University student Matthew (Matt) Kafker enjoys reading both fiction and nonfiction. One of Matt Kafker's favorite novelists is Ernest Hemingway, a prolific writer who struggled with depression and illness.Hemingway earned considerable recognition for his work, including the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature, but his later years were a personal struggle. He continued hunting and fishing in exotic locales and survived multiple plane crashes. These and other injuries made him go to Cuba to convalesce. During this time, he wrote the well-known memoir of his time in Paris, A Moveable Feast.Hemingway’s physical and mental health continued to deteriorate, however, even as he continued to write. He moved from Cuba to Idaho, where he would spend the rest of his life, though neither his physical nor mental health recovered completely. In 1961, Hemingway committed suicide, leaving behind a legacy as a legendary writer who faced great personal struggles.
University student Matthew (Matt) Kafker enjoys watching stand-up comedy in his free time. One of Matt Kafker's favorite stand-up comedians is John Mulaney, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, who has had a long, circuitous career in comedy.Mulaney established himself in comedy after he graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied English and theology. After a successful run as a stand-up comic, he joined Saturday Night Live's writing staff, where he helped create the popular character "Stefon." Mulaney left SNL in 2014 to perform in a self-titled sitcom, but the series was unsuccessful. He blamed himself for many elements of the show's failure, though he also attributes some of the sitcom's weaknesses to creative changes made during its move to a different television network.After his show was canceled, Mulaney returned to stand-up comedy, honing a reputation for the precise use of language and a bitterness that seemed unusual for a comedian under 40. While his success has come primarily from comedy enthusiasts rather than the mainstream audience, Mulaney returned to SNL in early 2018, but this time as the week's host. He remains optimistic about his long-term prospects in comedy.
Matthew (Matt) Kafker, a dedicated university student, divides his time between coursework and research. In his free time, Matt Kafker practices mindfulness meditation.Helping practitioners reduce stress, increase their productivity, and boost their feelings of happiness, mindfulness meditation sessions should last only five to 10 minutes in the beginning. These sessions can be performed in the morning and evening, or just once a day, depending on each person’s schedule. From there, the length of sessions can gradually increase to an hour.Before starting, practitioners should set the desired length of their session on a timer. This gives them the ability to clear the mind and focus only on the meditation. Practitioners then should find a quiet area and sit in a comfortable position on the floor, a cushion, or a chair. Once seated, practitioners can focus on their upper body. The spine should naturally curve and the shoulders and head should be relaxed, not stiff. The upper arms should be parallel to the upper body, and the chin should point slightly downward. From this position, practitioners can begin their meditation.
University student Matthew “Matt” Kafker studies a variety of topics, including computer science, math, and literature. However, Matt Kafker is perhaps most interested in natural sciences and is majoring in physics.In the physics of motion, Sir Isaac Newton’s three laws are:- First: Objects in motion will stay in motion unless an external force is applied to them. Similarly, objects at rest will continue resting without the addition of an external force.- Second: An object’s acceleration and force are directly related. For example, when more force is applied to an object, that object will move at a faster rate. At the same time, the mass of an object is inversely related to an object’s force and acceleration.- Third: All forces exist in pairs that are equal and opposite to one another. An example of this law is seen when a person steps off a boat. The person moving toward the shore is exerting force on the boat. In response to this action, the boat moves away from the shore with the same amount of force that was applied to it.
University student Matthew “Matt” Kafker has a passion for physics, mathematics, and statistics. In his free time, Matt Kafker enjoys attending lectures on mythology and ancient cultures and maintains a particular interest in Egyptian, Greek, and Mesopotamian belief systems. In addition to a polytheistic religion with many subsets of belief, Mesopotamian cosmology included mythological figures such as Anu, the god of the sky, and Enki, the earth god also responsible for crafts, inventions, and the canals that irrigated the fertile crescent. Enlil, the god of the wind, is at the center of one of the ancient civilization’s foundational myths. In the myth, Enlil sleeps with Ninlil, the goddess of grain, after coming upon her bathing in a canal. This union brings forth Su-en (Sin), the moon god, and also results in Enlil’s banishment to the netherworld. Ninlil follows Enlil as he travels beneath the earth, bearing him three more sons who grow up to become underworld deities. With these children able to stand in their father’s stead, Enlil and Ninlil are able to return to the world of the living, where they bring abundant harvests and reliable seasons to the people of Mesopotamia.
During his junior and senior years at Middlesex School, Matthew (Matt) Kafker earned several academic awards and was a National AP Scholar and a National Merit Commended student. Matt Kafker also participated in several international service learning opportunities in France and Costa Rica. This sparked his love of travel, which has taken him to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Belize. Belize is a country south of Mexico and west of the Caribbean Sea. Tourism to Belize has grown tremendously over the past 15 years. However, due to the high cost of imports, Belize is considerably more expensive than its Central American neighbors. Some of the country’s main attractions include its natural beauty, long coastline, and quaint villages. Because of a rise in American visitors and the popularity of Belize City as a cruise stop, many American air carriers now offer direct flights to Belize. English is widely spoken in the country, and travelers have many choices in accommodations, including secluded resorts with views of the rain forest or the beach.
Physics major Matthew (Matt) Kafker possesses diverse academic interests, including astrophysics, mythology, and ancient Greek history. Matt Kafker often listens to informative and educational podcasts and lectures, including the popular TED Talks. TED Conferences began more than 30 years ago to introduce innovations in technology, entertainment, and design (“TED”) to a wider audience. Today, TED Talks cover diverse topics, including health, business, education, science, and economics. TED Talks have been streamed over a billion times by listeners all over the world. Outside of official TED Conferences held annually, thousands of organizations, colleges, and research institutions organize their own speakers under the brand TEDx. These local conferences must adhere to a set of rules to maintain a TED license.For example, local organizers must ensure that speakers represent different industries and that the conference does not have any promotional undertones. Also, since TEDx is intended to provide a platform for new ideas and perspectives, professional motivational speakers and well-known life coaches are generally not permitted to participate.
