Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major(s): Physics
Minor(s): Computer Science
Service Projects/ Life at Brandeis:
What made you decide to attend Brandeis?
JV: A big part of it was Posse; I didn’t even know about Brandeis until I saw it was one of my options for the Posse scholarship and my college counselor suggested I look into it more. I liked what I saw in terms of the Physics program and campus in general, so it was in my top 3. Then I became a Posse finalist for Brandeis and it went from there!
What is it like to be a member of Posse?
JV: Fun and amazing! I’ve had such a great time with my posse, and I always feel like I can talk to them and hang out!
What is your favorite subject to study?
JV: Well, I know this is a shocker, but definitely Physics with CS as a close second. I’ve always liked all the sciences but Physics seemed the coolest to me, and I’ve always been a big gamer so CS has appealed to me for a while.
What is your favorite thing about astrophysics?
JV: SPACE! There is a lot of cool, crazy stuff in the universe and I think it’s amazing to learn about them, stars and black holes in particular. I’ve been obsessed with space since I was a child, so it’s the perfect pairing.
What made you decide to be apart of Teach for America?
JV: I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a long time, because there were many careers that I could see myself enjoying, and teaching was one of them. A recruiter for TFA approached me last semester because someone in Posse had recommended me, and the more I learned about it the more I could see myself as a teacher. Eventually I applied, got accepted, and said yes! I’ll be going back to NYC to teach physics in the fall, which is a big plus for me.
What do you when you are not in the lab?
JV:Â Classes and assignments, hanging out with my girlfriend and friends, playing video games, eating, sleeping, etc. I feel that a lot more of my life should and will be becoming the lab in the following weeks though, because I am working on a senior thesis.
Has it been difficult to balance all of your service projects and schoolwork?
JV: Absolutely! Time management has always been a struggle for me, and I know I am not alone in that. But eventually we all have to buckle down and handle what needs to be handled. If I feel behind in something I’ll dedicate a large portion of my time to it until I’ve caught up, in which case I’ll undoubtedly have to do it again for something else! It is something that I have to continue to work on.
What do you like better Sherman or Usdan
JV:Â Usdan, because I like the variety available.
What’s your favorite meal from Usdan?
JV: Curritos’ chicken tikka burrito! It’s delicious and spicy!
What’s your favorite movie?
JV: Probably The Lego Movie… I really like Legos, and the character of Benny the 1980s Spaceman is me. We are both super hype about SPACESHIPS
Favorite place on Brandeis?
JV: That’s difficult… probably wherever my friends are at the moment.
Celebrity Crush?
JV: By far the most difficult question; I don’t really have any!
If you met Louie Brandeis tomorrow what would say to Louie Brandeis?
JV: “I thought you were dead?”            Â
Have you ever Sherman shopped?
JV:Â I think I took an apple once?
Favorite TV show?
JV: I don’t really watch that much TV, but I like Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Doctor Who, and Scrubs.