Author Archives: ghirshfeld

Ending my time in Portland at Tivnu: Building Justice feels bittersweet. I’m so content with the people I’ve met and the things I’ve experienced, but it feels scary and sad to have to move on. These past 9 months have been long, hard, meaningful, and action-packed. I just moved home and I already wish IContinue reading “Reflecting on my time in Portland”

It took some time for me to solidify which piece of advice I wanted to write about. One year ago, I would have soaked up any and every piece of advice someone currently on their gap year would give me. I was so confused, unsure of myself and my plans, and stressed. I am luckyContinue reading “Advice from a New Me”

There are three key parts to an average work-week at Tivnu. There are personal internships, Educational Explorations, and construction. Upon beginning my year at Tivnu, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy construction as much as I do. Saws scared me and I didn’t know the difference between a drill and a driver –Continue reading “Ramp-Building”

For the sake of anonymity, names have been changed. Two times a week, I embark on the hour-long, three bus, cross-Portland quadrant journey to my internship. I’m currently a kitchen intern at an extended care facility for people that are HIV+, and I am able to find so much meaning in my work. I amContinue reading “Ethan and I”

My time in Portland has given me the opportunity to try many new things. For as long as I’ve known for myself, I’ve known that I am not a fan of going with the flow. I find comfort in structure and sticking to schedules. Because I’m living across the country, without my parents, for theContinue reading “My Experience with Transitions”

I feel as if I am progressing toward my goals at a successful rate. Tivnu keeps us pretty busy throughout the weeks with educational programming and internships, so I have plenty of opportunity to grow. I would say the most challenging thing I’ve faced (relating to my goals) is surrounding my internship. I started outContinue reading “Goal(s) Status!”

It’s weird to think that it was only six months ago when I walked across a portable stage on my high school football field. After 13 years of state-sanctioned formal education, a pandemic, and tons of planning for my future, it was all over. Back in May, all I could think about was how scaredContinue reading “Looking Back 6 Months.”

As most teenagers do, I’ve spent a lot of my time thinking and overthinking my past experiences/interactions. Did I say the right thing? Will they think of me differently because of something I said? Is the way I handled this situation correct? For me, all of these thoughts are automatic; there is no active thoughtContinue reading “Thinking Existentially vs. Retrospectively”

Being from Florida, I’ve always avoided the outdoors. It’s always so hot and sticky; there’s no appeal for me. Moving to Portland, I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for being outside. This past Sunday, all 24 participants and staff from Tivnu loaded into two huge vans to go camping in Mt. Rainier National Park for fourContinue reading “Mt. Rainier Camping Trip”

Going into move-in day, I knew things would be daunting. Portland is 3,000 miles away from my home and I had never made a transition this big before. I’m a few days in, and things are going great! As I am writing this, I am preparing my room and myself for a peaceful and busyContinue reading “Life in PDX”