Author Archives: Avi Atkin

I highly recommend we donate a portion of our volunteering proceeds to Room to Read, a non-profit organization that “envision[s] a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.” Its motto is “World Change Starts with Educated Children.” I agree with their mission – by providing education and literacy to children who wouldn’t have otherwise received it, we can break mass cycles of poverty and starvation. As the world population eclipses 7 billion people, it is imperative that we do not let children slip through the cracks. The scale and potential consequences of not addressing the world’s future are enormous. I would argue that through Room to Read these millions of educated children may not just lift up the communities around them. They may ultimately provide the solutions to many of the other crises our planet faces.

CharityNavigator, a website which audits and rates charities on their overhead efficiency and other factors, had plenty of positives on Room to Read. It gives a 4 out of 4 financial score as well as 4 out of 4 on Accountability & Transparency. For a full breakdown, please visit: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10217 as well as Room to Read’s own website: http://www.roomtoread.org/. Room to Read is based all over the globe with hundreds of selfless, dedicated, and result-driven volunteers. So far, they have addressed several noble goals and impacted over 6,000,000 children. Their programs include:

• Gender Equality through Girl’s Education – 13,667 participants who have received material support, training, and mentorship
• School Construction – 1,450 quality schools to provide a proper learning environment
• Book Publishing – 591 custom books for literacy in specific regions
• Libraries – 12,522 locations stocked with local and English language books
• Books Distributed – 10,000,000+ since Q3 2011

As students who are fortunate to receive higher education at a reduced cost in a first world country, it is our duty to reach out and change the lives of those who do not have the same opportunities. That is why I suggest we donate to Room-to-Read.

Avi Atkin

Reflecting on the past 16 years, my short life has had its share of ups and downs. In some ways, each group of years represents an era – the “Dark Ages” for example, was about a decade ago at a point where I was shy and introverted in an insular yeshiva school. As the years fly by I realize new-found perspectives. It reminds me in some ways of this webcomic from xkcd.com:

Every age: "I'm glad I'm not the clueless person I was five years ago, but now I don't want to get any older."

Who I am has been mostly defined not just by me, but the people and events that have surrounded me.

At the heart of my education and future goals, lies the experience of discovering my passion for law.  This process involved several challenges and achievements along the way.  At an early age, I learned about the benefits and difficulties of the legal system through my experiences in family court. My fascination with law solidified as I learned more about the legal system, culminating in my valuable experiences as a member of the Mock Trial Team.

At age ten, when I was wading through the Kings County court system, I was fortunate enough to have a knowledgeable attorney named Callie Kramer who fought for my rights to be with my father.  Callie was assigned by the court to protect my interests. When I first met her, Callie immediately dedicated her time and energy to listen to what I had to say.  She was a compassionate, genuine, and committed civil servant. At the time, Callie represented what was right and just in the world and, in a sense, inspired me to become a lawyer.

My passion for law and justice served as the foundation for a wider desire to reach out to my local community. Over the past few years, I participated in community service programs including volunteering for the AYSO “VIP” League for Children with Special Needs. I also actively worked with several local campaigns throughout Brooklyn. Both these political and community experiences opened my eyes to the world around.

At the time, many of the challenges I faced seemed distressing, but as I look back this very day, I accept them as chapters of my life. Even if I could retroactively change my past I wouldn’t. Those significant events define who I am today. They are wholly part of the great school I’m in, the internship I have, the awesome people I get to interact with. All those obstacles are opportunities to grow. As Nietzsche and later Kanye West would say “That which does not kill me makes me stronger.”

Likewise, I look forward to face my biggest challenge yet, losing 150+ pounds. The sheer numbers were daunting, and frankly I would’ve bet against myself at the start of the process. But that’s where people who have made a huge impact on my life come in, the long hours my dad works for me, the investment my trainer makes into getting me to achieving the best I possibly can. So far, I’ve had a net loss of 60 pounds and 200,000 calories burnt (1 pound of fat = 3,500 calories) Even at this point, working out is still a pain, bur quitting is not an option. Committing to working out and living healthy is a daily battle, dragging myself to the gym nearly everyday takes a toll, but what I’ve realized now is the pain of your own labor is better than the pain of regret. Muhammad Ali once said “I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.”