Baruch Scholars 2012

Where have I been? I think the better question is where haven’t I been. I grew up in Jamaica, Queens, the same place where 50 cent was shot three times. My parents weren’t exactly overloaded with cash money so I grew up with some humble roots, roots I will never forget. When it came time for me to start attending school, my parents moved around a lot to find a place with a good school. That was PS131. The school was good, I was just a complete deviant. Both my parents worked all the time so I had to teach myself a lot & I didn’t even understand the English language so I had to take ESL (English as a Second Language). I was made fun of because I couldn’t understand English and to cope with all the kids making fun of me, I did stupid things to get people to laugh because to me at the time, it felt like they were laughing with me as opposed to at me. I also had this crush on this girl in Kindergarten because I fell back in my seat and I started crying and all the other kids thought I was joking and she came over and helped me up. She was the only person from my kindergarten class who was in every single one of my classes all the way through fifth grade. She was pretty cute, I’m not going to lie. I wasn’t exactly a player though. In fourth grade she asked me for my pink crayon, I had some cool crayons at the time ( A cool box of Crayola), I think that was probably the most romantic thing that ever happened between us. If you’ve ever seen the AXE commercials about Susan Glenn, they are all over the place, she was my Susan Glenn.

Junior High was boring. Nothing eventful happened at MS216. I became very quiet because I got more serious about my grades. I took the SHSAT and I got into Stuyvesant and that’s where the Squeege was born. I was a real tiny kid when I first stepped into high school but I had this bizarre desire to play football. At first it was terrible but then I realized I was really great at running away from people. My four years of football went great because I just excelled at running away from people. That also translated onto High School Lacrosse as well.

As far as Baruch goes, I plan on taking this one year at a time. I just want to concentrate on branching out and visiting a bunch of interest meetings and finding out where I want to be. I just want to set the foundation before I start thinking about building upon that. I’ve met tons of cool people. I really love the people in my LC. I do know that I plan on majoring in Finance or Actuarial Science so if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll start building upon that with internships and the like.

My name is Kelly Eom, and my real name (Korean name) is Boyeong. As most of you know by now, I am an international student from Korea. When I first came to America, unlike the other international students, I didn’t have any particular problems or difficulties with living in the States. Maybe I was too young to recognize the problems. But, as I got into high school, I started to perceive those problems.  I realized that I have a Korean accent and I cannot pronounce some words correctly. I felt embarrassed about them. Therefore, I was so terrified of standing in front of people and making a speech or doing a class presentation. I also began to hide myself from speaking because I was afraid that people would make fun of my accent and pronunciation. These behaviors also changed my personality from active to passive.

In college, I want a change in my life. Since I will major in business, I need to learn speaking and communication skills, which are the most essential parts of the business. I want to learn how to speak well in front of people and communicate with others. I also want to restore my active personality in college. I will try not to afraid to talk to people or present in front of them because of my flaws with speaking. For the first semester, I want to get to know a lot of people and to adapt into this new college environment.

Studies at Baruch in the past three weeks have been challenging but I am still very happy and blessed because of the amazing and kind people I met at Baruch.

My name is Kelly Eom, and my real name (Korean name) is Boyeong. As most of you know by now, I am an international student from Korea. When I first came to America, unlike the other international students, I didn’t have any particular problems or difficulties with living in the States. Maybe I was too young to recognize the problems. But, as I got into high school, I started to perceive those problems.  I realized that I have a Korean accent and I cannot pronounce some words correctly. I felt embarrassed about them. Therefore, I was so terrified of standing in front of people and making a speech or doing a class presentation. I also began to hide myself from speaking because I was afraid that people would make fun of my accent and pronunciation. These behaviors also changed my personality from active to passive.

In college, I want a change in my life. Since I will major in business, I need to learn speaking and communication skills, which are the most essential parts of the business. I want to learn how to speak well in front of people and communicate with others. I also want to restore my active personality in college. I will try not to afraid to talk to people or present in front of them because of my flaws with speaking. For the first semester, I want to get to know a lot of people and to adapt into this new college environment.

Studies at Baruch in the past three weeks have been challenging but I am still very happy and blessed because of the amazing and kind people I met at Baruch.

Theres not much I can say about myself that’ll give you a perfect picture of who I am. I can, however, say enough to give you an impression of what kind of person I am and give you a glimpse of how my mind works. I was born in Brooklyn, of Pakistani heritage, and moved to Staten Island at 7 years of age. I attended Staten Island Tech High School, and now attend Baruch college, still commuting from Staten Island.

