Obviously, my role at Baruch is to be a student. In the past, I just saw that as showing up to class, doing my homework, and taking tests. As I got to high school, I realized it’s a lot more than that.

I am lucky to say I grew up with a close family and a father who worked his entire life to support us and give us as much as possible. Sure, I don’t live in a mansion or go to exotic places or wear fancy clothes, but I am more than fortunate. I can accept that there will always be people with more than me, but personally, knowing there are people with a whole lot less is just not something I want to live with.

Throughout high school, I was involved in many community service projects through The National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (a math honor society). Personally, I believe the most rewarding work I did was peer tutoring. One on one time with younger students who couldn’t afford a professional was really incredible. To be able to help and inspire them in math was really great. They came in hating math, and then after a few sessions they were curious to learn more. I am sure teachers can relate to this feeling of pride and accomplishment. I loved hearing back that my peers were passing and I contributed to their success.

I believe, being in the Honors Program, that my role here at Baruch requires more responsibility. The program really reinforces the idea that we can, and should, all help our community. I am going to school for free and I have a lot of resources at hand. Being in the city not only exposed me to its greatness, but shed light on the less fortunate people that are out there. I feel an obligation to do anything I can to serve my community, be it remain a tutor, volunteer at a soup kitchen/animal shelter/hospital/etc, or even just donate some money to a cause. It is extremely rewarding to pay it forward, and I really hope I can make some sort of difference during my time here at Baruch and beyond.

Growing up I never really got involved in community service. I realized that it was important, but I just kept pushing it off. I justified my inaction by telling myself I had too much work, or that even if I did not help others, somebody would. I guess that I always thought that volunteer service was a positive activity, but that it was not my responsibility. This mindset changed when I got to high school. My high school required that every student perform at least fifteen hours of community service per year. At first I was a bit upset. Fifteen hours seemed like a lot, and my old excuse of having too much work resurfaced. I also did not really know what to get involved in. Even if I did need to fulfill my requirement, I did not know how to go about it. Fortunately, in middle of ninth grade, my Biology teacher approached me, and asked me if I wanted to participate in the school’s Peer Tutoring society. Although this was the first I was hearing about it, she persuaded me into helping another student who was struggling in Algebra. I thoroughly enjoyed tutoring him, and I continued to be involved in the Peer Tutoring society for the rest of my high school career.

Besides for helping me fulfill my community service requirement, volunteering in the Peer Tutoring society taught me what I failed to realize earlier; volunteering is my responsibility. I think that the atmosphere of the Baruch Honors program really reinforces this idea by ensuring that we complete a community service requirement. However, even though it is mandatory, I am sure that I will learn an important lesson from this volunteer project, just like I did from my last one.

Growing up I never really got involved in community service. I realized that it was important, but I just kept pushing it off. I justified my inaction by telling myself I had too much work, or that even if I did not help others, somebody would. I guess that I always thought that volunteer service was a positive activity, but that it was not my responsibility. This mindset changed when I got to high school. My high school required that every student perform at least fifteen hours of community service per year. At first I was a bit upset. Fifteen hours seemed like a lot, and my old excuse of having too much work resurfaced. I also did not really know what to get involved in. Even if I did need to fulfill my requirement, I did not know how to go about it. Fortunately, in middle of ninth grade, my Biology teacher approached me, and asked me if I wanted to participate in the school’s Peer Tutoring society. Although this was the first I was hearing about it, she persuaded me into helping another student who was struggling in Algebra. I thoroughly enjoyed tutoring him, and I continued to be involved in the Peer Tutoring society for the rest of my high school career.

Besides for helping me fulfill my community service requirement, volunteering in the Peer Tutoring society taught me what I failed to realize earlier; volunteering is my responsibility. I think that the atmosphere of the Baruch Honors program really reinforces this idea by ensuring that we complete a community service requirement. However, even though it is mandatory, I am sure that I will learn an important lesson from this volunteer project, just like I did from my last one.

Growing up in a very traditional Latino household, going to Church was emphasized every Sunday. Attending mass, Sunday School, and becoming involved with the Church is mandatory in my family. As a requirement to getting confirmed, young adults must volunteer at  Parker Jewish Institution. This involved bringing down the elderly to attended mass and then wheeling them back to their rooms. After I was confirmed, I continued to volunteer at the Parish Office, where I assisted in the running of Sunday School.

