Alumni Voices: Class of 2009

“I truly believe that Barrack taught me to appreciate diversity and open-mindedness. My fellow students are from literally all over the world and come from startling different backgrounds and cultures. Barrack taught me to embrace the diversity, rather than shun it...to welcome opposing views rather than reject them...I also speak confidently in class. I am unafraid of voicing my opinions and supporting them with evidence.”

Stuart Goldberg, ’09
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

“...I have found my Akiba-Barrack education prepared me extremely well for college on several fronts. Academically, it fostered great time management skills which are absolutely pivotal in college... I have also felt fully prepared for college level work, including thesis papers, research papers and lab work. With regard to extracurricular activities, it encouraged me to pursue a combination of intellectually based activities, such as the Bioethics Society, (for which I thank Mrs. August for introducing the topic of bioethics in 9th grade) and activities for creative outlets and community service.”

David Carel ’09
Yale University

“Coming from such a tight-knit community in high school instilled in me a desire-perhaps more accurately described as a need-to be involved in college...to feel connected... to be involved. With this constant need to be involved, comes a dire necessity for time management, which is perhaps the most important skill that Akiba-Barrack helped me to develop... I certainly learned to juggle a rigorous dual curriculum program, various extracurricular commitments, and my obligations as a friend and daughter, making the transition to college considerably less daunting...And despite being many states away, I still consider my high school friends to be some of the best friends I have...”

Rachel Schwartz ’09
Brown University

“Vanderbilt is great! I am doing well and can attribute much of that success to my study skills and writing skills. The amount of time our teachers helped us learn how to write well was remarkable. My Akiba-Barrack education also taught me that going to professors for help and advice is very beneficial. Teachers at Vanderbilt are very welcoming, just like my high school teachers...”

Carl Rebhun ’09
Vanderbilt University

“My major at Johns Hopkins University is East Asian Studies. I am studying Chinese language, history and political science. I started studying Chinese because I have always been interested in languages, and after I took a class in Chinese history I decided to pursue this area of study more. My time at Akiba-Barrack enabled me to study Hebrew language and literature, one of my favorite subjects. I also was fortunate to study Latin for four years under the guidance of an excellent teacher, Magistra Carol McMichael. My interest in languages, nurtured by years of Hebrew and Latin study at Akiba-Barrack, led me to study Mandarin. I hope to go to China next summer to study the language in depth and plan to use Chinese in a career in business.”

Ross Elkin ’09
Johns Hopkins University

Alumni Voices: Class of 2009

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