Author Archives: matthew.ducharme

In the article “Building Your Company’s Vision” by Collins and Porras, it is stated that “core ideology is something you discover – by looking inside. It’s not something you can invent, much less fake.” I very much appreciate the use of the word discover here because for me, finding my core values has really been a discovery process. My time at Baruch has certainly contributed to the evolution of my self-definition and it will continue to do so even after I leave via the people I will stay in contact with.

I think I have a unique insight into classifying the values of Baruch students because I can compare it to my previous institutions. I went to high school in a small town in Rhode Island; it was in white suburbia and it was all I really knew. Then I went to NYU and was introduced to a variety of people from all over the country. Two years later I found my way to Baruch which has introduced me to people from all over the world. Yet, I generally do not differentiate these three institutions by the amount of diversity within each one. Instead, I think Baruch deserves more than that. From what I have seen, especially compared to the students at NYU, is that Baruch students value modesty and hard-work more so than any group of people I have ever encountered. There are truly remarkable people all around me at this school but they remain hidden unless I make the effort to get to know them. A lot of people that are doing remarkable things usually like to wear a billboard showcasing all their achievements. But I think Baruch students are different. They value social change, political/religious freedom and acceptance, kindness, opportunities, and community. Not only that but they work hard to align their life with these values and have done a lot of respectable things because of it. Yet, they do it in a very sincere and modest way. I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize this. As I am moving from NYC in a few months, I will always regret not getting to know more of the students here, but I will always cherish my time at Baruch and the people who gave it such character.

I think most students here envision themselves working in corporate America and earning a decent living. But beyond that, especially from the entrepreneurship program, students want to change the world that they live in to make it better. They want a better world for their children politically, socially, and economically. Business is the avenue that have chosen for this goal and I think it aligns with their values of community, opportunity, and hard-work.