Baruch Scholars 2012

Question:What does it mean to serve your community?

As a Baruch scholar I have the responsibility of meeting a certain standard, and to achieve that I must devote time to my studies…4 hours for math 3 hours for philosophy…etc. a week. That means I have to take it seriously. But aside from simply being able to recite the notes I took during the professors’ lectures, it’s also important that I can analyze and think for myself.

By being a dedicated student, I will be setting an example for other students …at Baruch, and probably for the college too because Baruch does have a reputation for it’s outstanding professors who lead students to become successful and right individuals.

As I volunteer in non-profit organizations such as parks, I will be giving back to my community because it is through their efforts to improve lives that allowed me to get  to where I am today…well I received a great education in public school, funded by the city so I have it to thank.

I think my role is to interact more with unfamiliar places and people because it will increase my tolerance and acceptance of others and their goals. And it will be for the good of the community because by while I work alongside others, I will have new experiences which will help me grow up.

The Honors Program encourages its students to prepare for life after college. One way to prepare is to first work for free…or volunteering, and I should not think of it in a negative light because what I get out of it is experience and you can’t put a price on that. It’s a win-win situation!

I think the meaning of “serve your community” is that you have to help and work for creating a fair society for everyone. I joined the youth program at the Minkwon Center for the Community Action. The Minkwon Center is a community center which meets the concerns and needs of the Korean American Community through several program areas such as youth, community advocacy, and social services. From this organization, I learned about the millions of undocumented youth, who came to the country with their parents at a young age, and their harsh lives here. In the United States, approximately 65,000 youth do not get an opportunity to attend elite colleges even though they are more able and willing to contribute an America’s bright future. They are always barricaded by an inherited title: an Illegal Alien. As I became more involved in this issue, I started to regret and became embarrassed by all my previous complaints about studying. I have attended a fancy private high school. I have my visa which identifies me as a legal student in America, and I attend college without any immigration problems. Nevertheless, I admittedly have complained about my school work without considering the undocumented students all over the nation who do not have the opportunities and benefits that I have. Then I began to pose the question to myself about what I could do for these students. The solution I finally approached was to participate in trying to pass the DREAM Act. DREAM Act is a legislation created to find pathway for undocumented to receive financial assistance to access college educations and eventually receive permanent residency and citizenship. The advocates of this act often make speeches in public and do outreach on the streets to spread the information about DREAM Act. During the summer of 2010, I participated many of MinKwon Center’s advocacy activities. I participated in the awareness of DREAM Act and share the lonely stories of undocumented students in front of the White House in Washington D.C. My enthusiasm was recognized by the members of the MinKwon Center who appointed me as a MYST (Minkwon Youth Support Team) Leader. As a MYST leader, I continue to lead and organize many youth in our community in order to eventually pass the DREAM Act and create a more promising future for our immigrant youth and American society.

I think the meaning of “serve your community” is that you have to help and work for creating a fair society for everyone. I joined the youth program at the Minkwon Center for the Community Action. The Minkwon Center is a community center which meets the concerns and needs of the Korean American Community through several program areas such as youth, community advocacy, and social services. From this organization, I learned about the millions of undocumented youth, who came to the country with their parents at a young age, and their harsh lives here. In the United States, approximately 65,000 youth do not get an opportunity to attend elite colleges even though they are more able and willing to contribute an America’s bright future. They are always barricaded by an inherited title: an Illegal Alien. As I became more involved in this issue, I started to regret and became embarrassed by all my previous complaints about studying. I have attended a fancy private high school. I have my visa which identifies me as a legal student in America, and I attend college without any immigration problems. Nevertheless, I admittedly have complained about my school work without considering the undocumented students all over the nation who do not have the opportunities and benefits that I have. Then I began to pose the question to myself about what I could do for these students. The solution I finally approached was to participate in trying to pass the DREAM Act. DREAM Act is a legislation created to find pathway for undocumented to receive financial assistance to access college educations and eventually receive permanent residency and citizenship. The advocates of this act often make speeches in public and do outreach on the streets to spread the information about DREAM Act. During the summer of 2010, I participated many of MinKwon Center’s advocacy activities. I participated in the awareness of DREAM Act and share the lonely stories of undocumented students in front of the White House in Washington D.C. My enthusiasm was recognized by the members of the MinKwon Center who appointed me as a MYST (Minkwon Youth Support Team) Leader. As a MYST leader, I continue to lead and organize many youth in our community in order to eventually pass the DREAM Act and create a more promising future for our immigrant youth and American society.

