Author: a.morales6

(Group 3)

As the first semester of my first year draws to a close I’ll take this time to reflect back on my experiences.

Adjusting to the different setting and challenges the Baruch provides compared to my high school was definitely the most difficult part of this journey so far. The demand of you is greater and you are truly viewed as an adult in all senses.

Knowing this workload was said, by many, to be more intense I had decided to not participate in a club, so that I could better focus on my schoolwork.

This year I was able to get by because of the support system that was given to me known as the Baruch Scholars. I had come in without any knowledge of where anything was. In fact on the first day I was over 45 minutes early because I was afraid I would get lost. Yet as the time passed, I found myself getting more familiar with the layout of the school as well as where certain centers were.

When participating in the Community Service Project I was introduced to many websites to help aid my research one being Idealist. Not only that, I was even introduced to Steven who elaborated and explained all the different functions the library offers, such as the study rooms and how to take out a book. In addition to that I was taught how to search things on databases like JSTOR which helps me in attaining helpful and credible articles for research papers. I can take this information with me as I continue to pursue my education.

Next semester I plan on involving myself more in my school life, now that I feel I understand what’s expected of me. As for over the next 3 years I see myself still as a Baruch Scholar, maturing and taking on my responsibilities in a timely manner.

(Group 3)

My role as a Baruch Scholar is to represent Baruch in any positive manner, whether that be taking part in organizations that help the community, or taking action on my own all while representing the standards of Baruch at the highest level possible. Baruch has established a commitment to the surrounding community which we as Baruch Scholars have to maintain on a regular basis. Serving ones’ community can be done in many forms, some which are volunteering, creating, or participating in events, functions and fundraisers. As Baruch Scholars we are encouraged as well as supported to take part in any events we are capable of participating in. We are also encouraged to be leaders in organizing groups to better help the community based off their needs.

Giving back to the community also gives us Baruch Scholars the chance to grow as people. Through these experience we can acquire knowledge of real life skills, and build connections in addition to helping the community. It exposes us to a more culturally diverse spectrum as well as helping us grow certain skills such as communicating with others effectively all while giving us a sense of purpose.

Now while I am a first-year student and am just starting out I hope to embody the vision of a true Baruch Scholar. A key quote that I’d like to leave you with from Jackson Brown Jr. is, “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”

Group 3

Hello Everyone!

My name is Ashley A Morales. I was born in Albert Einstein Hospital in the Bronx. My parent then decided to move to a small town called Mahopac when I was 5. Throughout my life my family has been my support system, especially my sister. Growing up I wanted to emulate her in every aspect, and really valued her opinion.

When I was 17 and was just starting to learn how to drive. I had one incident when I was parallel parking where I had hit a neighbor’s mailbox. When that happened I felt like I had went into shock. I stayed outside by myself panicking for at least 5 minutes. The very first person I had ran to tell was, unsurprisingly, my sister. While a small part of me hoped she’d reassure me, she was of little help only telling me I’d have to face the inevitable. So in the end I purchased a new post and mailbox and with my father’s assistance set up a brand new mailbox for them. This experience put every value my parents have instilled in me to the test. While I wanted to die of embarrassment and crawl into a hole I had to own up and take responsibility for my actions. One small benefit from this experience is that I now know how to set up a mailbox from start to finish.

When I picked Baruch College as the place where I’d pursue a higher education I was especially drawn to the environment of the city. I had expected that the course work would become more challenging, but also that I would have the city as my own playground for exploring new things.