I may be very quiet and composed on the outside, but Im a mess on the inside. I like to think a lot. I like to observe my surroundings and just take it all in. I enjoy many different things that stimulate the brain, such as art and nature. There can be twenty different things going on in my head at the same time. Sometimes it gets very hectic inside there, but I enjoy just getting lost in my own thoughts. Besides from thinking and observing, I enjoy playing basketball, video games, and exploring new places.

For me, high school was a great experience. Attending a small school really helped me to grow as a person and learn a great deal about life. I made many great friends, and had great teachers to teach me not only about the subjects they taught, but also about the real world. Sometimes I just thought that my little high school was the only world. However, I have come to realize that there is a much larger world out there. There is still much to learn and much to explore.  Truthfully, the real world scares me a bit. I have come to realize that life can treat you in many different ways: sometimes harsh, sometimes easy. There can be no truer saying than the one that goes, “Life is what you make of it.” I am ready to work hard to make life a little less troubling.

This journey starts with Baruch college. I have a great oppurtunity here in New York to explore new places and gain an understanding of the real world. I am ready to meet new people and ready to jumpstart my career. I hope to learn many new ideas and hope to learn a thing or two from others. I know this journey won’t be easy. I will have to work hard in my classes and will have to stay focused. Hopefully, I will be able to do so. In part, I am worried of what my future holds. But, I am confident that I will be able to make the right decisions and do what is best for myself and for others around me.

Theres not much I can say about myself that’ll give you a perfect picture of who I am. I can, however, say enough to give you an impression of what kind of person I am and give you a glimpse of how my mind works. I was born in Brooklyn, of Pakistani heritage, and moved to Staten Island at 7 years of age. I attended Staten Island Tech High School, and now attend Baruch college, still commuting from Staten Island.

I may be very quiet and composed on the outside, but Im a mess on the inside. I like to think a lot. I like to observe my surroundings and just take it all in. I enjoy many different things that stimulate the brain, such as art and nature. There can be twenty different things going on in my head at the same time. Sometimes it gets very hectic inside there, but I enjoy just getting lost in my own thoughts. Besides from thinking and observing, I enjoy playing basketball, video games, and exploring new places.

For me, high school was a great experience. Attending a small school really helped me to grow as a person and learn a great deal about life. I made many great friends, and had great teachers to teach me not only about the subjects they taught, but also about the real world. Sometimes I just thought that my little high school was the only world. However, I have come to realize that there is a much larger world out there. There is still much to learn and much to explore.  Truthfully, the real world scares me a bit. I have come to realize that life can treat you in many different ways: sometimes harsh, sometimes easy. There can be no truer saying than the one that goes, “Life is what you make of it.” I am ready to work hard to make life a little less troubling.

This journey starts with Baruch college. I have a great oppurtunity here in New York to explore new places and gain an understanding of the real world. I am ready to meet new people and ready to jumpstart my career. I hope to learn many new ideas and hope to learn a thing or two from others. I know this journey won’t be easy. I will have to work hard in my classes and will have to stay focused. Hopefully, I will be able to do so. In part, I am worried of what my future holds. But, I am confident that I will be able to make the right decisions and do what is best for myself and for others around me.

I have played organized basketball since I was eight years old.  All throughout high school I played in two leagues, both of which played huge parts in my life.  When I wasn’t at practice or playing in games, I was helping coach younger players in weekend basketball camps and games throughout the city.  It felt good giving back to the community that has given me so much.  The only regret I have is not showing enough initiative in school in terms of extracurricular activities.  I hope this first semester in college I can really get more involved.  I want to avoid making the same mistake I made in high school by looking into clubs and other ways of making my mark here at Baruch.  I’d like to still keep that connection I have with the communities of my past, but build a new one in college.  I’m looking forward to maybe playing some intramural sports like basketball and volleyball.  I want to be able to look back on my college experience and say that I really took advantage of the opportunities Baruch can offer me, and I think in order for that to happen I have to start trying this semester.  I’ve been attending a few general interest meetings held by business fraternities, and they seem like they would help a lot with teaching me about my desired career path.  I hope that, whether through a fraternity or just business workshops, I can really learn about the vital skills needed to succeed in the future such as networking and resume building.  I realize that this may require me to step out of my comfort level and work a little hard, but I’m up for the challenge.

