Rebecca Remis
Rebecca Remis
Bachelor of Arts 2012, International Affairs
Rebecca Remis recently launched her own floral design business, Birdie's Blooms, amidst the global pandemic. She has worked in Jewish experiential education, technology, and agriculture. Since GW, she has remained passionate about sustainable agriculture and local economics which, in part, inspired her to start her business.
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What excites you about the work you do? Farming excites and requires every part of you. You use math to calculate the amount to water your crops. You use interpersonal and management skills to work with your team and keep morale high, when it's unrelentingly hot and work is not yet done. You use diplomacy to explain why well-loved organic food costs more than at the grocery store. There is a misconception that farming is "easy" or for people of limited intelligence but I can tell you after working at the UN at GW and Square after graduation and many jobs in between that farming is the hardest work I've done in body and mind. Lighting up different parts of my brain and truly tiring myself out is one thing that excites me.
What is the most significant career experience you've had so far, and what made it meaningful to you? Working at Eden Village West as program director. Through this job I launched both a summer camp and a farm program. It was similar to my experience working at a startup but, to me, more meaningful.
How did GWU and the UHP prepare you for your professional journey? In what ways has your career evolved since you graduated from GWU? At UHP in particular I became comfortable voicing my opinion and building professional relationships with adults. The professors nurtured and challenged us in a way that I found very constructive and empowering.
Advice for current UHP students: You can do anything even if it has nothing to do with your major. Also, just about anyone - especially from UHP or GW - will spend 15-30 minutes with you on the phone to talk about their path. Lastly, take a trip to Shenandoah or get outside the city when you can.