Lily Chui

            While adapting to college and trying to fulfill the GPA requirement, I must admit that the community service project encouraged me to participate in our community. My group finally agreed to volunteer at Educational Alliance. Before I reached out to Sonia, the director of the college-prep program, I used the resources online trying to find a non-profit organization where my group members and I can volunteer at. I sent a lot of e-mails to different organizations. Unfortunately, seldom of them got back to me. I also contacted the volunteering coordinator of Golden Key International Society, hoping that she would give me some advice on this project. She gave me a lot of helpful information, but because of unstable schedules of the activities, I decided to volunteer at Educational Alliance. Just last week, I visited Sonia’s office and she introduced me to the director of the volunteering department, Amy.  Amy then explained to me the significant events that Education Alliances holds for all age groups.

            Another reason I wanted to volunteer there is because I joined their college prep program before. I gained and learned a lot from this program, so I really want to give back to them. I had been involved in Education Alliance for more than two years now, and it was a great experience. They have many after school classes such as dancing, karate, and cooking. I joined specifically the college prep program which every week, volunteering professionals would spend three hours after work preparing us for the SAT exam, college applications, and career advisement. Their dedication and spirits in this one- year long program shocked and inspired me. I was very grateful of what I had gained from this program. Therefore, I think it will be great if I continue to volunteer there. Maybe someday, I will become the volunteering professional, tutoring another high school student.

Journal #2 – What does it mean to serve your community?What is your role in the Baruch and broader community as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program and what do you think it should be? How is this related to the culture of service the Honors Program promotes?

I have always seen serving community as part of my life. It does not have to be doing volunteering regularly, but as simple as helping an old lady crossing the street. Everyone should help others in our community, especially young adults.  As a young adult and a student, I feel obligated to serve and give back to our community. As the Baruch Scholars Program promotes and emphasizes the importance of community service, my commitment to change our society grew. From give back to our community, it can be beneficial to both the helper and the person who needed help. From contributing, we gain experience and skills; we can develop insights into lives and become more responsible. Personally, I don’t volunteer regularly, but I often helped my neighbors. Since I live in a dominant Chinese neighborhood, my neighbors, due to language barriers, often have bills or letter that they don’t understand or cannot reply in English. I try helping them by translating and replying or calling if necessary. Even though it takes part of my time, I still enjoy it because I have had experience of how hard it is to live in United States without knowing English. It was often rewarding to me not only because they gave me discounts for where they work at, but also because the skills I developed and the satisfaction I fulfilled from helping people. My neighbors, on the other hand, were also thankful for someone to help them assimilate into a new society. I would continue helping others in various ways because I believe little contributions could shape our community into a better place.

I was born in Hong Kong. My parents named me Lai lee, a beautiful name with no particular meanings. I have a older sister, who has the same first name as I do, and a younger brother. While we all lived happily in Hong Kong, my father had an opportunity to come to United States. I knew in my heart that my parents sacrificed their lives in their homeland for us to pursue a better education. I was glad at first because I do not have to be pressured as much to study. After I arrive US, I immediately attend school; it was then I realized it is not easy at all to adapt a different environment, culture, and language for me. I was the only Chinese in my eighth grade class. I have no common language with my classmates, perhaps except when they need help in math. I started to blame my parents for taking me away from my perfect life in Hong Kong inside me. I didn’t dare to tell them because I knew they sacrificed much more for me. As time pass by, I learned to be more independent, and gradually adapted a different life.

Baruch was not unfamiliar to me because my sister also attends Baruch college. She instructed me to go to different departments, encouraged me to join different clubs. Now, as many other students are, I expect to start a new, exciting college experience. The first month of the first semester had passed already, a lot of tests are also coming. I will do my best to encounter what is in front of me.

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