This last summer I had one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. In March of 2016 I received an email from Baruch college stating that I had to attend the SEEK summer program. This was exciting but yet terrifying news. I would be starting the program in early July and finish late August. July soon came and the first day of the program arrived. Taking the train there I remember the butterflies filling my stomach. It was the first day of high school all over again. Once I arrived, I had trouble finding my way around campus. I had to ask someone where the classroom was and in turn I arrived late for my first class. I felt completely out of place. None of my friends decided to go to Baruch, so I was on my own. Where I would normally participate actively in class I didn’t dare raise my hand. When the first class ended I breathed a sigh of relief. I felt relieved having finished my first class, but I then had to navigate the monstrosity that is the Vertical Campus. Again, I got lost. It was quite frustrating, but I somehow managed to get through my first day. As the days passed I felt more comfortable. I gained a sense of belonging that wasn’t there the first few weeks. I met new friends and I started to participate more and more. I’m happy to say that I overcame this displacement.
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I could totally relate to you, the first day at Baruch even in the summer SEEK program it was odd. I as well felt displaced at Baruch. It was so different from my high school and it seemed as if everyone at Baruch had everything together. Even after several months of being at Baruch during the summer, when fall classes started I felt so out of the place, the crowds of students, trying to navigate the buildings, getting to class on time and just simply being a college student. I was not used to this, I was not used to college or Baruch. Not until a few weeks into the fall semester did I feel like I belonged. I realized everyone else, all the freshmen’s I had class with felt the same. Eventually, I felt like I belonged. I can absolutely relate to this feeling of displacement because it was not too long ago I felt the most obvious form of displacement at Baruch College just a few months ago.