Featuring Seth Schlank

What is your major, and why did you decide to pursue this degree?
My major is Psychology. I chose to initially pursue it after working in a Religious School classroom with third-grade students with learning differences. There, I helped them be their best self in the classroom and adapted the lessons to fit their behavioral needs. Prior to my year in Israel, I worked at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for my first summer in a bunk with a camper who was on the autistic spectrum. I learned even more about behavior management and furthered my desire to help every kid feel comfortable being their best self. During the second semester on the Nativ College Leadership Program, I volunteered in a youth village in the north of Israel, Yemin Orde. This village catered towards Jewish youth at risk from communities around the world. I listened to the students' stories about their past and the hardships that they overcame. From then on, I knew that I wanted to be a lifeline for those who have experienced traumatic events in their lives. 

Why did you choose Binghamton University?
I chose Binghamton University due to the outstanding combination of renewed academia and an immersive Jewish community. Ever since arriving in Binghamton for move-in day, I knew that Binghamton was the right choice for me. 

What is your favorite book? Why?
My favorite book is Rise and Kill First, a book about the history of the Israeli military intelligence establishment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I learned a lot about how the Israeli military operates to keep its citizens safe. Every page had something new to me, and I cannot recommend it enough. 

Where are you from? Where did you go to high school?
I am from Plainview, New York, and went to Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School.

What do you love about Jewish life on campus?
I appreciate the community that exists here at Binghamton. I am proud to be a part of such a large and tight-knit kehillah. 

Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have a younger sister, Naomi, who is 13 and starting ninth grade.

What is your favorite Jewish food? 
My favorite Jewish food is either my mom’s homemade challah or my Grandma’s brisket.

What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is falafel, complete with tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, French fries, Hummus, Techina, and Amba sauce.

What is your favorite Jewish childhood memory?
My favorite Jewish childhood memory is when I had my Bar Mitzvah in Israel. It was an amazing and overwhelming experience, but to be surrounded by family in such a Makom Kedoshah was a moment never to forget.

What is your favorite lockdown experience?
Early on in the pandemic, my family and I made it a point to take a walk after Shabbos lunch and visit friends from a distance. It was a nice way to see others at a time when in-person socialization was limited. Talking with them about the previous week was always a nice way to spend our Shabbos afternoon.