Meet Sam
A Diverse Campus
I came to the University of Texas at Austin because I love so many really important aspects of the campus and life in Austin. The campus itself is beautiful, and it motivates me to continue to work hard so I can possibly return one day to teach.
With so many students, I was bound to find an incredible group of friends. My friends are the most important people in my life, and I have found the best here in Austin. I frequently encourage people to come here because of the diversity of the students, as well as the diversity of the organizations. If you want to be a part of something, odds are there is a group of students meeting for the same reason.
Sam's tips
Balancing studying, friends, work & family
Study with friends! Be sure you put aside time for relaxing with friends too.
How to be a successful student
Sit at the front of the class and go to the professor’s office hours.
Living on campus
I lived on campus my freshman year, and I recommend it to all incoming freshmen I encounter. Living on campus was so convenient, and it is really the best way to get to know the campus and its secret hiding places. After my first year, I moved off campus to various apartments and have enjoyed my time there as well.
Making friends
Join organizations and introduce yourself to others.
Music and Jewish Studies
For music, I auditioned in Voice, so that is my primary instrument. I have been involved in music since I was four years old, and I really wanted to continue to learn about higher ideas within the music community like music theory and history. I simply love learning about music. I believe there has been a loss in our educational system for students who want to learn. Nowadays, students use college as a pathway to a career – and, in most cases, it is – but there is something important about learning something for the sake of knowledge.
I declared Jewish Studies as my second major the second semester of my freshman year simply due to a class I took on medieval Jewish philosophy. It intrigued me so much that from then on, the field of Jewish Studies interested me immensely.
Striving for the Best
UT Austin has prepared me to work the best that I possibly can. This university has 50,000-plus students and when I went to my first class I thought, “It’s going to be impossible to be special here.” I was so used to being in a high school where everyone knew the best singers and everyone knew the best football players. But at UT Austin, it’s difficult to be special.
Being here has shown me how important it is to strive for the best (while keeping your values intact), so you can be seen. The classes, organizations, and faculty at UT Austin prove that the size of this school is an important factor in its funding and research capability. Aside from that, the size simply means that we have a large number of very special people who will do incredible things in the future.
Teaching Young Minds
My research professor, who I met with once a week this semester, has provided an overall incredible experience. She would assign readings for the week, then I would meet with her to discuss them. It doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, but UT Austin has world scholars who are thirsty to teach young minds. That sentiment has really affected me and has inspired me to become a professor as well.
More about Sam
Clubs & organizations
- The Ransom Notes – music director
- UT Concert Chorale
- North Indian Music Ensemble
- Chabad Jewish Student Organization
Scholarship
Ann and Gordon Getty Scholarship for Music
Favorites
- Study location off campus: PCL 4th floor (it’s cold, silent and nothing distracts you, so you can leave earlier).
- Place to eat near campus: Potbelly’s
- Class: Maimonides: Law and Philosophy (JS 362)
- Professor: Dr. Miriam Bodian
- Book: Ramana Maharshi and the Path to Self-Knowledge by Arthur Osborne
- Thing about Austin: The restaurants.
How I like to spend my free time
I love spending my time with friends in the various “nature areas” we have around Austin. Whether it is Barton Springs, kayaking, biking, or just sitting under a tree, being outside in Austin is incredible.
Also, a lot of my spare time is spent checking out cool places in downtown Austin with friends and going dancing.
Best unexpected thing
Being in Austin and meeting the friends that I have now has changed the way I feel about myself and has built my confidence. In high school, I wasted so much time caring about what other people thought about me. Since I’ve arrived at UT Austin, I learned that I can be myself with no adverse side effects.
Want to Contact Sam?
Send Sam an e-mail at sam.rosen@mail.utexas.edu.