Author: s.cheung3

The idea that the Baruch College faculty and staff are here to help me succeed is emphasized throughout the school and the people in these positions really embody that value. My participation in the Community Service Project has encouraged me to draw upon the expertise of the faculty, peers, and staff to receive feedback on how to improve my work in order to turn in a work that showcased the best of my capabilities. There are many support centers here at Baruch College and their presence and purpose goes back to the idea of helping me in ways so that I succeed. I have been to the Writing Center table in the library, in which that visit helped me revise the awkward phrasings that were present and develop a better scholarship letter so that the focus of the letter was clear. The Writing Center is definitely a resource in which people with great knowledge and expertise help students better writing with great care. It is one of the many resources that students should use for their own advantage.

In terms of student club and extracurricular life, I have joined Baruch’s Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). The club has allowed me to meet and interact with other students who are genuine and so welcoming. The student club has also allowed me to appreciate the Asian culture from language to the foods. Through my interactions with other students, I was given the opportunity to learn about their experiences at Baruch College. I am grateful to have met these individuals in my first semester in college through this student club.

My understanding of community service has evolved as a result of my participation in the Project through the expansion of awareness that there are so many others out there who are not as privileged as I am. From the Project, I learned that community service is something that not just takes the mind to complete but it also takes the heart of someone. Community service is a rewarding experience and I cannot wait to start my participation with the non-profit organization that my group and I have chosen.

In the next three years, I see myself on the road to graduation with the rest of my peers from the Baruch Scholars program. I want to have a clear sense of what I want to do in life or what I do not want to do in life as well as to have completed internships related to what I wish to pursue. By that time, I believe that I will have gained greater knowledge through my education and through my life experiences that I will encounter throughout the next few years.

Journal #2 – Group #2

Even just as one person, the role of an individual changes depending on the environment and situation. Here at Baruch, the role that I take on is a student, but once I step out of this school and onto the streets of New York City, I take on the role as a New Yorker and as a member of society. Because each of these roles is different, there are different responsibilities that come with each title. As a Baruch Scholar in the Honors program, the responsibilities that I have in order to fulfill the role I play is to be involved on- and off-campus. This means joining organizations and being part of the school community. In addition, it means giving back to the community that has given me so much, things often taken for granted. One of the major things that have been given to me is opportunities—opportunities to take part in community events. This is done so by serving those who may be less fortunate than I am, whether it be volunteering or any other way that would better the community. An experience that really opened my eyes about those around me in the city was volunteering at a soup kitchen. It made me realize how thankful I am to be able to be part of a financially stable family that is able to provide me with this life, while others are not as fortunate.

The role that I believe I play in the Baruch and broader community relates to the culture of service the Honors Program promotes because the tuition for me to attend this school has been covered by a scholarship, an example of how others have given back to the school particularly, and the Honors Program reinforces the idea of contributing back to society through volunteer work to serve and better the community.