50-Years-Magazine-digital

Delivering Excellence for All in Israel 27 From the speech of Einav Shmolwitz, BA in Chemistry and Life Sciences, at the graduation ceremony, May 2024: " I began my studies at the Open University quite unexpectedly at the age of 14. At that time, in addition to studying at school, I attended enrichment courses for gifted students. My science teacher kept asking me, “What do you get out of it?" and I always answered that I was doing it for fun. After all, I was 14. The day I finished the last course, my teacher asked me again, "What do you get out of it?" And after I again answered, “for fun,” he said, “You're going to study for a degree." A few days, later I joined the “Academia in High School" program and, in the middle of 8th grade, I started taking my first course. When I started studying at the Open University, I felt that there was finally a place for me that suited my curiosity and my nature. I felt that I had arrived at the place I was supposed to be; a place that lets me develop and learn at my own pace and in a manner that is convenient for me. Studies at the Open University opened doors for me, gave me independence and the ability to study and combine studies with other pursuits. In the following years, I combined my degree studies with matriculation exams, being a member of a youth movement and a counselor in the youth movement, dancing in a professional dance troupe which included many performances, and working at a student job at the Weizmann Institute from 11th grade as well as hobbies and a social life. Today, I continue to work in the profession that I also studied in the army as part of the academization program which I was exposed to through my university studies. I am excited that I am privileged to contribute to the country in the subject that I love best and I am sure that I will work in it in the future too. ”