A Place to Succeed
Meet a few of the students, alumni, faculty and staff who have found success at RIT/NTID.
Reut Gal
In Hebrew, Reut Gal’s first name means friendship. This is particularly apropos for the third-year Administrative Support Technology (AST) student who was born in Israel.
“My fondest memories of growing up in Israel,” Reut says, “are those of my friends, my teachers and the classes I was in, and the activities after school.”
Reut's family came to America when she was 12 years old. They settled in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Reut attended a mainstream high school in Philadelphia with a program for deaf students. Her interests there included computer and gym classes.
In the summer of 1999, Reut attended NTID’s Explore Your Future Program, and one year later, she returned to RIT to enroll in the AST program.
“I’ve enjoyed all my AST classes so far,” Reut says. “My favorite classes have been Database Applications, Word Processing and Keyboarding. Working on the computer keeps me motivated and inspires my creativity.”
Reut has worked hard in her studies, earning her way to the Dean’s List twice. In her free time, Reut has participated in NTID Performing Arts programs, including Romeo & Juliet, and in activities for NTID/GALLY Weekend, an annual sports and social event for deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Gallaudet and RIT. Last summer, she and some friends took a road trip from California to Georgia.
“Travel is one thing I really enjoy,” says Reut. “When I’m with my friends and we’re having fun, I like to take pictures. It’s one way that I can save those good times as fond memories.”
A positive outlook keeps Reut focused on success in her studies and in her career after she graduates.
“Having low grades isn’t my thing,” Reut says. “I set my mind on being positive and doing well in high school and in college, so I can have a good life now and in the future.”
From the Spring/Summer 2005 issue of FOCUS magazine