.S, U.K, and Australia, is sworn to the destruction of the state of Israel and Jews all over the world. It is Israel that is the victim in the round of violence it faces with Hamas. Israel has constantly been under the threat of destruction and has constantly fought many wars for the survival of its existence. The last thing Israel wishes to be is an instigator of conflict. When Israel goes to war, it does so because it is provoked. It does so to protect its people and its sovereignty. It never goes to war willingly and when it does, it does so in the most professional and collateral damage-free way as possible. Israel has no interest in committing genocide and killing innocent Palestinians as many in the media portray it to be. When Israel goes to war it targets those who harm the country and no one else. Hamas on the other hand shoots random indiscriminate rockets to kill as many civilians as possible. Its Hamas who wants war and destruction. It is Hamas who has instigated the latest round of violence. It is for these reasons that I stand for the State of Israel. It is simply acting in self defense. No other country would tolerate terrorists firing missiles at its civilians. Israel has the right to do it all in its capacity to keep the country and its civilians safe. Maci MorseFlorida State UniversityYear: JuniorMajor: Social Work Sadly, I haven’t been to Israel since my first visit during the summer of 2010, but I will never forget it. Israel has always been an important place to me because it is where my people are from. Growing up in a practicing Jewish family and going through nine years at a Jewish Day School made everything I had ever learned about Israel and my heritage real. To me, Israel means culture and, surprising to most, safety. While in Israel, I felt safer than I ever have in my entire life because of the minimal amount of crime and nearly a total absence of anti-Semitism. The current conflict with the Hamas organization compromises that safety and its upsetting. While I know that this conflict was inevitable and is distressing, I stand with Israel and always will. Emily SwerdloffFlorida State UniversityYear: JuniorMajor: Interior Design My name is Emily Swerdloff and I proudly stand with Israel. I grew up in a Jewish home, going to synagogue, and attending a Jewish sleep away camp. My mother was born in Israel and we have close family who still live there. Before I even visited the holy land, I felt a connection to Israel. Israel is the homeland to every Jew in this world. After the Holocaust, where six million Jews were senselessly murdered, Israel was founded for refuge. In the summer of 2011, I was lucky enough to visit Israel for the first time. Once I stepped out of the Ben Gurion Airport in 2011, I felt at home. I spent six weeks touring the country, making my way from the North to the South and visiting everywhere in between. Instantly, I fell in love. My connection to the State of Israel grew stronger as I embraced everything it had to offerculture, food, community. I believe everyone should experience the beauty of Israel. Hamas, a terrorist group controlling Gaza, rejects the existence of Israel. Hamas is responsible for precipitating this latest conflict by targeting civilians in Israel and launching rockets from civilian centers in Gaza. Israel has developed the Iron Dome to protect its citizens, while Hamas has put citizens in harms way, using them as human shields. Hamas used international money and supplies given for rebuilding Gaza to create underground tunnels into Israel for the sole purpose of executing terrorist attacks on the citizens of Israel. No other country would tolerate the continued attacks on its citizens. Israel has every right to defend herself. David WalkerFlorida State UniversityYear: JuniorMajor: Editing Writing and Media The last time I was in Israel was a couple months ago for Birthright. Before the trip Israel was remained just a vague notion of a homeland for a people I never really connected with. While I cant say I formed a bond akin to some of the others on my trip, I can say I found a sense of beauty in the countrys landscape and a level of patriotism and passion in its people that will stick with me forever. As for the conflict with Gaza, I can only say that I understand why Israel is doing what theyre doing without necessarily agreeing with it. Ive seen the bomb shelters, Ive seen the fear in peoples eyes when they talk about the potential of bombings, I (unlike many who seem to be new to this conflict) know what a toll terrorist groups like Hamas have taken on Israel. That said, the assault on Gaza is taking innocent lives and sowing more fear and hate among the native Palestinians. This is a no win situation for Israel but the ferocity of their approach to eradicate Hamas at any and all cost is not something I can not stand with. Brittany SinitchFlorida State UniversityYear: SophomoreMajor: English This [summer] was actually the first time that I have ever gone to Israel. It was the most incredible experience of my entire life. I went along with my best friend, Julie, and we walked away with memories, new friendships, and a whole new meaning of Israel. Israel is important to me for many reasons, but I think one of the biggest reasons why it is so important to me is because it is a place I know I could always go back to. Its a home away from home. Jewish people will always have a special place in Israel and I think thats beautiful that we can go back to such a remarkable place today. We have fought and fought over the years for our lives and today we have a home. Israel means everything to me. I think my connection with Israel grew stronger after visiting. It means safety, protection, love, hope, support, strength and just so much more. There is so much beauty within Israel, within the people there, and it just brings out all of the beauty inside of you. I think Israel changes people for the better and it leaves you with hope. I will always stand with Israel. Justin BoyarskyFlorida State UniversityYear: JuniorMajor: Social Science (Secondary) Education Israel feels like a second homeland to me. I have never in my life felt like I belonged anywhere more than I did in Israel. Israel is the one place in the world that all Jews (religious or not) are completely surrounded by their own people (no matter where the diaspora took them in the past). Its a special feeling thats honestly hard to explain. Israel is the one place on earth that Jews (shouldnt have to) be afraid/intimidated to be Jewish (secularly/culturally or religiously). Israel is the homeland. I also believe Israel has every right to defend herself. Its horrible to hear of civilian casualties, but its the ultimate consequence of this sort of unrest. I just would love to see peace in my lifetime, but I dont honestly know if I ever will. I do stand with Israel. I just believe settlement construction in the West Bank needs to halt. Its not productive in bringing peace to the region