Jewish Aggie of the Week Presents
What is your name?
• Samantha Trust
Where are you from?
• Long Island, NY
Where did you go to high school?
• Harborfields in NY
Why did you choose Texas A&M?
• When I visited A&M I completely fell in love with it: the campus, the traditions, and their amazing architecture program. I grew up in Texas and I knew I needed to come back; it just made sense.
What was your major and why did you decide to pursue such a degree?
• Urban Planning. I chose this major because it’s extremely important to me to preserve to minimal space we have left, yet still be able to use it. The Waller Creek Conservancy in Austin and the Riverwalk in San Antonio are two places that inspired me to pursue this career.
What is your favorite book? Why?
• Of all time? Hmm. I would have to say Still Alice by Lisa Genova or Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. I loved Still Alice because it’s an extremely well-written book that has a great story. It’s not a typical story, with a rise or climax, it just seems real. However, J.D. Salinger is my favorite author, I started reading his stories for my English class when I was in high school and fell in love. My first book of his was Catcher in the Rye, another of my favorites. His metaphors are extremely poetic and he makes even the darkest meanings have the brightest stories.
What do you look forward to when coming to Chabad?
• Seeing the kids, Rabs and Manya, and all my friends.
What do you love about Jewish life on campus?
• It’s so welcoming. Even though I wasn’t all that involved when I was in High School, I am still completely accepted. Chabad is sort of a safe haven for me, I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not.
Why do you think it is important to be involved in Jewish life?
• It’s important because all around the world, Jews are still persecuted. We should take advantage of the Jewish home we are given because a lot of people don’t have one.
If you had a dream list for Chabad, what would be on it?
• Manya and I have this deal that when they get the money, I’ll come back and design the landscaping. On our list is a living wall where the fencing is and everything else we will figure out.
Do you plan on going to graduate school at A&M?
• I would love to, but they don’t have the program I’d like to pursue.
Do you have any siblings?
• Yes, I have one sister. She’s my best friend.
What is your favorite Jewish food?
• My grandmother’s Latkes or her Matzah Ball soup
What is your favorite food?
• Japanese Food or Tacos
What is your favorite Jewish childhood memory?
• Making Latkes with my mom
What is your favorite Chabad experience until now?
• Chabad After Hours. Just hanging out with Rabbi and Manya and learning from them, speaking with them, off the record.
Have you ever traveled outside of the United States? If so, where? Which place was your favorite? For what reason?
• I’ve been to a lot of places: England, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and the Bahamas. I’d say England was my favorite because I got to see the castle they used to film the Harry Potter movies. Next fall, I’ll be heading to Bonn, Germany for study abroad, so I think that will end up being my favorite place.
Have you ever been to Israel? If so, what was the most moving/amazing/inspirational experience you had?
• Yes, I went on Birthright in December 2015. The most moving aspect of the trip for me was either the Holocaust Museum or praying at the Western Wall.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
• I really want to go to Greece. The architecture there is gorgeous and I’ve always wanted to jump off those cliffs.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
• Mohonk Mountain House in Upstate New York. It’s got gorgeous mountains, hiking trails, a beautiful pond. It’s just an amazing place to read, relax, and reflect on life.
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
• I love to read when I’m not working on school stuff.
What is at the top of your bucket list?
• Go to Europe
If you could start university again what would you do differently?
• Nothing.
Do you have any animals? What is their best trick?
• No, but I really want a dog when I graduate
Did you prefer living on campus or off campus? What would you recommend to freshmen?
• When I was a freshman, I lived off campus which was fine. TAMU isn’t like other universities where you feel excluded if you live off campus. Probably half the incoming freshman live off campus and you don’t really miss out on anything. You can still get the dorm experience living off-campus. College Station doesn’t really revolve around the campus and you only need to be there for classes.
If you could have one wish for anything in the world what would it be?
• More wishes
What has been your most thrilling experience in your life?
• When I was in high school, my friends and I went to Six Flags Great Adventure. There was this roller coaster there called Kingda Ka. It’s the second tallest roller coaster in the world and it consists of being slingshot from 0 to 128 miles per hour then going straight up and straight down at a 90 degree angle. The first time I rode that rollercoaster, it was night time, which sort of made it scarier and better at the same time. When we got to the top, we slowed down, it felt so calm while we were up there, kind of like the world had stopped. The view was gorgeous, you could see all the other coasters, the stars, and a skyline in distance. It had to have been both the most peaceful and adrenaline full moment I’ve ever experienced.
Do you have a message for future A&M students?
• It goes by quickly, so enjoy it. Make sure to join both social and academic clubs, and don’t postpone your work or studying till last minute. You might want to go to grad school, so keep a well-rounded resume. Don’t forget to have fun every once in a while.
What has been your most enjoyable class?
• I just started it two days ago, but I really love Sociology 312. My professor, Dr. Dudley Poston, is hilarious, makes the information so easy to understand. Despite him being 75, he acts as if he is 30 and is extremely relatable. The way he speaks about Demography, or his family is inspiring and when he speaks I am completely exhilarated. I can tell this is going to be my favorite class and he’ll be my favorite professor.
If you were able to have one superpower what would it be?
• The ability to read minds or teleport
What would enhance Jewish life on campus?
• More Jews!!
How did you get involved with Chabad?
• Manya messaged me on Facebook in August of my freshman year and was so welcoming and wonderful. I came to a few events and eventually became a regular.
Do you have plans for after graduation?
• Graduate School, I plan to pursue my Masters in Historic Preservation.