I know that my experience in volunteering hasn’t been vast, but I’d like to think that I’ve contributed to my community in a way that is larger than myself. To me, community service is trying to outreach to others who aren’t as fortunate as you, giving a helping hand to those who need assistance, or simply contributing to your community that will ensure a better life to those who will come after you. These are important values to have especially when the lines seem to blur between what’s  most beneficial for us at the moment and what will guarantee a better quality of life for others. This is a principle that is strongly emphasized in the Honors Program. It is vital to continue to give something back to those who helped in your development, because without your community and the environment they provided, you probably wouldn’t be where you are now. The Honors program highlights the importance of making change in communities for the better, and keeping a balance in what you achieve and what you’re able to contribute.

While I have yet to contribute to the broader community as a Baruch Scholar, I am excited to see in which ways I can help improve the lives of others.  I am sure that through this community service project, I will be able to help of individuals who I am not regularly in contact with in my small community!

Growing up in a very traditional Latino household, going to Church was emphasized every Sunday. Attending mass, Sunday School, and becoming involved with the Church is mandatory in my family. As a requirement to getting confirmed, young adults must volunteer at  Parker Jewish Institution. This involved bringing down the elderly to attended mass and then wheeling them back to their rooms. After I was confirmed, I continued to volunteer at the Parish Office, where I assisted in the running of Sunday School.

I know that my experience in volunteering hasn’t been vast, but I’d like to think that I’ve contributed to my community in a way that is larger than myself. To me, community service is trying to outreach to others who aren’t as fortunate as you, giving a helping hand to those who need assistance, or simply contributing to your community that will ensure a better life to those who will come after you. These are important values to have especially when the lines seem to blur between what’s  most beneficial for us at the moment and what will guarantee a better quality of life for others. This is a principle that is strongly emphasized in the Honors Program. It is vital to continue to give something back to those who helped in your development, because without your community and the environment they provided, you probably wouldn’t be where you are now. The Honors program highlights the importance of making change in communities for the better, and keeping a balance in what you achieve and what you’re able to contribute.

While I have yet to contribute to the broader community as a Baruch Scholar, I am excited to see in which ways I can help improve the lives of others.  I am sure that through this community service project, I will be able to help of individuals who I am not regularly in contact with in my small community!

Giving back to my community is something that had to be taught to me, but something that I have learned to love. To be completely honest, I never really did any community service or volunteering until I got to high school. When I got to high school and was told that there was a requirement of 15 hours per semester of community service, I thought it was a crazy idea. I mean seriously, who gave my high school the right to force me to do community service. I didn’t think that was what serving my community should be about. But of course that didn’t matter, and I did what was expected of me. I started volunteering for an organization called The Friendship Circle, an amazing organization geared towards kids with special needs. I started to love my time there, always looking forward to my Sundays volunteering with them, and all of the sudden I was running for President of my chapter. Looking back, after 4 years of volunteering with The Friendship Circle and 2 years of presidency, I thank my high school for giving me the requirement. If they never forced me to do community service, I never would’ve found something that I now love so much and that gives back to the community at the same time. For this reason, I am very happy that the Honors program at Baruch has a community service requirement. Not so much for me, because after my time with Friendship Circle I would be volunteering now either way. Rather, I’m happy for the people who wouldn’t otherwise be volunteering, the people who might get lucky like me and find something they love.

You can check out the friendship circle here: http://www.friendshipcircle.com/about_friendship_circle_international.asp

Giving back to my community is something that had to be taught to me, but something that I have learned to love. To be completely honest, I never really did any community service or volunteering until I got to high school. When I got to high school and was told that there was a requirement of 15 hours per semester of community service, I thought it was a crazy idea. I mean seriously, who gave my high school the right to force me to do community service. I didn’t think that was what serving my community should be about. But of course that didn’t matter, and I did what was expected of me. I started volunteering for an organization called The Friendship Circle, an amazing organization geared towards kids with special needs. I started to love my time there, always looking forward to my Sundays volunteering with them, and all of the sudden I was running for President of my chapter. Looking back, after 4 years of volunteering with The Friendship Circle and 2 years of presidency, I thank my high school for giving me the requirement. If they never forced me to do community service, I never would’ve found something that I now love so much and that gives back to the community at the same time. For this reason, I am very happy that the Honors program at Baruch has a community service requirement. Not so much for me, because after my time with Friendship Circle I would be volunteering now either way. Rather, I’m happy for the people who wouldn’t otherwise be volunteering, the people who might get lucky like me and find something they love.

You can check out the friendship circle here: http://www.friendshipcircle.com/about_friendship_circle_international.asp

We live in comfort. We have a roof over our heads, food, water, and a bed to sleep on. We get so caught up in our crazy lifestyles that we sometimes forget that it is our responsibility to give back to our community. For the last 2 summers I worked at All Souls’ Soup Kitchen in Manhattan. The woman that ran the program is in her 80s, yet still going strong, feeling an urge to help those in need. She has inspired me to believe that it is our duty to help the less fortunate.

