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!