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Miami Palmetto Senior High School junior Jordan Finkle attends high school, is enrolled in FLVS classes, and earns credits through Miami-Dade College as a dual enrollment student. Finkle earned a math and science ACT score in the top 1 percent of the country.
Finkle’s college professor recognized his strong math skills and leadership and appointed him the role of Teacher Assistant.
“During class, we break into small groups, and I teach using the professor’s Powerpoint slides to clarify concepts,” Finkle says. “It is motivating to attend class with students of all ages seeking to further their education.”
Additionally, he tutors fellow high school students in math.
Finkle’s schedule leaves him time for community service. His main volunteer work is with Achieve Miami. He spends every other Saturday at Caribbean Elementary, an under-resourced school, enriching elementary students’ fundamental reading skills.
Finkle became involved in Achieve Miami in eighth grade. In fact, he now serves on the Junior Advisory Board for the literacy organization. The elementary school children choose their Big Buddy, and the buddies read and write together.
“I enjoy helping them with words they stumble over,” he says.
The Big Buddies also ask questions to ensure the children understand what they are reading.
As a Junior Advisory Board member, Finkle is on the advertising team and hopes to recruit more volunteers from Palmetto. Some teens learn about the organization from their friends, but he also intends to grow the program through social media platforms.
Finkle has worked with one teen at Achieve who was once a Little Buddy, and now she’s a Big Buddy.
“I see the big impact Achieve had on her life,” he says. “She grew from the program and can now give back to others. It’s inspiring. The little buddies actually enjoy Saturdays with their Big Buddies. They truly value it.”
Finkle thinks that’s important.
“Usually, the same kid runs up to me,” he says. “He’s so excited to see me. It’s rewarding.”
Achieve Miami has a summer program, although Finkle isn’t always in town to participate.
“Last summer, I attended a program in Philadelphia called Summer Discovery,” he says. “I took coding and graphic design at Haverford College just outside Philly.”
Through this program, Finkle grew his passion for creativity and problem solving.
His other volunteer work includes Project Prep, an organization he co-founded that donates gently used SAT, ACT, and AP prep/study books to underserved students.
“In the past, we have donated over 500 books,” he says.
He and his sister started the program three years ago, and they collect books every May when testing is over for most.
Now that junior year is ending, he’s thinking about potential colleges. So far, Finkle is considering the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. He’s not fixed on a major, but he’s good at design and math, so marketing or finance might be a possibility.
Finkle is the incoming Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society, a member of Key Club, Jewish Student Union, National Honor Society, and on the advertising committee for Student Council.
Finkle created a Bernedoodle website for an Amish breeder after his family had difficulty finding a puppy through a reputable online breeder. Finkle puts information about the puppies online since the breeder doesn’t use technology.
“The breeder has photographers take pictures of litters and send them to me,” he says. “I post them as available.”
Finkle wanted to help others who wanted to find a puppy from a reputable breeder.
“The breeder is not a puppy mill,” he says.
Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