Coming into Baruch, I still hold onto this responsibility of service. Giving back to our community shouldn’t feel like a burden, but rather we should be eager to help. This is promoted by the culture of service of the Honors Program. As academic work makes up majority of college, service is also a really important part of our time here. It helps us develop, learn about our community, and most importantly make a difference to someone else! I also volunteered at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and feeling the gratitude expressed by these people is ultimately rewarding. By taking the time out of my day to serve food and talk to people, there was a sense of joy in their holidays. This made me question what my priorities are. I am now a strong believer that it is the simple things that provide us with the greatest happiness!

There are so many fun organizations to get involved with in a wide variety of fields. I can’t wait to see what this service project has in store for us!

I was raised in a home where my parents always encouraged my siblings and me to give back. Although, we didn’t grow up in an over-the-top, extravagant home with very fancy things, we were never to take for granted what we did have.

In my sophomore year of high school, one of my friends told me that he wanted to start up a Red Cross club in our school. I was intrigued and also excited about the idea, and by my junior year, the club was up and running. I decided to really throw myself into the club and apply for the position of Vice President, which I was ultimately given.

In the fall of my junior year, Hurricane Sandy mercilessly tore through the North East leaving many people, even several of my close friends with thousands of dollars in damage and lost possessions. Living in a Zone B area, thankfully, the worst of my family’s worries was being without electricity for five days. However, in neighborhoods no more than a ten-minute walk from my house this wasn’t the case. As a result, I contacted a local disaster relief organization named “Gerritsen Beach Cares” where I along with a group of about 6-8 club members would volunteer nearly every Saturday. Not only was it one of the most fun experiences I’ve had but it was certainly one of the most rewarding as well. Seeing and speaking with people that had near to nothing but still had hope and smiles on their faces was truly remarkable.

To me, this is what it means to serve my community. For me, seeing people that had lost so much right next door to me, where by chance I was fortunate enough not to, drove me to “serve my community.” It sparked a fire in me that I believe (and hope), will last a lifetime. I’m not by any means saying its wrong to want things (as we all do) however, I never want to become so wrapped up in my own desires that I lose sight of those around me. Within the walls of Baruch, I think we all have a responsibility to be a friend and confidant when ever one of our classmates needs it; we are all essentially in the same places in our lives and we’ve all experienced hard times when we needed someone to lean on. Outside of school, in our communities, I think it’s incredibly important that we volunteer time to helping out various organizations we are passionate about. The stress placed on service through the Honors Program does a great job of encouraging a mix of both these forms of service.

I was raised in a home where my parents always encouraged my siblings and me to give back. Although, we didn’t grow up in an over-the-top, extravagant home with very fancy things, we were never to take for granted what we did have.

In my sophomore year of high school, one of my friends told me that he wanted to start up a Red Cross club in our school. I was intrigued and also excited about the idea, and by my junior year, the club was up and running. I decided to really throw myself into the club and apply for the position of Vice President, which I was ultimately given.

In the fall of my junior year, Hurricane Sandy mercilessly tore through the North East leaving many people, even several of my close friends with thousands of dollars in damage and lost possessions. Living in a Zone B area, thankfully, the worst of my family’s worries was being without electricity for five days. However, in neighborhoods no more than a ten-minute walk from my house this wasn’t the case. As a result, I contacted a local disaster relief organization named “Gerritsen Beach Cares” where I along with a group of about 6-8 club members would volunteer nearly every Saturday. Not only was it one of the most fun experiences I’ve had but it was certainly one of the most rewarding as well. Seeing and speaking with people that had near to nothing but still had hope and smiles on their faces was truly remarkable.

To me, this is what it means to serve my community. For me, seeing people that had lost so much right next door to me, where by chance I was fortunate enough not to, drove me to “serve my community.” It sparked a fire in me that I believe (and hope), will last a lifetime. I’m not by any means saying its wrong to want things (as we all do) however, I never want to become so wrapped up in my own desires that I lose sight of those around me. Within the walls of Baruch, I think we all have a responsibility to be a friend and confidant when ever one of our classmates needs it; we are all essentially in the same places in our lives and we’ve all experienced hard times when we needed someone to lean on. Outside of school, in our communities, I think it’s incredibly important that we volunteer time to helping out various organizations we are passionate about. The stress placed on service through the Honors Program does a great job of encouraging a mix of both these forms of service.