Being part of the Baruch scholars program, I have a responsibility to give back to my college in many ways. Baruch has given me the opportunity to represent its honors program as part of its elite students. Baruch has given me the ability to take free courses, and have advisors to meet with if I need any help. They also have given us special classes that only Scholars can take, and special grants to study abroad. These benefits will help me succeed in what I set out for. I must give back as much as I can to show how thankful I am to the Baruch Scholars Program. I must maintain good grades, and participate in the many clubs and programs here at Baruch college. I must also give back to my community by doing community service. The honors program here at Baruch college helps me achieve the goal I am setting out to accomplish. It has given me the chance to enroll in community service with classmates to help give back to our communities. They have also helped guided us by showing us how to approach these new classes and what are the criteria we must meet as Baruch scholar. They have also helped showed us which classes to take and how to take action in planning our future at Baruch. There is a challenging road ahead of us but we have to give back to our college for that they have done for us.

Being part of the Baruch scholars program, I have a responsibility to give back to my college in many ways. Baruch has given me the opportunity to represent its honors program as part of its elite students. Baruch has given me the ability to take free courses, and have advisors to meet with if I need any help. They also have given us special classes that only Scholars can take, and special grants to study abroad. These benefits will help me succeed in what I set out for. I must give back as much as I can to show how thankful I am to the Baruch Scholars Program. I must maintain good grades, and participate in the many clubs and programs here at Baruch college. I must also give back to my community by doing community service. The honors program here at Baruch college helps me achieve the goal I am setting out to accomplish. It has given me the chance to enroll in community service with classmates to help give back to our communities. They have also helped guided us by showing us how to approach these new classes and what are the criteria we must meet as Baruch scholar. They have also helped showed us which classes to take and how to take action in planning our future at Baruch. There is a challenging road ahead of us but we have to give back to our college for that they have done for us.

My parents, since birth, have always instilled in me a sense of dedication. Whether it be the dedication to my studies or to my community, I have worked hard to surpass the goals I have set for myself. Without this dedication to my projects, I would not be half the person I am today.

I have attempted to help out my community whenever possible. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of hours have been put into my community service projects. When I was around 6 or 7, my family made me start helping out a foundation called Rainbow’s Hope. This company helped out the developmentally disabled and provided them with help and support. There were many events that I attended, including a Christmas event where they got presents from a wish list they made, an Easter event where they did easter egg hunts for prizes, and many more. I worked with this program for almost 8 years, accumulating many hours of community service. The great part about this organization was that I never asked for hours to be documented, nor did I ever try and count how much time I had put in. I was dedicated to helping the people in the program, many of these people turning out to end up being friends of mine.

At Baruch, I wish to bring this sense of selflessness to the Scholars Program, as well as the entire school. I think my role in Baruch and the Scholars program is not to change to fit in, but rather stand out for what I have done. I want people not to see me as somebody who goes out of their way to help, but as a peer that can help them do the same. I don’t want recognition for my previous actions. I want recognition for how much I help others go out of their way to help another. This idea has stemmed, in my eyes, from the movie Pay it Forward by Mimi Leader. This movie shows how one student in a classroom creates a nationwide phenomenon by helping out three people and not asking for anything in return except that they each help three others. Though seemingly farfetched, this idea is what I hope to bring to the Baruch Scholars program. I don’t want recognition, I want action.

My parents, since birth, have always instilled in me a sense of dedication. Whether it be the dedication to my studies or to my community, I have worked hard to surpass the goals I have set for myself. Without this dedication to my projects, I would not be half the person I am today.

I have attempted to help out my community whenever possible. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of hours have been put into my community service projects. When I was around 6 or 7, my family made me start helping out a foundation called Rainbow’s Hope. This company helped out the developmentally disabled and provided them with help and support. There were many events that I attended, including a Christmas event where they got presents from a wish list they made, an Easter event where they did easter egg hunts for prizes, and many more. I worked with this program for almost 8 years, accumulating many hours of community service. The great part about this organization was that I never asked for hours to be documented, nor did I ever try and count how much time I had put in. I was dedicated to helping the people in the program, many of these people turning out to end up being friends of mine.

