Amidst this cold, self- oriented, fast- paced society, where do we as humans stand? Have we together created such a self- concerned world, or have we merely been born into it? Should we simply go with the flow, or should we attempt to redefine it through our actions? Should we live a life, ignorant of the people and world around us, or should we broaden our horizons enough to acknowledge all that we have been granted with and attempt to show our gratitude?
Attempting to count all of my blessings, I have indeed failed to find a number, for the list keeps stretching far and wide. There is so much I been endowed with as a result of my birth, including food, clothing, and shelter, the three basic needs of life. However, without asking I have been blessed with much more than that. Most of us, including me, get even more than that, with necessities taken for granted, and pleasures being deemed as necessities. Having a wonderful family and friends, I have been showered with love all around me. Having more than just shelter, I have been blessed with a place that I can call home. Having responsible, employed parents, I am able to get much more than the minimum amount of food needed to survive. Having been born in America, I have been given the privilege of attending public schools and receiving a free education. Residing in NYC, I have been given access to experience the many rich cultures of the world, in the ‘melting pot.’ As I said before, the list can keep on going. As of now, the most important blessing in my life is that of receiving the opportunity and ultimately a part of Baruch’s honors program.
With much of the world living in ignorance and without the means to receiving a proper education today, I feel extremely blessed to be able to receive an amazing education and even more blessed, if possible, to be receiving a full scholarship and a mac! The honors program greatly relieved the financial strain I would otherwise have to carry around with me. I am truly grateful for having received this and acknowledge how lucky I am in comparison to the rest of the world. There are many hard- working, smart people out there, but a lack of opportunities hinders them from receiving such amazing support. With this in mind I consider it of utmost importance to give back to this world, in which I was so lucky to be blessed with so much. Because the world has given so much to me, I feel as if I have to give back to this world as well.
Still attempting to find a place for myself in Baruch and indeed in the larger realm of the world as well, and trying to carve out a path, on which to walk, I am still trying to immerse myself in the ‘community’, be it the smaller or the larger. With the speed at which the world is advancing today and at the rate at which the emphasis on one- self and materialistic goods is increasing, it becomes far to easy to lose yourself to that selfish part of society, and ignore all that you are blessed with. In this, it becomes even more important to foster a sense of belonging to your community, to reinforce the idea the idea that you were essentially given all that you have, and should give back to those who were not so lucky as you. Being a Baruch Scholar, I am grateful for all the extra privileges I am entitled to, and feel as if it is my responsibility to attempt to do all that I can to add to Baruch’s life and use my knowledge and skills to aid others, becoming an example for people to follow. Nothing is perfect in this world, and always can be improved upon, be it my community, or Baruch itself. To help improve Baruch and make it an even better place would just be the first step; it would be the stepping-stone in the long path needed to improve the world. I will begin by trying to be a better person, help others, and trying to ‘spread the love.’ I hope one day I will be able to take a larger role in Baruch, getting students to ‘spread the love’ outside of Baruch’s doors, thus carving out a path for a happier world.
