A Wizard’s Path: Julia Wittenberg

You can find Washingtonville High School senior Julia Wittenberg turning ideas into action in plenty of places, including the dance studio, Student Coalition and Wizards Against Cancer, where she serves as president.

This week, much of her attention is on the club’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Parade, which returns Friday, Oct. 9. This year’s event will also include a new halftime recognition honoring members of the Washingtonville community impacted by breast cancer.

Julia entered high school eager to get involved. As a freshman, she joined both Student Coalition and Wizards Against Cancer and immediately found a place in both.

In Student Coalition, she has since taken on the role of secretary, a position that plays to her logistical strengths. She documents meetings, keeps track of plans and helps organize the group’s ideas.

“I like that we get to have a say in all the events,” she said. “I think a lot of people don’t join it because they don’t realize how much of a say you get to have." 

This year’s Homecoming has given the group plenty to work on, including decorations, activities and the return of a pep rally. Julia and her fellow members have worked through everything, from which games students would enjoy to how participants will move from the bleachers to the floor.

“It’s nice to be on the other end of it where I’m helping point out those ideas,” she said. “It’s very nice to be able to say, ‘This is what I want. This is what I’d like to see in the school.’”

Her involvement with Wizards Against Cancer began at the same time, driven by a personal connection to its mission. Julia has family members who have faced cancer and was looking for an opportunity to be part of something especially meaningful to her.

She dove into the club, volunteering for events and contributing ideas during meetings. By sophomore year, she was vice president. Working closely with the president gave her a chance to learn what went into leading the group before taking over as president herself the following year.

“I got even more involved that year and was realizing how much I really liked what this club does and how much it meant to me,” she said.

Over the past two years, she has increasingly made the role her own. Last year, that meant stepping up when one of her close friends was diagnosed with cancer.

“I wanted to do something not only as her friend, but as a leader,” Julia said. “As soon as I heard that I wanted to step up and show her that she’s not alone in this battle. Everybody was here to help her.”

Julia helped design and organize a T-shirt fundraiser, with proceeds going to her friend’s family to help with medical bills and other expenses. She also organized days for students to wear the shirts to school, turning the fundraiser into a visible show of support throughout the high school.

The effort raised thousands of dollars for the family and gained widespread support both at school and across social media.

Now, Julia is putting those leadership skills to work on the Breast Cancer Awareness Parade. Bringing the event together has meant coordinating volunteers, advertising, decorations and activities while working through the logistics of both the parade and the new halftime recognition.

“We try to get people from all around the community,” Julia said. “We have people from the elementary schools, the middle school and just people in the community who come to walk. It’s really nice to see everybody turn out and show how much they support us.”

Experiences like these have pushed Julia to become more comfortable taking the lead.

“I’ve learned a lot about initiation and how to take charge, even if it may be something that scares you,” she said. “You might be like, ‘I don’t know if this is ever going to work,’ but just go for it and take the lead.”

Some of those lessons started long before high school. Julia has danced for 14 years and competed for the past decade. After several years assisting with classes, she recently became a teacher and now leads classes of her own.

Dance has taught her how to push herself, handle pressure and work as part of a team. Now, as an instructor, she pays close attention to what motivates each dancer and how she can best help them improve.

“I really like to make it my purpose to connect with each one of their personalities and figure out what works best for them,” Julia said.

Julia’s instinct to observe and analyze has inspired her plans following graduation.

She hopes to study data science, with the long-term goal of working in intelligence analysis for the FBI. Her interest in the FBI led her to research different careers within the agency, where intelligence analysis stood out as a natural fit for both her strengths and her desire to help others.

“I thought about how my brain works and how I like strategy and analysis,” Julia said. “I want to be analyzing behind the scenes, but also helping people.”

For now, Julia has plenty to keep her busy at Washingtonville.

Learn more about the Breast Cancer Awareness Parade and other upcoming Wizards Against Cancer events.