Author: Anna Feldblyum

As first term comes to an end, and I can reflect my time at Baruch, I would say my first semester was pretty good. I think being a scholar, and everything that comes along with it made my time better. For example, picking next semester’s schedule. Since honors kids get priority registration we were able to pick first, and 99% of classes were still open. It took off a lot of stress of me because I didn’t have to decide between having a 7 am class or a Saturday class because everything was still open.

Also, my classes and teachers this semester were pretty great.  They didn’t ask too much, and some of the work was pretty fun. When we got to take the google cardboard VR glasses home, I got to show all my friends how cool they were. Although the project didn’t turn out that successful with the Makerhub, the VR glasses made up for it. Throughout the semester I also changed my views on the community service project. I see the community service project is now less of a project and more of a way to expand my interests by helping the community. By volunteering in New York Cares I am able to do multiple activities, which other volunteer organizations don’t do. I can help tutor children, or even paint a school, or I can just relax and help with clothes donations—either way I’m expanding my interests.

Since finals are coming up, I’m looking forward to this semester ending, and starting next semester with completely different classes and a schedule without a 4 hour break.

Being in Baruch Honors, we have higher expectations to live up to. We have to excel in academics, but we also have to be well rounded in the social and extracurricular aspects. In addition to the free tuition and receiving a free laptop, we have to do volunteer work. Being a part the Baruch Honors community, we have to give back to the community; volunteer work is a perfect way of doing it. Our mandated service hours help us give back to the community and experience different atmospheres. In addition we’re pushed more to do clubs and get involved in the Baruch community. College is not only about receiving high grades and becoming independent, but also about becoming a better human being.

Giving back to the community is central to the culture of service that the Honors Program promotes. I have done volunteer work before, but not very personal and directly helping the people. I was in Red Cross in high school; the events were mostly cancer walks, or picking up trash. Volunteering in high school gave me a different outlook, and proved that volunteering can actually be fun. Volunteering and giving back to the community in Baruch will be different because we will be affiliated with an organization.  I’m excited because I can pick whatever organization appeals to me. Volunteering should not be forced, and serving the community under the Baruch Honors program will help me establish a bond and a love for service.

Being born and raised in Brooklyn, I actually love living in New York City. Although the commute is long to Baruch, no other school outside the city has the same diverse environment. No other state can understand our slang terms and how we speak, which makes us unique. NY is like no other place in the world; I would never want to live anywhere else, but I would want to study abroad and travel in a few years. I am pretty introverted and enjoy just staying home and watching TV. I watch all types of shows, and I can’t even count how many I watch. Game of Thrones, of course, is my favorite, but I also like reality TV like Big Brother. I would like to get out of my comfort zone as I continue through college.

As an incoming freshman, the first semester I’m just trying to get acclimated to the environment. Attending Baruch is much like my high school in terms of the huge population and diverse population. The workload seems the same- for now, and the classes as well. But unlike high school, I appreciate how independent everyone is. I like that you can follow your own schedule, and do as you please. You can leave whenever you want without anyone questioning you. You don’t even need to ask to use the bathroom; you can just walk out. As of right now I still don’t know what place I fit in in Baruch. I’m still trying to figure out what clubs I would like, and what I should major in. But I’m hopeful as time goes on I’ll figure it out.

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