Hi, I’m Yaeli Greenblum, and I am honored to be a part of the Baldwin community.
As the granddaughter of a compassionate Nana Shirley and a trailblazing Bubbe, the daughter of an empowered Ima, and the middle of three opinionated sisters, I have always drawn strength in my identity as a woman. Through challenging times, my ancestors and loved ones dedicated their lives to education and survival, finding their way to the United States from Eastern Europe and Mexico. I dedicate my life’s journey to their perseverance, finding inspiration through our shared traditions and values.
For almost all of my schooling, I attended a Jewish Day School, receiving both a religious and secular education. In high school, as president of the Latinx Hispanic Heritage club, my peers and I led a successful effort to change the curriculum of the English “American Voices” class to begin including Latino authors. My deep connection with Judaism has taught me to constantly question guiding texts and society, to listen to others, and to be a strong advocate for the values I believe in, all while holding space for a change of opinion.
In the summer of 2023, I attended the life-changing program “Maryland Girls State,” where I experienced immense growth in my public speaking and leadership capabilities. During the program, I collaborated with and competed against girls from all over the state. Being surrounded with ambitious and kind girls, I felt more confident than ever before. I was honored to be elected to Maryland State Comptroller with the slogan “Vote Greenblum to make the Green Bloom in Maryland.” I now serve on the planning committee and as a counselor for the program.
At Duke, I plan to pursue a Public Policy major while also exploring a wide array of academic and personal interests, such as Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing, Religion, and Spanish. I know my time at Duke will be full of intellectual, social, and academic growth.
Beyond academics, my interests include tennis, fitness, hiking, cooking, card games, and Duke Basketball.”