Anastasia Medytska's Blog

In the whirlwind of the first few weeks of becoming accustomed to college life, I signed up for every club imaginable. If I saw something with a moderately interesting description, I signed up. If they gave out good candy, I signed up. If they talked me into signing up, I put my name on that contact list. However, it’s November now and after dabbling in these various clubs and attending awkward meetings, I finally found one where I feel welcome- USG. Even though I downgraded from ten clubs to one, it’s the only thing I have time for at the moment and I really enjoy going to the meetings. I love knowing what is going on in the school and having a hand in planning events. So I’ll stick with that for now. I’m also looking into another organization to join next semester that I think I’ll enjoy being involved with.

Although Baruch does provide us with a lot of resources, I wouldn’t really say that the community service project has caused me to use a majority of the resources provided. The research process and picking an organization was based on my individual knowledge and efforts. That isn’t to say that I haven’t made use of the variety of resources offered by Baruch in other aspects of my education.

My understanding of community service didn’t really change but I guess my understanding of the process did. It made me think of it as something more technical and organized. I used to think of community service as just walking into a soup kitchen and handing out food, but I found out that there is much more involved. There are appointments and forms and a whole bureaucratic system that one is required to go through. I’m not sure if I like this whole idea of community service being something so technical and controlled. I’ve always thought of it as something anyone can do anywhere at any time, but maybe I’m just thinking of random acts of kindness. Either way, I learned a lot about how the whole process of becoming involved with an organization works.

As Baruch Scholars, we are given a lot of opportunities that are usually not available to students and people in general- from free tuition, to laptops, to special attention and amazing professors. I think that because of all the benefits we receive we are expected to use what we learn to serve the greater community and to share our talents and knowledge with others. I think everyone should, in some way, give back. Whether it is offering tutoring in a subject we are particularly good at, even if it is just to our friends within the program who might be weak in the subject, or serving food in a local soup kitchen- we should find something we are passionate about and share that with others.

I also think that to fulfill our roles as Baruch Scholars more fully, we need to take advantage of all we are offered. It is important to not be ignorant, but rather work towards finding everything available to us, taking full advantage of it, and then sharing it with others. All the services and opportunities that are available to us shouldn’t just be ignored, but rather used to enrich our learning

The project, in a way, promotes and cultivates the spirit of service by giving us a base with which to start serving the community. It introduces us to the idea of becoming more involved and sharing our talents. It serves as the springboard for future endeavors in serving the community, both within and outside of Baruch.

Sitting on the porch of my Grandmother’s house in Ukraine, chewing sunflower seeds, eating таранька and playing cards.That’s where I feel happy.

It’s where I was born and spent my childhood. A childhood immortalized in my mind as one of never-ending bliss. I’m not sure if it’s my faulty memory that betrays me or if it really was a time when I was truly happy, my brain uncluttered with worries and problems. Thinking back to it I remember constant parties at our apartment, my birthdays with the assortment of delicious homemade cakes my mother used to make, the packages that arrived from our Grandparents in America, which me and my cousin would voraciously unpack, bursting with excitement and anxiety to find out what surprise was packed inside. I lived with my mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and two cousins- all packed into a small two-bedroom apartment. It was crammed and crazy, but I’d never been happier. Then, my cousins moved away to America and we followed the year after. My grandparents passed away, both from cancer. All the relatives grew up and moved on. I don’t get fancy homemade cakes for my birthday anymore. And it seems as if my parents don’t have any friends here. Not to mention all the fighting that goes on between them- a reason I’m staying in the city for college, I’m the mediator. The one that defends my mom and calms down my brother. But I guess that’s what growing up is about. It’s about all the experiences- good AND bad. I wouldn’t be the same person if I didn’t have both. So who exactly is that person?

I’m indecisive and I get bored easily, always seeking new and exciting things to satisfy me.

I love photography and fashion.

I want to travel the world. Meet people and learn everything I don’t know. I never want to be stuck in one place for my whole life. What’s the point of having such a diverse and lively planet if we don’t bother to see it? So I spend a lot of time on travel sites, planning my future trips. Nerdy, I know.

I love to bake.

I’ve had a job since I was 13. I try to save most of my money for travelling.

I have an amazing brother. He’s eight and adorable…and smart and kind and can cheer anyone up. We kind of come in a two-for-one package. If you get to know me, you will undoubtedly get to know my brother.

My mom inspires me in so many ways. She has an ethereal calm about her, as if she’s never afraid of anything. I work to be more like her. To get past my cynicisms and judgments. To believe in people and always assume the best in every situation.

Even though I’m not in the bubble of effervescent childhood anymore, I find happiness in new things. In meeting new people, in trying new foods, in just hanging out with my brother. And whenever I visit Ukraine I can still indulge in those childhood memories.

So that’s where I’ve been and who I am. On the part of where I’m going, I have absolutely no idea. Hopefully around the world…

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