Author Archives: Laila Metjahic

Now that we are at the end of the semester, when you look back the workload could have been much worse than it actually was and the amount of research necessary for our assignments could have been heavier. However, we’re not done. This is only our first semester of college and we have many more ahead of us and as, those of us that were not so involved in extracurricular activities, begin to venture out and leave our precious Room 1003 in the 23^rd Street building, we’ll need help. That being said, we’ve had plenty of help this semester in order to gain success from a variety of people including: Mr. Medina, Sam, and Mr. Francoeur. Throughout the semester, Mr. Medina and Sam were there for us at every instance of need: especially the dreaded time of registration. That stressful November day proved to be worse for some than for others and for some of us, especially those of us that got lucky and got into amazing classes later on like myself, have changed our schedules multiple times since. Each Wednesday they provided new insight and advice into what makes a successful college student and from them, I learned how to appropriately formulate an e-mail and most importantly, as our advisor likes to say, “time management.”  Mr. Stephen Francoeur guided us in the library through both our research as well as providing us with effective websites in order to work well in groups, which will likely be incredibly useful later on. As a result of this project, I’ve learned that when participating in community service, it’s not just about giving back to the community that makes it important. There is a deeper meaning involved in the service. Imagine we were all simply small fish in an ocean struggling to help ourselves without concern for others, what would we learn? What would we produce?  Now, imagine we were an army of ants, all working collectively for a common cause. We’d be efficient, effective, and helpful. That is how my ideology of community service evolved. I no longer simply consider the need to help, but why it’s important and why what I’m doing is important. In the next three years, I see myself graduating with a high GPA and an incredible amount of experience from clubs, internships, study abroad, and a commitment to a community service organization.

I’ve never truly thought of community service as a “service,” per se, but instead something to take up the void of time that I had after school. I know that sounds incredibly cliché, but it’s the truth, and probably more because I always chose something enjoyable. The second I graduated elementary school I was back in that small cafeteria helping the children in their weekly drama club meetings. When I got into the eighth grade my civics teacher called this, “community service,” but I enjoyed it just as much as my own drama club. Perhaps this was because I enjoyed the subject or the sense of control I had over the children, maybe it was the children, but either way, I never considered it a chore. Since that first day volunteering at the school, I’ve enjoyed doing my part to enhance my community. Honestly, I consider myself, and my family, quite fortunate and to not help someone else that may need it would be selfish. Throughout high school counselors stressed the importance of community service and extra curricular activities on college applications, something that was never an issue. Now that I’m in college, I wouldn’t expect my service to simply terminate, especially as a Scholar. Baruch hands its Scholars a college education on a silver platter, without any cost. As I watch my friends struggle to acquire loans and struggle with the guilt of having their parents pay for their expensive educations, I become increasingly grateful for my opportunity. With so many opportunities at such a low cost at my fingertips, how could I not want to do something to help others? I think that this is the sort of thinking that the Honors Program tries to promote through the culture of service it suggests. Truly, how could I just accept what Baruch has given me and turn my back on those that don’t have the same advantages? The answer is simple, I can’t.

Throughout my life, I’ve had a few hurdles to jump over. However, I’m still grateful for everything that I have and I’m glad that it wasn’t any worse. The thing that I suppose has shaped me the most are the fact that I’ve had to adapt in a variety of areas and situations. I attended three high schools and was new in each one for various reasons, but the main reason was my grandmother’s diagnosis of leukemia when I was in the ninth grade. My family and I basically put our lives on hold and moved to New York that year and adjusting to a new town was difficult and the loss of my grandmother proved to be even more difficult. I learned more about myself in these years and grew as a person. I realized how important family and friends are to me, and I realized that even in different situations, the way I act and work are basically the same. As a college student, I expect to improve my work ethic and grow in that sense as well as prepare more fervently for my future. My hopes are that I’ll succeed academically and socially this semester and my concern is primarily the uncertainty that is in college. I’m terrified that I’ll do poorly on my exams and papers primarily because I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never been so afraid for my grades before and I get nervous just thinking about it. Hopefully, these fears will disappear after my first major week of stress the first week of October when I have two exams and a paper due one day and another exam just a few days later. Wish me luck!