2008 Woodie Awards
Yeshiva Survival Guide
Immanuel Shalev
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: Opinion
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Every year the campus is met by hundreds of new students with all sorts of preconceived notions about the coming year in YU. Hundreds more will uncertainly return to the Wilf Campus unsure of how better to approach the new year. Sadly, most of these attitudes are negative and harmful, ignorant of the realities at YU and therefore ill-equipped to face them. I'm here to help.
It is incredibly important for students to realize that Yeshiva is not high school; nor is it yeshiva in Israel. It is also not an oversimplified combination of the two. In high school and yeshiva the path is clear, almost like a river. A river has a clear point of origin and it heads towards a destination. The barriers on either side are well defined, and everyone is rowing in the same direction. I do not mean to say that these institutions are not difficult - it all depends on how hard you row. Teachers and rabbeim unite to bring a clear message to their students. Goals are made and expectations are set.
YU is more like a lake. There are many points of destination, but no clearly defined path. It opens its traveler to a world of opportunity, but without the sure current to propel him to his destination of choice. Students here are meant to choose their own point of destination. They set their own goals and expectations, and the frameworks for meeting them. Therein lies the secret of success at Yeshiva University.
Set goals. Period. YU has no current; do not expect to ride it in any way. If you would like to grow academically, you are going to have to choose challenging courses. If you want to grow religiously, make sure you are able to learn as much as you would like to. If you are strong enough to do both, make sure you plot your time wisely and realistically. I have met many depressed students at YU who wonder why they aren't half the people they wish they were. For most, it's because they haven't clearly defined their destination. This isn't some esoteric motivational speech - set specific goals. Do you want to finish the complete works of Shakespeare at the end of your first semester, or maybe make a siyum on Seder Nezikin?
It is incredibly important for students to realize that Yeshiva is not high school; nor is it yeshiva in Israel. It is also not an oversimplified combination of the two. In high school and yeshiva the path is clear, almost like a river. A river has a clear point of origin and it heads towards a destination. The barriers on either side are well defined, and everyone is rowing in the same direction. I do not mean to say that these institutions are not difficult - it all depends on how hard you row. Teachers and rabbeim unite to bring a clear message to their students. Goals are made and expectations are set.
YU is more like a lake. There are many points of destination, but no clearly defined path. It opens its traveler to a world of opportunity, but without the sure current to propel him to his destination of choice. Students here are meant to choose their own point of destination. They set their own goals and expectations, and the frameworks for meeting them. Therein lies the secret of success at Yeshiva University.
Set goals. Period. YU has no current; do not expect to ride it in any way. If you would like to grow academically, you are going to have to choose challenging courses. If you want to grow religiously, make sure you are able to learn as much as you would like to. If you are strong enough to do both, make sure you plot your time wisely and realistically. I have met many depressed students at YU who wonder why they aren't half the people they wish they were. For most, it's because they haven't clearly defined their destination. This isn't some esoteric motivational speech - set specific goals. Do you want to finish the complete works of Shakespeare at the end of your first semester, or maybe make a siyum on Seder Nezikin?