Monthly Archives: October 2015

Journal #2: What Does it Mean to Serve Your Community?

What is your role in the Baruch and broader community as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program and what do you think it should be? How is this related to the culture of service the Honors Program promotes? [250 words]

I believe that being in Baruch as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program I should be taking full advantage of all the resources and opportunities I’ve been given. As a Scholar, I should be striving towards the best I can be. Moreover, the way I define the “best I can be” should be continuously growing. I shouldn’t be limiting myself towards a goal that can be easily obtained. Every time I succeed in reaching one of these goals, there should be something else for me to work towards. By taking these steps, I can further grow into the type of person I wish to become. By taking full advantage of all the resources and opportunities offered by Baruch, I am certain I’ll be able to reach each of my goals. I’ve been blessed to be offered this program, and I think that my role is to not take this program for granted and use all the benefits I’ve been given.

The culture of service the Honors Program promotes is related because it comes from the idea of giving back after receiving. Since we, the Baruch Scholars, have been given so many opportunities and resources, we should be returning our services to the community. If everyone in the community was given an opportunity to succeed, our whole community as a whole would grow and develop. I understand that I’m lucky to be able to receive this program. Even if I worked hard, this would not be possible if the city and Baruch did not have this program. Now that I’m here, I have to give back to the community as well.

Journal #2: What Does it Mean to Serve Your Community?

What is your role in the Baruch and broader community as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program and what do you think it should be? How is this related to the culture of service the Honors Program promotes? [250 words]

I believe that being in Baruch as a Baruch Scholar in the Honors Program I should be taking full advantage of all the resources and opportunities I’ve been given. As a Scholar, I should be striving towards the best I can be. Moreover, the way I define the “best I can be” should be continuously growing. I shouldn’t be limiting myself towards a goal that can be easily obtained. Every time I succeed in reaching one of these goals, there should be something else for me to work towards. By taking these steps, I can further grow into the type of person I wish to become. By taking full advantage of all the resources and opportunities offered by Baruch, I am certain I’ll be able to reach each of my goals. I’ve been blessed to be offered this program, and I think that my role is to not take this program for granted and use all the benefits I’ve been given.

The culture of service the Honors Program promotes is related because it comes from the idea of giving back after receiving. Since we, the Baruch Scholars, have been given so many opportunities and resources, we should be returning our services to the community. If everyone in the community was given an opportunity to succeed, our whole community as a whole would grow and develop. I understand that I’m lucky to be able to receive this program. Even if I worked hard, this would not be possible if the city and Baruch did not have this program. Now that I’m here, I have to give back to the community as well.

Journal #2

As a Baruch Scholar, I believe that my role in the Baruch community is to be committed to learning and my studies, but also at the same time know that it is necessary to give back. I was lucky enough to be selected to be a Baruch Scholar and I know that I have beaten out a lot of other people, along with the other 20 or so people in our Seminar. With this, I know that Baruch believes in my ability which means that I should be doing my best to help better Baruch’s community. I can do that by participating in school events, looking for volunteering opportunities around the school, and just overall being a good person. To the broader community of NYC, I know that what I do also in some way represents Baruch. Baruch chose me as a respectable student that is part of their image in the community. If I were to be a not so great person who does messed up stuff and ends up on the news, it would reflect poorly not only on myself obviously, but also Baruch. With that, I think it’s important that I present myself in an according way that not only matches with my standards, but also Baruch’s.

The Honors Program promotes giving back to the NYC community by doing a Community Service Project. We give back to the community with our time, by doing various easy tasks that take up little of our time. This reflects positively not only on us as students, but also on Baruch as a whole. We look better as people, and Baruch’s image does too.

Journal #2

As a Baruch Scholar, I believe that my role in the Baruch community is to be committed to learning and my studies, but also at the same time know that it is necessary to give back. I was lucky enough to be selected to be a Baruch Scholar and I know that I have beaten out a lot of other people, along with the other 20 or so people in our Seminar. With this, I know that Baruch believes in my ability which means that I should be doing my best to help better Baruch’s community. I can do that by participating in school events, looking for volunteering opportunities around the school, and just overall being a good person. To the broader community of NYC, I know that what I do also in some way represents Baruch. Baruch chose me as a respectable student that is part of their image in the community. If I were to be a not so great person who does messed up stuff and ends up on the news, it would reflect poorly not only on myself obviously, but also Baruch. With that, I think it’s important that I present myself in an according way that not only matches with my standards, but also Baruch’s.

