Imagine your work obligations for the afternoon were cancelled and you found yourself "work free" for three hours, what would you do?

If I had three open hours on a weekday, I would use the time to advance my two primary avocations. I would begin by meeting with my ABC group to plan a fundraiser. Meeting at a café, the ABC members would start by reviewing the results of our latest event, a nighttime tour of the zoo. With that groundwork, I would move to the topic of marketing materials for our upcoming community service outing. The ABC meeting would adjourn after two hours once I had assigned each person a specific follow-up task.

As the ABC meeting draws to a close, I would transition to organizing the next session of my ABC United Fund group. Leaving the café, I would call my co-leader to brainstorm our weekly gathering. Our call would last the full third hour as we consider discussion topics, activities, and the necessary logistics for the meeting.

I can think of no better use of my three free hours than to lead those two ABC groups that constitute my main passions outside of work. The Jewish community has always stood as an integral part of my life, and I enjoy the fellowship of my cohorts. Growing up, I attended Hebrew school for 12 years, completing confirmation in high school. I then explored different facets of Judaism during college and while living in New York. One of my major goals after moving to Chicago was to take on a leadership role in the city’s Jewish young adult community. My position in the hedge fund world is demanding and affords me limited free time. I have had to determine the most productive way to spend my free time, and my fervent connection to the local Jewish community guides these choices. Furthermore, I find it intrinsically rewarding to work with motivated people towards a shared objective and to converse with my peers about our careers and common goals. Arriving in Chicago, I discovered that opportunities for professional networking in the city’s Jewish community were more limited than I expected. I therefore joined the nine-member ABC Young Professionals Board and planned nine networking events that ultimately raised ABC membership by 30 percent among Chicagoans in my age group.

In addition to ABC, I soon headed a weekly young adult discussion and activities group sponsored by the Jewish United Fund. The group focuses on Jewish issues and identity. This program, known as XXX, allows me to share my enthusiasm for social involvement by planning and leading events for like-minded young professionals. My strong engagement in the Chicago Jewish community continues the dedication I have enjoyed throughout my life.

Both ABC and XXX help me improve my talents for planning, teamwork, public speaking, and marketing, and bring me great satisfaction in giving back to my community. That is how I would use my three hours. I will bring the same level of enthusiasm and commitment to leading clubs at Wharton.