At Baruch, I wish to bring this sense of selflessness to the Scholars Program, as well as the entire school. I think my role in Baruch and the Scholars program is not to change to fit in, but rather stand out for what I have done. I want people not to see me as somebody who goes out of their way to help, but as a peer that can help them do the same. I don’t want recognition for my previous actions. I want recognition for how much I help others go out of their way to help another. This idea has stemmed, in my eyes, from the movie Pay it Forward by Mimi Leader. This movie shows how one student in a classroom creates a nationwide phenomenon by helping out three people and not asking for anything in return except that they each help three others. Though seemingly farfetched, this idea is what I hope to bring to the Baruch Scholars program. I don’t want recognition, I want action.

I think every person has their own way to contribute to their ever-growing communities. It is difficult to attribute all or most of the things we do as pure acts of kindness, however, considering for most of us, doing  community work gives us pride and joy. It is that sense of fulfillment of a duty that we have towards those around us that keeps community service alive and a thriving organism in today’s society.

Sadly, as of now, I don’t think I have a role yet in the Baruch community. I am hoping to form that role but as far as future prospects go, I rarely have the time. Perhaps that is just an excuse for myself because I know that as soon as you take something up seriously, it becomes a part of your schedule and somehow you find the time for that. So maybe I didn’t find my drive yet and once I find it, I’ll put it into full gear. As for being a Baruch Scholar I think it is my duty to guide the incoming freshmen next year. First year is for learning and then, once you gain that knowledge, you pass it down.

In my broader community, I teach kids. That is my role and my passion. Soon enough, I will begin volunteering at my friend’s community center out in Philadelphia. I will hopefully get the chance to teach kids who are not as privileged nor as influenced by the arts as the people in New York City. By doing so, maybe I will have an impact on society. Maybe I’ll save one kid from the harsh grasping arms of drug induced weekends. Maybe, by putting dance into their lives, I will promote healthier living. Maybe I will fail. For now, my book is open and my mark, even if it is the tiniest inkblot, is yet to be made.

I think every person has their own way to contribute to their ever-growing communities. It is difficult to attribute all or most of the things we do as pure acts of kindness, however, considering for most of us, doing  community work gives us pride and joy. It is that sense of fulfillment of a duty that we have towards those around us that keeps community service alive and a thriving organism in today’s society.

Sadly, as of now, I don’t think I have a role yet in the Baruch community. I am hoping to form that role but as far as future prospects go, I rarely have the time. Perhaps that is just an excuse for myself because I know that as soon as you take something up seriously, it becomes a part of your schedule and somehow you find the time for that. So maybe I didn’t find my drive yet and once I find it, I’ll put it into full gear. As for being a Baruch Scholar I think it is my duty to guide the incoming freshmen next year. First year is for learning and then, once you gain that knowledge, you pass it down.

In my broader community, I teach kids. That is my role and my passion. Soon enough, I will begin volunteering at my friend’s community center out in Philadelphia. I will hopefully get the chance to teach kids who are not as privileged nor as influenced by the arts as the people in New York City. By doing so, maybe I will have an impact on society. Maybe I’ll save one kid from the harsh grasping arms of drug induced weekends. Maybe, by putting dance into their lives, I will promote healthier living. Maybe I will fail. For now, my book is open and my mark, even if it is the tiniest inkblot, is yet to be made.

In High School, I assumed “higher education” revolved around one thing: learning. The purpose of college is to learn and acquire understanding, and then use that understanding to achieve some greater, meaningful feat. Upon my acceptance into the Baruch Honor’s Program, I believed I would be expected to achieve academic excellence, and that only. That’s the purpose of higher education, right?

Now I understand higher education and the Baruch Honor’s Program revolves around something with much greater significance: community. Community is what matters because it’s what shapes and defines us.  No man is an island; it’s the people and entities around us that make us who we are.  Any achievement, be it academic, financial, or career-based is truly worthless unless based in some community. It must reflect on the community you’re a part of, and qualify and identify you within the community you seek to be accepted to or successful in. The beauty of community is that is provides purpose and motivation

As Baruch, my role as a student involves being an active member of the community. I need to be building up my classmates as well as myself. I need to be concerned with bearing an image that sheds a positive light on the community. I need to breathe life into the community by being an active, positive force within it. As a Baruch Scholar, my role is even more crucial. I need to be a leader in this community, striving to be an ideal student, classmate, colleague, and friend. As a Scholar, I’ve been granted a tremendous opportunity. Serving the community, by being a positive force of growth within it, is the best (possibly only) way to seize that opportunity.