As I've written about in the past, I prefer to make resolutions and set goals at the Jewish New Year rather than on January 1.
My goals for this past year, 5777, were to:
- Finish writing my dissertation
- Graduate to Avigail Oren, Ph.D.
- Publish an article
Well, I nailed it. I spent last summer writing and polishing a paper that was accepted as a chapter in the forthcoming edited volume, The Ghetto in Global History: 1500 to the Present. I spent September through April frantically writing and editing the remainder of the dissertation. And on May 20th I walked to the middle of the stage at the Carnegie Music Hall and, crouching so my shorter advisor could reach over my graduation cap, received my doctoral hood and became Dr. Oren, Jr. in front of my closest friends and family members.
Blurry iPhone photo courtesy of Dr. Oren, Sr.
I know so many people who describe their wedding as the best day of their life, but for me graduation unquestionably wins.
Photo by Sergey Zlotnikov
So 5777 was a year of big goals, and big celebrations. This coming year, 5778, will be one of big changes, and big risks, but hopefully also big fun.