Monthly Archives: September 2010

It seems like it was just four years ago that I started high school. Today I’m sitting in my room wondering where those years went, everything I experienced in high school is now in a yearbook. I have a tendency to dwell in the past because it’s the reason why I’m the way I am .Dominican Academy my high school, was my second home and the 52 girls I graduated with were my sisters. I’m a very loud DA girl and I don’t always have my  priorities straight but I’ll always put my family and friends above anything else.So many things define who I am, some may be positive and others I’d rather not think about. DA, was a small townhouse on the Upper East Side it doesn’t seem like a “real” school, Baruch is what the “real” world looks like therefore its a big change from what I was used to, its co-ed for one and its so diverse that it was overwhelming the first couple of days. Baruch is actually very different from what I imagined it would be, I more informed now and I’m pleased to say that I’m enjoying myself. There are a lot of opportunities here at Baruch and that’s something my very small high school didn’t have the resources for. I’m still in the city which is great because oddly enough I don’t mind my commute from Queens and honestly who doesn’t love the city!

My concerns here at Baruch have actually started to fade, not completely but I’m getting comfortable. I don’t feel like such a stranger in my surroundings anymore. I’m concerned about how I’ll perform academically once the hard work starts to pile up. It’s definitely nerve wrecking to think about how everything I’m going to get used to this semester; is going  to change by the time I return from winter break. I’m not a big fan of change, although I’m well aware of the benefits one can reap from it. I sure that these changes however will have an impact on the way I remember my first year of college and how I myself change as a person.  I’m scared of not being able to make lasting friendships like those I made in high school. However, I’m grateful for all of the people I’ve met so far, there’s nothing better than knowing that you aren’t alone in a room full of strangers on the first day of class.

I still have a lot to learn but knowing that I’ve survived my first two weeks of college classes gives me the boost of confidence I needed in order to get through the semester!

Who am I? Describing who I am to someone else places a difficult task on me. I am very humble about who I am and what I have. Predominately, I am a New York girl, Long Island to be exact, and that is something that I have pride in. I am a girl from a large family, a tight string of extended family, full of many aunts, uncles and cousins. I am an older sister, with a brother who is always looking up to me, leading my values and morals to shine through so I can teach him the right way to be and act, hoping to never set a bad example. I also am a hard worker; during high school along with working to keep my grades up I also had two jobs, to be able to depend on myself for anything I wanted, since I am also a big shopper.

Being at Baruch makes me concerned about a few things. First, the commute is a concern for me. Because I live on Long Island and I do not feel comfortable living alone in the city, every day I take the LIRR to Penn. Station and then walk to Baruch, which is an annoyance, and also trying to match up a train schedule with my school schedule also imposes an annoyance, since during the day the trains only run about every hour back to my house. Another concern I have is making friends. I have a lot of trust issues therefore making real friends that I feel comfortable with is difficult for me. Linked to that, is my last concern. If I do make friends that I get along with very well, my main concern would be all my grades. Majority of my close friends from home went away for college, leaving my main, and pretty much only priority to be school. If I make new friends I feel that my social life may get in the way of keeping my grades at the high standard I am currently holding for myself.

Baruch experiences are going to differ greatly then those experiences of high school. These differences are mainly because of location. I am a Long Island girl so traveling to the city for school creates a new experience for me. Another reason location will impose new experiences is because all my classes are not in the same building, I have to travel to get to different classes. Another way I feel that Baruch experiences will be different is because the classes are less censored, the teachers can teach things in different ways that make the learning process more enticing for the students. Last I feel the experiences will be different is because I am from a small high school, with not even 200 kids in my graduating class, now in one classroom, there is 100 students.

I do not feel my first year of college will change me, I don’t believe people change, only grow and mature.

My name is Joanna Dobrowolski and I am currently a freshman at Baruch College.  Born and raised in Queens, NY, I am no stranger to the fast paced lifestyle of New York City. Prior to Baruch, I attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, Queens. However, to say that I didn’t enjoy high school is an understatement in the least. I’ve been taking dance classes for ten years, though one thing that I guess you can say categorizes me in particular is music. I’m not sure when or how my infatuation with music began, but I know it is the reason I’ve been able to keep my sanity for this long.

Yet these are all things that I do. Not who I am. That question is a bit tougher. But in reality, I’m not really sure who I am, or who I even think I am. I’m barely 18 years old, how could I know the answer to such a question. My views, beliefs, morals, etc, change constantly. Though living in an ever changing world, can you blame me for not being able to stay consistent? Then again, I suppose the things that a person does classifies who he or she is. Just like, “you are what you eat,” i guess you can say, “you are what you do.”

Choosing to attend Baruch College was not a difficult decision to make, though I would be lying if I said I don’t have a few concerns now that I’m here. I guess to begin, I would have to point out the same concern that I’m sure almost every recent high school graduate shares. Coming from an environment that I’ve grown quite accustomed to, and being dropped into the microcosm that is Baruch, overwhelmed, frustrated, and exasperated are only a few words to describe my first couple of weeks in college. In the beginning I wondered if I would ever get used to this new routine, though thankfully with each day I feel I become more familiarized with it, even if it’s only a little.

From the moment we even begin to think about the college process, it seems that everyone around us stresses the importance of time management. Though throughout high school I was able to manage my time flawlessly, I’m concerned that college will not be as easy. The work load appears to be doubled, and mixed with dance classes, a social life, and hopefully a new job, I worry that I’ll be in over my head.

My final concern regarding Baruch, is not so much about Baruch itself, but rather what comes after it. I’ll be attending this school for four years (probably the amount of time it’ll take me to get used to college,) and then what? Once again I’m thrown out on my own, but this time into the “real world,” By then I’ll be considered an adult, and personally I find that a scary thought.

And since, as always, I got carried away with my writing, and am suppose to answer these four questions in 500 words,  I’ll keep the remaining two answers short and sweet.

How will my college experience be different than my high school one? Well for starters, I’m hoping that I’ll actually enjoy college. I’ll finally have this newly gained independence that I’ve wanted for so long as well. Not to mention I’ll be out of my comfort zone, in an exciting and diverse environment, not something found in my old high school.

And finally, I’m not sure how my first year of college will change me, though I do hope that I will grow to be more self sufficient, open minded, and goal oriented. Wish me luck.

1. Tell us who you think you are?

I believe that I am a young man who is Nepalese. More specifically, I am Sherpa with some Tibetan background. I identify myself as a student most of the time and currently I am a freshman in college.

1. Share your top 3 concerns about your freshman year at Baruch and explain why?

I am concerned that I may have boring professors, miss some vital information during the school year, and have a difficult time saving money on food.

1. So far, what do you think will make your Baruch College experience different from your high school experience?

From my experience so far, I believe that the large size of my classes, the teaching method of my professors, and the energetic campus will make my learning experience in college a lot more fun that it was in high school.

1. How do you think your first year at college will change you?

I believe my first year in college will make me a more responsible person. I expect to learn how to be more professional and plan for my future. I think my first year in college will help me transform into a more educated and well rounded person.