Hi! I’m Mariel Boyarsky. I’m from New City, New York, and I graduated this year from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York with a degree in Gender Studies and Linguistics. After this summer, I’ll be moving to New Orleans, Louisiana, to start a fellowship there.I’ve loved biking ever since I was a kid. My dad taught me how to ride a bike using a black-and-green Ninja Turtles bicycle with training wheels. I’ve done a lot of cycling with my family, and a few summers ago, I did a two-week trip through hilly Vermont.
I’ve been working with kids and teens since I was in high school. I’ve taught, tutored, and babysat; and I’ve been a camp counselor and swim instructor. Last year, I lived abroad in Israel and studied at the University of Haifa. It was a really rewarding experience—especially working on my Hebrew, interning at a Battered Women’s Shelter, and tutoring Ethiopian immigrants in English.
I love learning new languages, and I love to travel. I’ve been to Israel, Jordan, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and El Salvador! In my free time, I like to read, play Ultimate Frisbee, and—of course—bike! I also write short stories and poetry, and some of my work has actually been published. Something I wrote when I was fourteen got published in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.
When I’m not at Vassar, I live in New City with my parents, younger sister, and my dog Cinderella. When I’m home, I love to walk my dog in the park or take her hiking.
I’m really excited for this summer, and I can’t wait to meet everyone who will be on my trip!