I have played organized basketball since I was eight years old.  All throughout high school I played in two leagues, both of which played huge parts in my life.  When I wasn’t at practice or playing in games, I was helping coach younger players in weekend basketball camps and games throughout the city.  It felt good giving back to the community that has given me so much.  The only regret I have is not showing enough initiative in school in terms of extracurricular activities.  I hope this first semester in college I can really get more involved.  I want to avoid making the same mistake I made in high school by looking into clubs and other ways of making my mark here at Baruch.  I’d like to still keep that connection I have with the communities of my past, but build a new one in college.  I’m looking forward to maybe playing some intramural sports like basketball and volleyball.  I want to be able to look back on my college experience and say that I really took advantage of the opportunities Baruch can offer me, and I think in order for that to happen I have to start trying this semester.  I’ve been attending a few general interest meetings held by business fraternities, and they seem like they would help a lot with teaching me about my desired career path.  I hope that, whether through a fraternity or just business workshops, I can really learn about the vital skills needed to succeed in the future such as networking and resume building.  I realize that this may require me to step out of my comfort level and work a little hard, but I’m up for the challenge.

    For a student who was born and raised in the United States, I have one of the most interesting and unique academic histories. I was born in Wantagh, Long Island. My parents had moved there because the school district was one of the best in the area, and they wanted the best for me and my younger brother. The high-quality school district came with proportionally high taxes, so my parents, my brother, and I all moved into a tiny one-bedroom bungalow; we put beds in the basement and that’s where my brother I slept. I attended Forest Lake, the local elementary school when it came time for me to start Kindergarten. I did the same for first and second grade. The summer before third grade, however, serious change made its way into my life. My parents told me they were sending me to a different school next year. An extremely small private school known as Grace Christian Academy.

Grace Christian Academy, when I was enrolled there, included grades K-5, and totaled 26 students. Yes, you read that right, twenty-six students. What I didn’t know at the time, was that the friends I made that year would end up being some of the most trusted and precious people to me in the upcoming years. My years at GCA were easily the best of my childhood. I was surrounded by a group of kids who were like family to me, and teachers who helped me cultivate an active and diligent mind. GCA was my home; until the summer after fifth grade. My parents could no longer afford tuition at Grace, but they weren’t sending me back to public school. My mom had decided she was going to homeschool me.

The year I was home schooled was an interesting year of my life. My mother worked very hard making sure I was still getting a quality education, and I did. I stayed on pace with my curriculum, I learned a lot, and I maintained good grades; I even got to see my friends from GCA. But, homeschooling wasn’t for me. I needed to be around more students than just my brother. My family still couldn’t afford a private education, but they understood I needed to be in a real classroom. They decided they were going to send me back to public school. Seventh grade was a fun year, I was in a big school with a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of friends and was very active at my school. But still, I felt that I didn’t belong. As good a time I was having, I knew I shouldn’t have been there. I fit in, but not in the same way I did at GCA. I knew I had to get back there, somehow. Seventh grade came and went, summer kicked in, and I began to prepare for the next school year. One of the benefits of attending public school was the much lighter summer readings. As I was preparing eighth grade, my mom came home one day in mid-August with news she knew I’d enjoy. She had been hired as an art teacher at Grace Christian Academy, and as a result, my parents could afford tuition for me and my brothers. I would be attending the tiny private school I could come to love with the people I had come to treasure.

Eighth grade started and I was suiting up in the khakis and blazer  uniform at my “new” school. I was with my closest friends in my second home, and I couldn’t be happier. My high school years came with problems and challenges like anyone else’s, but looking back, I realize those were some of the best years of my life. The bonds and relationships I made will last a lifetime, and the things I learned and the ways I grew propelled me into a bright future. A future that includes Baruch College.

So, where am I going? Forward. Baruch College offered me something I never would have dreamed: debt-free education. There are little words to express my gratitude for that. So, I’m taking advantage of this gift, and am devoting myself to this school and my career. Wherever my future lies, I plan for it to shine a positive light on Baruch. Part of giving back to the community is being a respectable representative of that community. I only hope that my actions here at Baruch and my community service can accurately reflect how grateful I am to this community.

