When Galit Shapira first arrived at the Tel Aviv University in 2018, she was starting her BA in Liberal Arts and a new life in Israel, having just made Aliyah from the United States.

Today, as IGT Israel & Global Travel Director of Internships for the Onward Program, Galit is often on campus working closely with TAU to place students in research labs and professional roles across Israel.

In this interview, Galit shares five lessons she carries with her, long after graduating from Tel Aviv University.

Learn How to Think

“I loved the academic setting and the class environment at Tel Aviv University. The small class sizes meant I got to build really nice relationships with my professors, which I didn’t have at my American university.

I liked that the classroom setting promoted discussion, engagement, and critical thinking.

In every class, I was able to have conversations with professors and classmates. It wasn’t just sitting and being talked at for hours.

In the critical thinking and theory class, we learned about cognitive fallacies and how they affect negotiations, politics, and business. Being able to think critically and do your research is such an important skill, especially today, when there are a million different news outlets and things happening.

It really changed how I look at things in general, whether it’s politics or even an argument with someone.”

Discover Interests You Didn’t Know You Had

There was one course that ignited a passion I didn’t know I had. It was on Victorian literature, and we talked a lot about classics like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dorian Grey, and even Penny dreadfuls, which were pamphlets of little gothic stories.

We also learned the history and culture of the Victorian era and how that directly influenced the literature of the time and how literature in turn affected that time period.

That literature class stuck with me for the rest of my life. I actually love reading now, which I didn't for most of my life.

“I learned more about myself and my interests and found passions I probably never would have discovered on my own.”

Your Environment Is Part of Your Education

“The fact that Tel Aviv University is close to Tel Aviv was a big highlight for me, not just because Tel Aviv is a popular city, but because you get to really feel part of the culture and the city while you're studying.

I could go to a cafe, and there could be someone who's about to be the next startup maker, studying computer science, or someone who's making the next big thing in the medical world, and everyone is just equal, sitting and discussing, and very open.

It played a significant role in shaping my work ethic and how I approach my work today because it exposes you to different cultures, ideas, and professional environments and backgrounds.

Both TAU and Tel Aviv encourage you to be direct in your communication, be outgoing, take initiative, find your own path, and go after it.”

Quick Fire with Galit Shapira

Favorite place on campus?

“The very top floor of the library that’s right across from Gilman. You can’t talk there, it is silent with little desks that are sort of private cubicles. That was my favorite place to just sit and refocus.”

First place you’d take a visiting friend at TAU?

“Cafe Neto. All our BA classes were in Gilman, and that was the cafe to go to after every class. The coffee was great, the food was great, and you’d find a million different people studying different things.”

One thing you always had in your backpack?

“A water bottle. Always a water bottle. With cold water.”

Favorite Tel Aviv neighborhood?

“For the longest time, the Old North, because that’s where I started my life here. Now I really like the Nachalat Binyamin and Shuk area, because it’s so lively and there’s always something to do and someone you bump into.”

One piece of advice for first-year students?

“Be outgoing. Don’t be shy, because everybody is in the same boat as you. Walk around campus, explore, because there is so much to this campus to see.”

Professional Growth Starts Early

I worked while studying and I was very grateful to have a counselor at TAU, who helped me balance my schedule. I appreciate that there were always options when to take classes, which part of the day.

This flexibility helped me make sure I had enough work to support myself, a full courseload at the university, and time for socializing.

After graduation, I knew I wanted to find a job that could connect all the things that I was passionate about for most of my life, which was like education, psychology, connecting to Israel, working with people, and doing work that can affect a person's life hopefully in a better way.

When I started looking into roles that could connect all those things, I happened to find the internship coordinator role at the IGT program. I started my role working directly with our students, and at the same time got to make connections to companies all over Israel and learn about all the different industries.

I slowly started growing in my position, gaining more responsibility, and now I lead the entire internship department, from building its infrastructure and systems, training all the new hires, to maintaining long-term relationships with both employers in Israel and our partners in the States.

I can tie a lot of it back to my education at TAU, where I learned how to work with many different people from different backgrounds and how to communicate quickly and professionally.

A big part of my work is understanding people, whether it's our interns and what they're looking for in their work, or employers and what they need out of interns. It’s also about creating meaningful professional experiences for the interns, so they can feel that they've gained knowledge and skills.

Interns today have a real drive for professional growth. They don't come just to have fun in Israel. They want to do something that is going to advance a company or a project in some way and gain the knowledge and skills to then progress in their own professional life back home.

Through our Onward program, we can send many interns to TAU for the summer to different types of research labs, whether it's humanities or science.

They get to work directly with lab heads on research that could change the world someday, and maybe even be published.

Belonging Takes Initiative

I did the Masa ‘Kibbutz Ulpan’ program in 2017, and in September 2018, I made Aliyah and went straight into my first year at Tel Aviv University.

It was definitely a big shift, and I knew it was going to be challenging and different, because every aspect of life changes when you come to Israel, but I really wanted to gain responsibility and build my life and I saw a good future for myself in Israel and at Tel Aviv University.

I really had a sense of community when I moved, both as a Jew and as an olah hadashah, because there are so many olim here. Over the past several years, I've integrated into Israeli life and culture, but I'm still learning every day.

I definitely feel this is my home. I feel this is where I belong. One of the biggest things for me was that I could finally be a very loud and proud Jew anywhere I went. It's always nice to feel like your culture is embraced and celebrated.

Israel really creates an environment for you to grow and become independent and advocate for yourself, because Israelis are very direct. Over time, I feel I’ve gained my own confidence in being more direct, speaking my thoughts and feelings and asking when I need help.

Applications for Liberal Arts BA are now open.

Check the Liberal Arts BA program website for program details and admissions information.

This article was written in cooperation with Tel Aviv University