Hey! My name is Akiva, and I am a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in criminology and criminal justice. As someone who recently started my freshman year here at UMD, I know how daunting​/​exciting​/​confusing the whole college process may seem, and so I wanted to come here and become a tour guide. Please feel free to reach out if you are interested in coming on a tour with me!

Hometown

Boca Raton, Florida, USA

Major(s)

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Minor(s)

Global Terrorism Studies

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Some organizations that I've been involved with are the Hillel on campus, Terps for Israel, Justice for Fraud Victims (a club that works with local police to combat online fraud), and a US Senate campaign, to name a few.

Describe your college experience

If I am being honest, at first the transition was a lot.. coming from a relatively small high school in Florida, which had ~400 students, UMD's 40,000 student campus was a bit overwhelming. Also, being away from home was pretty hard for the first couple of days. However, after like 3-4 days, I got acclimated to the college life and found some friends who shared my interests and hobbies.

Tip for future students

The main tip that I would give to future students would be to always do what you feel comfortable with, and never to let people pressure you into doing something you really don't want to. Although stepping out of your comfort zone can be good, I found that, in college, I am most happy when I am doing things that I truly want to do. Also, for a more class-focused tip - time management is absolutely crucial. I personally sit down every Sunday and plan out the week ahead of me, and I think that this is a helpful tip.

Favorite class

I would say my favorite class has been my Introduction to Global Terrorism Studies class because I had a great teacher, the class was full of interesting material, and I met some good friends there. It was actually so good that I decided to apply for the Global Terrorism Studies minor program, which I am grateful to have gotten accepted into.

Career goals

I am still not 100% sure about my career path after college, but I want my career to be a meaningful job where I can combine my interests in criminal justice and global events to make a positive impact on the world. Some possible options include becoming a lawyer, something in law enforcement​/​national security, or even politics.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My idea of the ideal night is reading a good book in my room while eating some Ben and Jerry's ice cream. That being said, though, I do enjoy a good night out if I am with my friends as well.

High school or secondary school

Katz Yeshiva High School, Boca Raton, FL