Jewish Bearcat of the Week

Featuring Elika Berco

What is your major, and why did you decide to pursue this degree?
I am majoring in Economics and minoring in Global Studies. I chose this degree in hopes of learning the big issues our world faces from an economic perspective.

Why did you choose Binghamton University?
I chose Binghamton University because of the excellent education I knew I could get out of it. Additionally, visiting Binghamton, in high school, one Shabbat and seeing its Chabad was a major factor that solidified my decision to come here. 

Where are you from?  Where did you go to high school?
I was born in Manhattan, and grew up in Brooklyn until the age of 10. After, my family moved to Roslyn where I attended Roslyn High School.

What do you love about Jewish life on campus?
I love how everywhere I go I see a familiar face. I feel a sense of warmth knowing that I always have people who care around me. Being part of a Jewish community means being part of a second family to me.

Do you have any siblings?
I have one older brother, Barr and three baby sisters, Gaia, Zara and Aria.

What is your favorite book? Why?
My favorite book is Wonder. After reading it in middle school, I had a new perspective on life. I realized how mean the world can be, and I learned that kindness is the most important thing. The smallest act can make a huge difference in someones life, and majority of the time our initial judgments are so wrong.

What is your favorite Jewish food?  
My favorite Jewish food is Kubbeh Selek. It is a Jewish Iraqi dish that my dad makes.

What's your favorite Jewish holiday and why?
My favorite Jewish holiday is Rosh Hashanah because I get to see family members that I rarely see throughout the year and I love apples.

If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be and why?
If I were a breakfast cereal I would have to be Kariot filled with chocolate because I am tough on the outside, but become a chocolate mush when I warm up to you.

What's your dream job?
My dream job is to be a home flipper while running my own bakery on the side. Everyday after middle school, I would sit in the living room and watch house flipping shows or anything baking or cooking related while I did homework. Both watching those shows and admiring my parents, who have a home renovation company, inspired me with my dream job.

What's a quote or saying that you like?
“To be, or not to be, that is the question.” -William Shakespeare. In my interpretation, this quote signifies the power of choice. Each day offers the chance to define who we are and what impact we wish to make. You can either be, and choose to live up to your full potential, or not be, and never know what you could have been.

How do you envision yourself in twenty years?
In twenty years, I envision myself having my own business, and living in a farm house with a huge family and lots of animals, and my passport will be filled with stamps from all the places I have travelled.

What's your favorite lockdown experience?
During lockdown my favorite thing to do was go on runs. With limited activities being available, being able to go outside and run helped me power through.

What makes you proud to be a Jew?
I am so proud to be a Jew for our communities ability to come together during hard times. Regardless of the adversity we face, we come out with pride and unity every time. At the end of the day I always know I can count on my Jewish community to make me feel supported.

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