On Monday, Nov. 11, Heschel high schoolers welcomed Abigail Denburg to speak during the annual Veterans Day program. Denburg, the daughter of Heschel college counselor Dorothy Denburg, reflected on her career trajectory in both the military and her civilian job, emphasizing how her Jewish identity intersects with and is influenced by her service.
While Veterans Day programming is usually not very relatable for me, this program was different. Through hearing a young person’s personal experience with the military and her ability to connect her passions to her time served, I saw the military in a new light. Since Denburg grew up as a Jewish New York City teen not too long ago, I and many others saw our own upbringings and experiences mirrored in hers.
Denburg’s ability to accomplish great heights at her day job as Vice President of Global Growth at INSITU, a Boeing company that designs drones to be purchased by militaries around the world, while also advancing in the military taught me a powerful lesson: with determination and care, it is possible to fulfill multiple commitments and have meaningful aspirations. Denburg this year has served about six weeks in the military in total, a large time commitment for someone who has very large career aspirations in her civilian job.
Denburg flowed seamlessly into a position in the Navy, one where she helps the Navy purchase the drones she works to market. Particularly through hearing about the ways in which Denburg’s Jewish identity is strongly complemented by her service, I was able to clearly see the fulfillment in one’s life that army service can provide, and how it can be customizable to each and every individual. Denburg spoke about the ways in which Jewish values of service and community are very present in the military, allowing her to have a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with her work in the Navy.
Having more speakers like Denburg, who can engage the student body and showcase diverse life paths, will help students understand the vast array of opportunities available to them – a crucial lesson during our pivotal high school years.