Name: Michael Mashbaum
Major: Comparative Literature
Minor: Hebrew
Future Plans: Corporate Fitness, and freelancing as a Personal Fitness Trainer.

College is a time when one goes through many changes and has a wide range of experiences. Whether those experiences are positive or negative they help to shape who and what you are. Whether it is the chance to learn something new, meet a new friend, interact with someone from another country, or meet a first love, these experiences all help to create and form a personality. I have had many of these as well as other experiences during my college career.
However, the one thing that has remained static and constant throughout these last four years has been Chabad. This place and the very special people who run it and make it work have all had an impact on my life in one way or another. It may have been the countless Friday nights I spent here with my friends, or the Shabbat 1000 that I attended four times or the Purim carnival. However, no matter what the event or the time and place I always felt welcome, accepted and appreciated.
Chabad serves a very important role here in Binghamton. They provide a home away from home, as well as a Jewish identity to anyone and everyone regardless of background. That is perhaps the most amazing thing of it all. No matter who you are or where you’re from you were welcome. Chabad has had and will continue to have a very special place in my life. For this and all of the other small things that have been done for me and for my friends, I would like to say thank you a thousand times over.