The Honors Program promotes giving back to the NYC community by doing a Community Service Project. We give back to the community with our time, by doing various easy tasks that take up little of our time. This reflects positively not only on us as students, but also on Baruch as a whole. We look better as people, and Baruch’s image does too.

Journal #3

The Community Service Project taught me a lot about utilizing my resources here at Baruch. First and foremost, I had no idea that Baruch’s library was so vast and could offer so many different branches of information. After the session we had with a Baruch librarian, I have used the online databases for almost all of my class projects. In fact, at that very session, the librarian gave us a link on the Baruch library website that had a full layout of our Business Recitation company summary and several research links for each section of it. This proved to be tremendously helpful and saved me a lot of time.

As a result of my participation in the project, I learned that while it is important to know what you want to do, it is also important to know what you don’t want to do. This applies to community service as well as broader ideas like a career. In terms of the project, every group started by eliminating ideas that they didn’t like – whether it was working with animals or children. This is important because while the quantity of time spent volunteering may be the same, the quality is what really matters. If someone is volunteering for an organization they dislike, they may not put as much effort into the work which would result in a less meaningful experience. A person who is passionate about the community service he/she is doing will be able to give much more to those in need and will find more meaning in their activity. In terms of a career, knowing what you don’t want is also important. It can be very difficult to pinpoint what you want to be for the rest of your life, but weeding out what you don’t like can help you along the way.

I personally know what I don’t like. I know I don’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer. Or an astronaut for that matter. This is why I know that in 3 years I won’t be majoring in History or Biology. I hope that in 3 years I will be finishing my second or third actuary exam, and will have either an internship at an insurance company in New York City. Hopefully, I will even have a full time offer awaiting me when I finish my final semester. While it seems very far away now, I know these 3 years will fly by, and I am excited to see where they take me.

Journal #3

The Community Service Project taught me a lot about utilizing my resources here at Baruch. First and foremost, I had no idea that Baruch’s library was so vast and could offer so many different branches of information. After the session we had with a Baruch librarian, I have used the online databases for almost all of my class projects. In fact, at that very session, the librarian gave us a link on the Baruch library website that had a full layout of our Business Recitation company summary and several research links for each section of it. This proved to be tremendously helpful and saved me a lot of time.

As a result of my participation in the project, I learned that while it is important to know what you want to do, it is also important to know what you don’t want to do. This applies to community service as well as broader ideas like a career. In terms of the project, every group started by eliminating ideas that they didn’t like – whether it was working with animals or children. This is important because while the quantity of time spent volunteering may be the same, the quality is what really matters. If someone is volunteering for an organization they dislike, they may not put as much effort into the work which would result in a less meaningful experience. A person who is passionate about the community service he/she is doing will be able to give much more to those in need and will find more meaning in their activity. In terms of a career, knowing what you don’t want is also important. It can be very difficult to pinpoint what you want to be for the rest of your life, but weeding out what you don’t like can help you along the way.

I personally know what I don’t like. I know I don’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer. Or an astronaut for that matter. This is why I know that in 3 years I won’t be majoring in History or Biology. I hope that in 3 years I will be finishing my second or third actuary exam, and will have either an internship at an insurance company in New York City. Hopefully, I will even have a full time offer awaiting me when I finish my final semester. While it seems very far away now, I know these 3 years will fly by, and I am excited to see where they take me.

Journal #2

As a Baruch Scholar in the Honors program, I understand that community service is very important. To serve your community means to give back to what surrounds you, whether it is people or the earth itself. Serving your community comes in many shapes and sizes. It can range from reading to children to feeding the homeless to planting a tree. Whatever the activity is, it must focus on you giving time and effort into what surrounds you. While some my say that you are serving your community if you donate money, I believe that time and effort are much more valuable to both the individual and the community. Money may help the immediate cause, but dedicating yourself to your neighborhood allows many more people to benefit. Actually going out into your community and doing something to help others will enrich your life with new experiences and people you wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Since I am a Baruch Scholar, I am fortunate enough to get a free education and a laptop on top of that. I am very grateful for this and see that I must give back to my community. My community has given me financial aid in order to further my education, so I must give back my time and energy. I believe that I play a small role in a much larger chain. The community service I provide will make my neighborhood and its people better. These small changes will create a ripple effect and create bigger changes in the community. Eventually, my service will allow others to get better educations, to possibly get the same scholarship, and continue the everlasting chain.

