Getting to the true nature of my brother’s personality is like discovering the sweet seeds scattered in a pomegranate. When my brother enters a room, one first notices his warm, infectious smile and enthralling green eyes. Engaging in conversation, one notices his unwavering eyes and considerate nods. His thoughtful responses indicate his intent listening and intellectual curiosity. As he gets a drink, you take in his lanky build. My brohter is five foot eight, 125 pounds, and has a slight arch in his back. Like his unflagging work ethic, not a strand of his thick, dark brown hair will budge in the strongest wind. The coarse, dark stubble of his beard contrasts against his pale skin. Finally you realize his unpretentious attire proves chic and stylish. Like his unassuming dress, my brother’s admirable persona requires a second look. Realizing My brother’s strength of character is like stumbling upon the last, sweet pomegranate seed. My brother’s qualities of diligence, humility and kindness are manifested by academic excellence, leadership positions, and a loving relationship with his sister.
My brother is a voracious fact finder, never missing an opportunity to learn. At the age of eight, my brother was captivated by a TV show of Shakespeare’s plays. While his peers forms of amusement were cartoons and sitcoms, my brother’s entertainment centered on learning the classics. In later years, he turned his interest to the history channel, engrossed by military tactics and warfare. Further exploration of the TV took my brohter to the travel channel where he yearned to visit the historic sites of Europe. When he was 10, after being regaled by stories of the Buckingham Palace and Stone Henge, our family crossed the pond. As we traveled the city, my brother served as our tour guide, pulling facts from his previous studies. He continued planning these exotic trips through high school, mapping out museums, sites and restaurants. His thirst for understanding the world has lead him to reading the canon, while his siblings listen to the latest music. When my brother does listen to music, he prefers to dissect the lyrics of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Not only is he intrigued by history and the arts, but delves into science and math as well. When Andy Lipps offered an optional math class on Saturday mornings, my brother jumped at the opportunity to investigate number theory. Being a Renaissance man, my brother experimented with science. Lynne Mecay-Atha’s 7th grade science class inspired my brother to read every food label and transform the family’s house into a health-food haven; he became a “healthaholic.” This led him to choose a two-week stint in college on an organic farm. By exploring new areas of interest, he is a huge database of information. My brother’s relentless missions to share his knowledge have made me well traveled, mathematically minded and health-conscious.
My brother's quiet but strong personality has earned him many leadership positions. In Dana’s 9th grade history class, fellow students noticed his organizational skills and command of material. Over time, students began to respect him and follow his example. When the class was divided into discussion groups, My brohter discretely conducted the conversation by asking questions, filling in forgotten information, and connecting ideas. At other times, the class was divided into debate teams. After showing his depth of the subject, he assumed the head position of his debate group in history class, lasting the next two years of high school. My brohter was so skilled that he often contributed to the opposing team’s argument so as to even the competition. After participating on the math team for three years, he became captain. My brother slowed the pace of practice sessions to strengthen the whole math team. While former captains were more concerned with winning, working with the quickest teammates, my brohter encouraged team involvement, boosting the skills of the slower students. My brother’s junior year ended with his election as president of his youth group, his temple youth group. His extensive involvement with the program convinced others that he would be a success. He was on the job before summer began, initiating recycling in his temple, the second largest reform temple in the United States. As president, he led monthly board meetings, where he distributed assignments, organized dinner, and handled administrative issues. My brother was actively involved with monthly “Night Outs.” He helped chairs select a popular, centrally located, and reasonably priced restaurant, encourage attendance, and confirm the reservation. Using his previous experience as chair of many annual events, he could offer current chairs advice and support. My brother had organized the Purim Carnival, a pre-school through high school event; Mitzvah Day, involving the entire congregation; and the Spring Kallah, a high school regional week-end retreat. My brother scheduled mixers, social action projects and meals for these occasions. As president, he was available for troubleshooting, frantically checking in with staff on the day of these events. Continuing his commitment to his youth group, my brother won an award for the Learning Day he initiated with Julian Resnick, a renowned rabbi from Israel. He received recognition for two years of advanced planning and consideration of the various interests and abilities of the audience. My brother’s love of learning emanates over his peers.
My brother easily translates his leadership skills to his role as a big brother, but what I remember most is his companionship and love. Never was this more apparent than this past summer, when I was eagerly anticipating my first Cross Country race. Although my brother has never broken any world records in track, he offered his company. As the race neared, we strategized over his ultra-healthy smoothie. An hour later we had a plan for my start, my pace, and tackling the hills. As part of our training regimen, we packed turkey on whole-wheat sandwiches and carrots for our two-day trip to my grandmother’s. While we were visiting, my brother took me on a trial run where he taught me to use downhill slopes to my advantage. The next day we drove six hours back home, unpacked, and immediately turned around to drive to the race. My brother never complained that his vacation was not relaxing; on the contrary he was excited to watch me excel. First, we did a five-minute warm-up run and stretched. Next, we toured the racecourse, skipping the hills so as to conserve our energy. Like my father did before the six-hour car drive, my brother made me go to the bathroom before the race. After he signed me in, he ensured I only drank a few sips of water to avoid cramps. As we lined up at the start-line, I realized my brother was still by my side. At that point I knew he had decided to run the race with me, despite the fact he may not get up the next morning. Before I heard the gunshot, I remembered him telling me to begin faster than I thought was possible to avoid a slow start. His experience as a runner carried him ahead of me, but his advice stayed with me. I plotted along, anxious about other runners passing me. With a quarter mile left, I realized my absence of expected exhaustion and sprinted passed my opponents. My brother congratulated me with a cup of water and I told him I should have heeded his fast-start tip. He gave me a hug and laughed. We joined the picnic, and to his chagrin we wolfed down greasy burgers and Gatorade. To my surprise, my name was called for second place winner of my age group. My brother quickly pushed me forward to claim my prize and clapped with a wide smile. After the long, momentous day, he tucked me in and limped off to his room.
My brother is a multi-faceted person, much like Leonardo da Vinci. While da Vinci poured over books on plants and animals, my brother delved into books on organic food and farming. Leonardo filled 10,000 notebook pages with detailed drawings of his inventions; my brother’s computer files are filled with minute-by-minute timelines of his youth group events. My brother’s detailed plan for recycling is reminiscent of da Vinci’s intricate canal system. Da Vinci, seeing Michelangelo’s talent, developed his skills; my brother, realizing his fellow math student’s potential, coached them to greater speed and accuracy. My brother advised his father on European trips while da Vinci advised kings on city construction. Leonardo remained close to his biological mother even though his parents never married. Being 400 miles away from his sister does not keep my brother from calling her every night. Through da Vinci’s life, he was always searching for new areas to conquer, and it looks like my brother is on the same path. As da Vinci once said, “Learning never exhausts the mind.”
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