Author: Cindy Chen

Next Steps…

As a Baruch scholar, there are many resources for me to draw from at hand including staff, peers, the library, and various student clubs.  By participating in the Community Service Project, I have been encouraged to use the resources made available to me.  Although I haven’t utilized any support centers or join a student club (which I intend to do so in the near future), I have been able to “draw” from the staff’s expertise.  I was able to choose an organization that best fits my interests and to open my mind to more of what happens in reality.  This in part led me to choose I Challenge Myself as the organization to volunteer with.  Growing up, I always had what I need provided whether it was an education, shelter, or simply people who care.  Upon coming to Baruch, I realized that in underserved societies, there are people who are less fortunate.  By speaking to staff and my peers, I have been able to open my eyes to reality and I believe that this will help me in other courses as well as contribute to my success as a Baruch student.

By participating in this organization, I am giving myself an experience that will last a lifetime.  It is as if I am going through a metamorphosis sort of change.  I am no longer the young girl- the caterpillar that is so closed minded- who volunteers merely because I need the hours or something of the sort.  Instead, I will be the mature young adult- the butterfly that flies around seeing new sights- who volunteers to open my mind to new ideas, to contribute back to the society, and to bring smiles and joy to those who are less fortunate.

My next steps are then to ensure that I keep true to these words, which I obviously will, with feedback from my peers and the staff at Baruch of course!

What Does it Mean to Serve My Community

Growing up, my parents always stressed the importance of volunteering and contributing to the community.  Therefore, at a young age, I have always tried to dedicate my time and effort to help others.  Ever since junior high school, I have volunteered in an organization in my Chinese school to contribute what I can to the Chinese community by ensuring safety and to promoting a better learning environment in the school.  In addition, I would help organize and carry out events such as ceremonies and dinners.  Another volunteer experience was a can food drive a few years ago; besides bringing in canned food for the children at Angels’ Guardian, I also went to help wrap Christmas presents for children.

Today, as a Baruch Scholar student, I still believe that volunteering and contributing to the community is one of my most important roles in society.  I know that they are people out there who are less fortunate, and I believe that I have a responsibility to try and help them however I can.  With the culture of service that the Honors Program promotes, it makes me even more motivated to do so.  By choosing to volunteer with the “I Challenge Myself” organization, I hope to help teenagers who grew up in less developed societies by challenging themselves to create positive change and growth in their own lives.  By helping others develop leadership and self-esteem, I believe I, myself, can also grow to be a more mature and responsible young adult.

It means a lot to me to serve my community.  I feel a sense of pride when I know that even my smallest steps can contribute a lot to the well being of a society.  Seeing the smiling faces of people who I have helped is priceless.  I am looking forward to this community service project to contribute what I can to touch the lives of teenagers in today’s less developed society.

Where I Have Been and Where I am Going

Each and every day, what I experience contributes to the person I am today.  In these past seventeen years and eleven months, I believe that my high school years have allowed me to learn the most about myself.  Four years ago, I was probably one of the most gullible person there is out there.  Rewinding the hands of time to freshman year, I feel as if I was so blind back then to believe everything and anything people said no matter how many times they let me down.  In addition, I learned that people are two-faced “liking you only when you’re up and kicking you when you’re down.”  Since then, I have became more “careful”, I guess you can say, in making friends.  However, the experience that I believe to influence me the most was in sophomore year leading into junior year.

So to make a long story semi-short: basically, I love the sport of handball but my parents don’t like me playing it because they are afraid that it will worsen my scoliosis.  Nonetheless, I chose to try out in sophomore year but failed.  I told myself to practice more and try out again in junior year.  I knew that it would be even harder to make the team then but I wasn’t discouraged by that.  My parents tried to limit how often I go to the park so I would sneak out at 6:30 in the morning on weekends no matter how cold it was just to practice by myself.  This hard work eventually paid off in junior year when I made the team.  From this, I learned that nothing is impossible if I really work hard towards my goals.

As a college student, I don’t really have many expectations because I do not know what lies ahead besides the many obstacles that I have to overcome.  I wouldn’t say that I am disheartened though because hard work and determination will allow me to overcome these obstacles.  Other than that, in the first semester, I’m just hoping to do well, have fun, and simply enjoy college !