Author Archives: Avi

In order for anyone to succeed in an assignment regarding a new institution or system, the person needs to involve him/herself with resources such as other peers and staff. Before we began even discussing the community service project as a team, already such resources zoomed into my mind to reach for guidance to tackle this assignment. During the weeks of discussion between the members of my group, I would reach out to other Baruch Honor students, relatives, friends, and even members of student clubs among Baruch. All these people helped me think about the seriousness of giving back and volunteering with non-profit organizations in our communities. I have utilized support centers such as the Baruch Honors advisor’s offices, like popping into Mr. Medina’s office to discuss issues with group volunteering and deciding factors on a specific program. Other clubs/organizations I have went to in order to get some advice were the Hillel at Baruch and Chabad, which have Rabbis who visit Baruch weekly to discuss how I should confront my group with religious ideas that contradict with some volunteer programs. For example, in my opinion, when one has the opportunity to help out in an organization that is involved with abused animals or another organization that helps humans; the person should volunteer at the organization that reaches out to our brothers and sisters, or actual humans. Through a Jewish perspective, a human’s value is much higher than a dog.

These pieces of advice that I have gotten from a wide range of people, has helped me look at our society in a different perspective. The fact that I see litter on the subway’s platform as a 30 cent loss from taxpayer’s money is a big deal because through the education I have received while researching litter, I have been impacted to want to act. This tiny detail that influences me to think has gone into the public realm also. Now before I say anything, I think twice because what I say can be understood as a saying that is agreed upon all Jews or even all Baruch Honors students! I am a representative of my generation, I want to succeed and these little building blocks created from this project eventually form who I will be after (<G-d willing>) 4 years at Baruch.

Right now being in the Baruch community is like being a newborn. At one point I thought I had been abducted into a college where diversity and success are linked and appreciated; and now I consider myself privileged to be in this bubble of reaching my maximum potential. Overall, to reach success in our day in age, a Baruch Scholar needs to feel for others and act in the community through volunteer services. My role as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program is to work in a team of other students from my Freshman Seminar group and decide on a volunteer project to help our community through a non-profit organization. To be honest, the easy way for me is to continue volunteer work I have done in the past at a non-profit religious organization that sends out food packages on a weekly basis because continuing something you are used to is a lot simpler than working with people. It is difficult to come up with something that the entire group is comfortable in doing. I think the Baruch Scholars program should change the way their conditions on this group work. Instead of having a group of 4 people, the team should consist of 2 people where it is easier to find a volunteer project. At the end of the day, one sees that the more work put into a team, the greater the reward so I also believe working with these people jsut to decide on an organization to volunteer at will be helpful for my experience in general.

The Honors Program has many services it provides its inhabitants with. Many services include technology assistance by providing the students with a laptop, our own librarian, our own department in advisement, study abroad grants, and other services like a large amount of lectures that eventually provide us with tips for success. By receiving these commodities, an Honor student feels like he/she needs to give back to the Baruch community in some way. This is why it is definitely logical to add the community service/volunteering requirement for Baruch Scholars. When one enters the Honors program, he becomes a member of the volunteering world.

I am from a Jewish community in Queens where religion is a key factor in the way I run my life. After I graduated high school I studied overseas at a rabbinical studies program, basically covering the deep meaning of what it means to be Jewish. This year of change and identity search is the reason I am who I am today. Some experiences included going to the ‘shuk’ or an outdoor market with all kinds of fruits and bakery stands run by hardcore Israelis. By going to the ‘shuk’ you see how business was managed at least 50 years ago in the average marketplace in the world. At these flea market styled booths there are no computers or any advanced technology in place. The advertising that is done is the shouting of the products’ prices. What made Israel change me was my ability to explore my religion with the access to speak with almost 100 experienced rabbis everyday. My mindset has changed from an American view of the world, where money is the goal, to a religious view of the world; where the world revolves around faith and action.

I was expecting college to be my chance to delve into the real world and meet people with different mindsets as me, which unfortunately I have never met due to the uniform ideology I received as a student in Jewish schools. For the first semester of college I was planning on attending a wide range of classes because I am unsure of the major I am looking to study. I also want to join many clubs and see what really interests me and can help me earn a decent livelihood in our tough economy. Even though it is difficult to come to college after being in a religious society, I am excited to explore what the world has to offer; especially a business world that technology is taken advantage of and where everyone is diverse.