Being a freshman in college can be lonely and difficult in terms of social life and course load. Therefore, it is beneficial to get help from resources when the need arises, which The Community Service Project emphasizes.  For our project, I frequently went to the library to work on our presentation because it is a quiet space . Going to the library helped me focus because there were so little distractions. Throughout the semester, I have utilized the library for help with various research papers for my English and Communications classes. I frequently contacted the librarians for help with academic sources, or even sources from common news articles. They made writing research papers and speeches much easier because I did not have to worry about scrambling for sources. The project helped expose me more to the library and the resources it offers to Baruch students. Additionally, I used  the SACC website to find finals and midterms from previous years for my microeconomics class. This resource has helped me prepare for my most difficult class.  Getting familiar with these resources makes studying and preparing much easier than if I did not know about them, like many Baruch freshman that don’t .I have not joined any clubs yet because I am still getting accustomed to college life, but I will definitely be more active next semester.

My understanding of community service has evolved as a result of this project. I had always known that community service meant aiding people who are less fortunate than us. However, community service has helped me realize all the privileges I take for granted, such as having a room, affording food everyday, and even the ability to drink clean water. It is easy to forget that not everybody has those privileges.

I am not sure where I will be in three years. Hopefully, I will be a graduating senior with a degree in either Accountancy or Finance, but I am not sure if I will end up majoring in either. In three years, I hope I will have joined several clubs and became more active in student life, and not just have the same routine everyday. If all goes well, I will have a few job opportunities available for me.

What Does it Mean to Serve Your Community?

Being part of the Scholars program, we have the opportunity to go to Baruch College for free. Not a lot of people can say that. Because of this , our role is to remain in good academic standing for the entire time that we are students. However, our role should be more than just studying all day, getting a decent grade, and starting the cycle all over again.  For me, I would like to get more involved in Baruch, other than the classes I am currently taking and will take in the future. It is important for me to use my scholarship for more than just academic reasons and to actually enjoy my time here. Starting clubs/joining clubs, networking, and meeting new people should be my role here other than my academic obligations.

The Honors Program requires its students to fulfill a Community Service requirement. Because we go to college in the city, we see so many different kinds of people everyday. Giving back to our community can help us connect to people that we normally wouldn’t associate with. For my group, we chose a soup kitchen to volunteer at. The kitchen prepares meals and offers advisement for the less fortunate. This is directly connected to the culture of service the Honors Program promotes. We, as students, are often stuck in this mindset of only caring about ourselves and our grades. Serving our community can help us see that life can be made better by helping others.

Where Have You Been and Where Are You Going?

Hello Everyone! My name is Felicia and I grew up in Brooklyn, NY.

Where Have You Been?- An experience that has shaped who I am was the summer during which I first started volunteering. It was a boring summer and I didn’t have much to do. So, I decided to join a soup kitchen and give back to New York, which has an astonishing homeless rate. The soup kitchen wanted to conduct a more humanizing experience for its visitors. So, we referred to our visitors as “guests” and “family”, and not “the homeless”. We served our guests properly, like they were at a gourmet restaurant, and we ate the food ourselves because it was actually well made. At first, I was really anxious to join the kitchen. Living in New York, you see the homeless often but you tend to steer clear of them. Quickly though, I learned to judge less and listen. During my time there, I listened to the guests’ stories, and shared mine. I was a waitress and a cleaner, but most importantly, I was a friend. I became a more open and accepting person after this experience.

What Are Your Expectations as a College Student? What Are Your Hope and Concerns For Your First Semester?- Before my first few weeks at Baruch, I was concerned about college being too hard for me to handle. I still am concerned about college being difficult because I am barely a freshman, but Baruch has helped me transition from high school to college with helpful tips such as getting rid of your phone when studying. I also expect to make friends through joining various clubs and activities.  At my old high school, I didn’t join many clubs simply because there were too few. Baruch has several clubs that I would love to join as soon as I get acclimated to a college environment. Furthermore, I expect many sleepless nights, but I know my hard work will eventually pay off.

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