2008 Woodie Awards
A Crucial Extracurricular Activity
Y. Aryeh Rosenbaum
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
There are myriad ways to fill your daily schedule in this unique institution. Student-run organizations seek leaders, clubs need members, varsity teams call for athletes, and of course night seder is open for all talmidim. So many different avenues present themselves that it is safe to say that everyone in Yeshiva will be attracted to at least one extracurricular activity. With this in mind, I'd like to suggest one activity to which everyone should give serious consideration.
Whether pre-law, pre-engineering, pre-rabbanus, or even undecided, everyone in YU has a difficult schedule. No matter how few credits a student takes, having another curriculum that leaves only the afternoon hours available for class time intrinsically makes the educational experience in Yeshiva more rigorous. Even with the break for yomim nora'im, a full semester of this strenuous dual program can spawn a dire case of burnout. What we all need, freshmen and seniors alike, is to relax.
Everybody has their own definition, but whether it's down time, chilling out, or meditation, it's all with the same goal in mind. Sometimes we need to leave our responsibilities behind for an hour or two and do something (or nothing) to slow down and recover.
How can you find what's right for you? You could start out by heading to the pool, where you can swim laps, sit in the whirlpool, or hop in the sauna. If that doesn't do it for you, try the gym. Some people find that lifting weights, doing sit-ups, and running on the treadmill takes them to another world. From there, you can head to the basketball courts and catch a pick-up game or just practice shooting.
We're far enough north that it would be a hassle to head to Central Park or Midtown regularly, but if you enjoy photography, try walking around in our own vivid neighborhood (limit exploration to the daytime) where you may find remarkable subjects. Or, if you want to try painting, you can flip your mattress up against the wall and turn your bed into a personal studio. Writers and bookworms can find a peaceful spot in Tenzer Garden, and of course, the library is always full of interesting books and quiet nooks. If you prefer music, borrow a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and listen in solitude to your favorite band.
You may find some of these pursuits enjoyable, but still be searching for that one thing that absolutely tranquillizes you. Try meditation. You don't need to fold your legs and hum; you can just lie down in your bed, breathe slowly, and think. If you fall asleep, maybe you need to take naps to rest your body and mind.
Don't rely on a friend's method. Your most effective relaxation will fit you like a tailored suit. Try everything you can think of; you might find that something unexpected, like cleaning your room or doing laundry, will be relaxing for you. It may take a while to find your leisure, but when you do find it, you'll know, and you'll be glad you did.
Aryeh Rosenbaum (Biology '09) is Opinions Editor for The Commentator
Whether pre-law, pre-engineering, pre-rabbanus, or even undecided, everyone in YU has a difficult schedule. No matter how few credits a student takes, having another curriculum that leaves only the afternoon hours available for class time intrinsically makes the educational experience in Yeshiva more rigorous. Even with the break for yomim nora'im, a full semester of this strenuous dual program can spawn a dire case of burnout. What we all need, freshmen and seniors alike, is to relax.
Everybody has their own definition, but whether it's down time, chilling out, or meditation, it's all with the same goal in mind. Sometimes we need to leave our responsibilities behind for an hour or two and do something (or nothing) to slow down and recover.
How can you find what's right for you? You could start out by heading to the pool, where you can swim laps, sit in the whirlpool, or hop in the sauna. If that doesn't do it for you, try the gym. Some people find that lifting weights, doing sit-ups, and running on the treadmill takes them to another world. From there, you can head to the basketball courts and catch a pick-up game or just practice shooting.
We're far enough north that it would be a hassle to head to Central Park or Midtown regularly, but if you enjoy photography, try walking around in our own vivid neighborhood (limit exploration to the daytime) where you may find remarkable subjects. Or, if you want to try painting, you can flip your mattress up against the wall and turn your bed into a personal studio. Writers and bookworms can find a peaceful spot in Tenzer Garden, and of course, the library is always full of interesting books and quiet nooks. If you prefer music, borrow a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and listen in solitude to your favorite band.
You may find some of these pursuits enjoyable, but still be searching for that one thing that absolutely tranquillizes you. Try meditation. You don't need to fold your legs and hum; you can just lie down in your bed, breathe slowly, and think. If you fall asleep, maybe you need to take naps to rest your body and mind.
Don't rely on a friend's method. Your most effective relaxation will fit you like a tailored suit. Try everything you can think of; you might find that something unexpected, like cleaning your room or doing laundry, will be relaxing for you. It may take a while to find your leisure, but when you do find it, you'll know, and you'll be glad you did.
Aryeh Rosenbaum (Biology '09) is Opinions Editor for The Commentator
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
dj
posted 9/05/07 @ 4:50 PM EST
who paints on their bed???
Steve
posted 9/10/07 @ 11:48 PM EST
I was not sure what your contact e-mail was so I just used this. I was wondering whether the commentator, under a new editor, is now allowing opinion pieces to be published once again? Last year "The Commentator" banned all non-YU related opinion pieces (including and especially pieces about Israel). (Continued…)
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