 

Journal #2

As a Baruch Scholar in the Honors program, I understand that community service is very important. To serve your community means to give back to what surrounds you, whether it is people or the earth itself. Serving your community comes in many shapes and sizes. It can range from reading to children to feeding the homeless to planting a tree. Whatever the activity is, it must focus on you giving time and effort into what surrounds you. While some my say that you are serving your community if you donate money, I believe that time and effort are much more valuable to both the individual and the community. Money may help the immediate cause, but dedicating yourself to your neighborhood allows many more people to benefit. Actually going out into your community and doing something to help others will enrich your life with new experiences and people you wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Since I am a Baruch Scholar, I am fortunate enough to get a free education and a laptop on top of that. I am very grateful for this and see that I must give back to my community. My community has given me financial aid in order to further my education, so I must give back my time and energy. I believe that I play a small role in a much larger chain. The community service I provide will make my neighborhood and its people better. These small changes will create a ripple effect and create bigger changes in the community. Eventually, my service will allow others to get better educations, to possibly get the same scholarship, and continue the everlasting chain.

 

Journal #1

 

Where are you from and where are you going?

 

I’ve grown up in Teaneck, New Jersey- a suburb just ten miles away from New York City. I come from an Orthodox Jewish family and have gone to Orthodox Jewish schools all my life. I attended an all girls Jewish High School on the Upper East Side called Manhattan High School for Girls, and LOVED it. I enjoyed being involved in different clubs and committees, as well as really interesting classes. I particularly like Math, and have been involved in Math competitions.

I’ve taken all kinds of lessons- ballet and piano and guitar and pottery… but somehow each doesn’t really last. So, when I’m asked what my hobbies/talents are, I kind of always get stuck on that question. I like to…talk? Oh. Swimming. I like to swim. (And I’m a lifeguard.)

I’ve spent a lot of my free time caring for kids, babysitting and in camp settings, as well as caring for Special Needs children, in camp settings, community activities and at their homes. I’ve fallen in love with working with Special Needs children, and I’ve found that I gain so much more than I can ever give them. It also gives me a greater appreciation for everything that I have in my life.

Last year, I spent the year in Israel. It was a year of religious learning- and a year of teenage fun. It was also a year of no technology- we were not allowed to have any smartphones or laptops, and I realize how much it helped me foster my relationships with others. It was my first time away from home for such a long period of time, and it helped me becoming independent and grow into the person that I am. I also made some of my best friends, who are now situated all over the world.

So..Where am I going? Pretty good question. I kind of wish I knew the answer honestly. I don’t know what I want to major in, I don’t really know what I want as a career. I do know that I want to live in Israel. I love America, and everything it stands for- I’m even born on the Fourth of July :) But a long term goal of mine is to move to Israel.

As for my college goals- well, for starters, I’d like to become a little more organized, just a little. I’ve been the messy one my entire life, that girl who needed to have 5 lockers in seventh grade just because she had so much stuff. But I want/NEED to fix that. Especially if I plan on moving out into my own home. I also kind of need to work on time management- I am a pretty good example of a procrastinator. I would love to study abroad- I was thinking Australia. Which just so happens to be where my best friend lives. I’m excited to explore different fields and classes- I’ve actually found I like Pysch way more than I would have expected. And I’m excited- well, way more nervous than excited, but still excited- to become an adult. Okay that’s a little bit scary. But it should be fun :)

Journal #1 – Where Have You Been and Where Are You Going

I grew up in a very traditional household. My parents hailed directly from Wen Zhou, a prefecture-level city in the Zhejiang province in China. They brought their traditions over when they moved to the States, and raised their children to value these traditions. However, these traditions value patriarchy and emphasize gender roles. By the time I began to understand my parents’ values, I had accepted the idea that I might never be as important than my younger brother, and that the world is a terrifying place.

However, in high school, I joined Tech Crew. This group of individuals were in charge of the technical aspects of the school’s performing arts shows. This group is actually where I made some of my closest friends. It taught me to be more open minded, and that I didn’t need to accept things for what they were. They taught me that everyone has the potential to do anything, as long as we allow it. Tech Crew’s motto is “Luceat Lux Vestra” or “Let Your Light Shine.” It is with this motto that I graduated from high school, and it is with this motto that I want to live my life.

As a college student, my parents expect me to spend my time studying and passing my classes, moving on to get a good job and earn a lot of money. As a college student, I expect me to learn more about what I can do, and discover who I want to be. I hope to use my first semester to pace myself and branch my interests. I hope to learn to take the initiative, instead of following other people’s instructions. I just hope I won’t be overwhelmed.