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DAVIS SCHOLAR PROFILE >
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE DAVIS DEGREE PROGRAM?
I have been part of different academic communities both in Israel and the United States before I came to Wellesley. But I had a continuous unfulfilled dream of becoming a part of an academic environment in which I can thrive and flourish as a student, where professors are passionate about sharing their knowledge, and where each person feels free to contribute and to learn. I envisioned the perfect class as one with students who are highly motivated and unafraid of being challenged or asking questions. I sought lively discussions, with the opportunity to get to know people and their variety of opinions. I had fantasized about a place that values tolerance and patience, where learning and cooperation are more important than competition. And I envisioned a community in which students and professors help one another to grow and where the life of the mind is taken seriously.
Although I was not actively looking for such environment (simply because I did not think it existed), I accidentally heard of Wellesley and learned about the Davis Degree Program from the website. In my first semester at Wellesley, I realized that I had found the institution of my dreams and that Wellesley had far exceeded this dream.
WHAT IS THE DAVIS SCHOLAR COMMUNITY LIKE?
The Davis program community supplies support and friendship. I find helpful advice and occasional reassurance, and I have found friends who struggle with similar challenges, with whom I can either engage in long discussions or just have the best laughs. Before I started my studies at Wellesley, my goal was to finish my ongoing degree as soon as possible with a fear of being bored. But once I started, I regretted that I am only required to complete 16 classes at Wellesley, while there are so many more that I am very interested in taking. There are so many study spots on campus where I like to study quietly. I can sit on a comfy chair or couch and enjoy a spectacular view at the same time. When I want to feel like home on campus, I go to the CE house by the lake (the house on campus for Davis Scholars) where I can see friends, eat something in the well-equipped kitchen, and work on a computer.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WELLESLEY?
The professors have been inspiring. Beyond psychology, writing, and history, they have taught me lessons for life. “Finding your voice” was a theme during a “Psychology of Personality” class, where the instructor stressed the value of searching our individual opinions as well as questioning authority. Here, my own voice turned to be much more significant than memorizing course material. In another class, I learned that overcoming the fear of participating in class discussions is worth a lot, and that it makes class much more exciting and helps tremendously with my own and others’ learning. I have been exposed to many books, texts, and opinions that were stimulating and thought-provoking.
The Honor Code is one of the main characters that make Wellesley College so special to me. The college’s just society is reflected in our lives at school every day, not merely on paper. I love leaving my belongings in common spaces and trusting that they will remain untouched. The Honor Code creates an atmosphere of trust and respect among students and between faculty and students, especially during exams period. I like being trusted by professors and thus being easily accommodated when I must reschedule a midterm or need an extended deadline for a paper.
I have demanding responsibilities as a mother of two small children, and my husband works long hours. My tight schedule has taught me new levels of efficiency, which allows me to be a present mother for my children as well as to do well in school. However, one of the main drawbacks is my inability to always take an active role in this vibrant community. I regret the many enriching lectures that I have had to miss, as well as some of the fun Davis Community parties. As there is a continuous struggle between my role as a mother and my role as a student, they enrich one another and allow me to have a deeper experience.
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