    For a student who was born and raised in the United States, I have one of the most interesting and unique academic histories. I was born in Wantagh, Long Island. My parents had moved there because the school district was one of the best in the area, and they wanted the best for me and my younger brother. The high-quality school district came with proportionally high taxes, so my parents, my brother, and I all moved into a tiny one-bedroom bungalow; we put beds in the basement and that’s where my brother I slept. I attended Forest Lake, the local elementary school when it came time for me to start Kindergarten. I did the same for first and second grade. The summer before third grade, however, serious change made its way into my life. My parents told me they were sending me to a different school next year. An extremely small private school known as Grace Christian Academy.

Grace Christian Academy, when I was enrolled there, included grades K-5, and totaled 26 students. Yes, you read that right, twenty-six students. What I didn’t know at the time, was that the friends I made that year would end up being some of the most trusted and precious people to me in the upcoming years. My years at GCA were easily the best of my childhood. I was surrounded by a group of kids who were like family to me, and teachers who helped me cultivate an active and diligent mind. GCA was my home; until the summer after fifth grade. My parents could no longer afford tuition at Grace, but they weren’t sending me back to public school. My mom had decided she was going to homeschool me.

The year I was home schooled was an interesting year of my life. My mother worked very hard making sure I was still getting a quality education, and I did. I stayed on pace with my curriculum, I learned a lot, and I maintained good grades; I even got to see my friends from GCA. But, homeschooling wasn’t for me. I needed to be around more students than just my brother. My family still couldn’t afford a private education, but they understood I needed to be in a real classroom. They decided they were going to send me back to public school. Seventh grade was a fun year, I was in a big school with a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of friends and was very active at my school. But still, I felt that I didn’t belong. As good a time I was having, I knew I shouldn’t have been there. I fit in, but not in the same way I did at GCA. I knew I had to get back there, somehow. Seventh grade came and went, summer kicked in, and I began to prepare for the next school year. One of the benefits of attending public school was the much lighter summer readings. As I was preparing eighth grade, my mom came home one day in mid-August with news she knew I’d enjoy. She had been hired as an art teacher at Grace Christian Academy, and as a result, my parents could afford tuition for me and my brothers. I would be attending the tiny private school I could come to love with the people I had come to treasure.

Eighth grade started and I was suiting up in the khakis and blazer  uniform at my “new” school. I was with my closest friends in my second home, and I couldn’t be happier. My high school years came with problems and challenges like anyone else’s, but looking back, I realize those were some of the best years of my life. The bonds and relationships I made will last a lifetime, and the things I learned and the ways I grew propelled me into a bright future. A future that includes Baruch College.

So, where am I going? Forward. Baruch College offered me something I never would have dreamed: debt-free education. There are little words to express my gratitude for that. So, I’m taking advantage of this gift, and am devoting myself to this school and my career. Wherever my future lies, I plan for it to shine a positive light on Baruch. Part of giving back to the community is being a respectable representative of that community. I only hope that my actions here at Baruch and my community service can accurately reflect how grateful I am to this community.

Who am I? Where am I from? Where am I going?

Do any of us know who we really are? Haha. I’m George. I’m a 17 year old Filipino kid from New Rochelle. That’s in Westchester, just a little north of the Bronx. I went to private Catholic school for pretty much my entire left before coming to Baruch. My high school, Salesian High School, was all guys, some people think that’s weird, but honestly it made things a lot more comfortable. I cannot say enough about how much I loved high school. An all boys school makes you have to “esto vir”, which roughly translates to “man up”.  In high school, I’ve made some of my closest friends and had experiences I’ll never forget. I’ve participated in religious retreats where I met people from across the east coast, and I was even blessed enough to participate in an exchange program with a brother Salesian school in England.  Aside from these more extravagant events, I was really active in high school, particularly in music. I was the marching band president, the lead vocalist in the school’s music ministry group, and in the school’s drama club.  I even won a Metropolitan Theatre award in my senior year for my performance in the school play.  In the end, high school was some of the best four years of my life, solidified with a Silver Eagle Award at graduation, the highest form of award a Salesian school can offer at graduation. Mine was one of only two awarded to my class, the other being awarded one of my good friends.

This leads me to where I want to be going. I want Baruch to take me somewhere new. My years at Salesian took me so many places and brought me so many blessings, I can only imagine how much more college can offer.  I want to make new friends and explore new talents and experiences and just all around have a good time while, most importantly, moving forward. None of us may know where exactly we are going, but as long as you are trying to go somewhere positive, you’re not wasting your time.