Teri McGuire, 17, is the winner of the first annual essay contest sponsored by The Rockland Jewish Reporter and the Jewish Federation of Rockland County. A rising senior at Clarkstown High School South, she writes for the school’s newspaper, The Viking Voice, and is a member of the National Honor Society, where she is recording secretary. She is active in United Synagogue Youth at New City Jewish Center, where she served as chapter president this year. Recently she was elected as membership/kadima vice president for the Koach Divisional board.

As a young Jewish teen I try not to take my experiences for granted. I believe that every experience, and every person that I encounter, leads to a life lesson. Even eliminating my family, there are, and have been, a great deal of Jewish role models in my life. I have had amazing teachers, rabbis, and family friends that have affected my Jewish identity to a tremendous extent. However, when I think of the adults that have affected my Jewish journey the most, I immediately think of one person.

The first words I remember hearing Bruce Varon utter were, “You’re such a knucklehead.” He was talking to a teenager much older than I, who appeared to be doing nothing wrong. Being a little eighth grader at the time, my reaction was that Bruce was a cranky old man. However, my first impression of this great man could not have been more wrong. I later learned that “knucklehead” is Bruce’s ultimate term of affection; if he calls you a knucklehead you are officially cool in his book. I still remember the first time the words were directed at me. It was a proud moment.

Bruce Varon is the kind of adult that I hope to be one day. He is childlike and mature, sweet and sarcastic, hardworking and playful. During his many years of service to United Synagogue Youth (the youth division for the Conservative movement) Bruce has acted as a divisional field worker and as the coordinator of METNY USY encampment (an amazing nine-day sleep away experience at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires). His dedication to USY and especially to his USYers is incomparable.

Out of all my role models, Bruce is the only one with his own personal fan club. The BVFC (Bruce Varon Fan Club) consists of USYers, past and present, who simply love him. This is because he is more than a USY staffer, he is a replacement parent. At events he spends his time making sure everyone is well fed and happy, and teaches us lessons about being polite and respecting our elders. Unlike other youth leaders, he is comfortable talking to us on a personal level and telling us stories about his personal life. He also is not scared to make a fool of himself in our presence.

I have so many great Bruce stories, but my favorite comes from this fall. He stood before a group of 200 teenagers looking extremely nervous. Usually cool, calm, and collected, Bruce was stammering as he began his lecture. He voiced his concern about our inappropriate clothing and boy-girl interactions. He suggested that we ask before hugging each other and wear longer skirts. As he stood there, looking like a father giving the “birds and bees talk” for the first time, I realized his greatness. He truly cared about every child sitting in that room that day, and knew how greatly he impacted us. It is moments like that, that make Bruce stand out against the many other group leaders. The passion in his voice and the concern on his face cannot be ignored.

Most USYers assume that USY pays Bruce big bucks and that we are his full time job, but they are very wrong. Bruce works full time, and raises two boys of his own and still makes time to spend weekends away with USY. When I am older I hope that my life can be as fulfilling as Bruce’s. Although I have plans of being a magazine journalist, I also plan on doing something influential within my Jewish community, whether it is as a USY advisor or as a Hebrew school teacher. Teens my age need someone like Bruce, someone that shows us right from wrong, how to make our lives the best possible, and most importantly: how to have fun. He lives his life by a simple statement, “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing the wrong thing.” Bruce Varon is the example of a fulfilled and happy man. I will be thrilled if I can become half the person he is. No doubt about it, Bruce Varon is role model to me, not to mention my favorite knucklehead.