Each morning, we walk to school, embracing the fresh air and serene setting before our chaotic school day begins. During our walk, we share laughs, update each other on our lives, or even use this time to quiz each other for our upcoming assessments. This simple routine has become a crucial and comforting part of our day. 

What makes our daily walks meaningful is that we are not alone in our commute. As we walk, we often encounter other Heschel students and faculty members, each on their own journey to school. 

Curious about why walking is their preferred mode of transportation, we decided to interview different students who walk from their homes on the Upper West Side. Sophomore Noah Margolis said, “I walk to school because of the fresh air and getting to say hi to the traffic woman every morning.” 

Senior Claudia Messer said, “I like walking because of the break it gives me between home and school.” 

This new insight resonates with us – the 20 blocks between school and home always provide us with a calm mindset. Spending 25 minutes each morning away from screens and simply reflecting on our lives sets us up for a successful day.

We also asked faculty member Rabbi Natan Kapustin, who showed us the financial benefits to walking. He said “I like walking because it gives me some time to think to myself. It has probably saved me $10,000. That’s not why I do it, but it’s a nice perk.”

On the contrary, we interviewed Josh Axel ‘27, who chooses not to walk to school.  He said, “taking the train gives me a beautiful look into NYC because I get to see new faces on the subway and the breathtaking view of Columbus Circle.” 

The healthy exercise of walking to school every morning has become a core part of our school experience and has fostered long lasting relationships. We hope that more Heschel students will come to realize the beauty of walking, and choose it over other modes of transportation.