My ears perked up when Mr. Gwiazda came into my English class in December to introduce this year's Seevak Facing History Awards. I knew that participating would mean that I would be "pushing the envelope," but I also knew that this was the type of project that kept the blood flowing through my veins. Lots of people I know get energy from coffee or chocolate, but I become energized when I'm presented with a challenge. This project motivated me because I was truly inspired by Lenny to create a website that would live up to the legacy that he left. I felt like I developed a real personal connection with the project and with Lenny because I see myself doing the type of work and being the type of person that he was. My Dad is a social worker, and his decision to help other people for a living has had a great impact on me. I haven't completely figured out exactly how I want to help people, but I have plenty of time to figure that out. I admire Lenny for his hard work, but he also knew how to have fun. I've been playing jazz Piano for a good part of my life, but in the last couple years I have finally learned how to relax and use my playing as a release and a way to express myself in front of an audience. Tap dancing is also just something I love to do. But, it's a little different because tapping is a lot more physical. When I get real mad and I just can't think straight, I go out to my garage where my tap floor is, and I just "bang on wood" until I'm tired and all my anger subsides. Tapping fits together with my love for jazz, because when I tap, its mostly with jazz music, and I can really get inside the beat and do exactly what my mind tells me to because simply makin' beats and rhythms is much easier for me than adding the dimensions of melody and harmony, when I play the piano. Next year I will be attending a Young Judea Year Course in Israel, which is a ten month program. I will be taking college classes in Jerusalem for three months and then I will be living and volunteering in different parts of the country. After that I will be attending Boston University. I feel its important for me to defer from BU next year because I think after twelve years of education its time for me to see what I can learn outside of the classroom. I believe that there is just as a much to be learned from people and experiences than from books and institutions. This project has given me a tremendous amount of confidence in terms of working with other people and strengthening my leadership skills. It's just an unbelievable feeling to log on to the world wide web and check out a site that I created with a couple of my friends. .