Honestly, I haven’t needed to ask any of my professors about the project. However, I have spoken with John about my Coney Island Hospital presentation. He has been one of my main resources because he knows what’s expected of us. He’s been extremely supportive and has always made time for my questions and concerns. You, Mr. Medina, have also been a support for me. The fact that you believe in me and support me has been a help in and of itself.
Aside from John, many of the people who have been guest speakers in our freshman seminar class have been a resource for me. Stephen Francour’s information sheets on researching and etherpad have been great tools.
The main center that I have utilized several times this year is the library. Not only is it a place to do research and print information, it is also a place for me to meet with my group. It’s so easy to get a study room. Study rooms provide a nice and quiet place to discuss our project, gather to go over information and a place to make practice the presentation.
I haven’t joined a club yet. I have been extremely busy during the first semester, but I plan on joining some next semester. I have been thinking about one or two clubs I want to dedicate myself to. The problem is that I really like to act, but I don’t know if I would have time to do the play. It’s quite a commitment. I’m thinking about trying it though. I was also considering participating in Model UN. I couldn’t do it first semester because of my busy schedule, but I am still considering it. It’s so difficult because I don’t know what I want to do. There are so many options and there are only so many hours in a day. The students that came into our class last week were quite an inspiration; however, they were also an intimidation. They have done so much and have been so successful. I don’t know how they did it. Yes, we joked about blackberries and pretty assignment pads, but how did they do it? Not to brag about myself, but I did have great time management first semester. I balanced good grades with a part-time job, helping run a scholarship for Italian girls living in Yonkers and helping a local politician campaign for City Council President. Although I balanced all of this, it resulted in less social time and a many nights where I got little sleep. I don’t know if I can do that for four years. I still want to help out with these things next fall, but I want to do that in addition to doing a club or two. I guess I will figure it out. My mother always tells me, “to cross that bridge when I come to it.” It’s a comfort knowing that Mr. Medina, John and my LC are behind me. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without any one of these people. Mr. Medina believes in me, John gives me advice and my LC keeps me sane.
I remember one day in freshman seminar, when we were discussing the project, I said that volunteer work always made me feel good. Although everyone in the class agreed, I believe it was Mr. Medina who added that we do it for the benefit of others, though, not ourselves. I think it was at that moment that I realized the true meaning of volunteering. I have always loved to help others, but when I heard that it made me rethink why I was volunteering over the years. I will never forget that freshman seminar class. After hearing that statement, I took on a whole different view of our project. I started to become excited about helping others in a hospital setting because it was a place where I could help a lot of people at one time. I didn’t even think about how I would feel afterwards. So although this project wasn’t my favorite part of freshman seminar, it was definitely one of the best learning experiences of my 18 years of existence.