My name is Tharmika Sinnathurai. I was born and raised in Flushing, Queens. I live with my cousin, my older brother who also attends Baruch College and my parents. My parents are from Sri Lanka and my native language is Tamil. It resembles South Indian culture and traditions. I am also Hindu and I am a highly active volunteer at my local temple. I went to Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, Queens. High school was definitely the best four years of my life, especially senior year. I had so many memories from senior year because I spent hours every day hanging out with my best friends. Also, occasions such as Senior Prom and Graduation made senior year epic. I am a volunteer at an organization called the Youth Group in my temple and I have coordinated several food drives, events and charity shows. Most of my best friends are also in the group as well. I have also been dancing, mostly Bollywood style, ever since I was six years old. My parents introduced me to it and ever since it has been my favorite hobby to do. I have danced at numerous dance competitions, weddings, receptions, parties, tournaments, charity events and much more. My other hobbies are playing tennis, basketball, running and hanging out with my best friends. I have known my best friends ever since I was a little kid. It consists of six girls and eight guys and we do almost everything together. They are also all dancers and we have been dancing together in all types of performances. I think of myself as a social, open-minded, caring, religious and determined person. I love having a diverse group of friends and just hanging out with them.

My top three concerns about freshman year at Baruch College is not procrastinating, making sure I get to school on time since the subways often get delayed, and getting my books on the day our teachers want us to have them by. I think my Baruch College experience is different from high school because I only have two or three classes a day which makes it easier from me to have time to do my readings and homework. Also, in college we get breaks so that I can finish some of the work I haven’t gotten to the night before. You are also much more independent in college whereas in high school the teachers and counselors tell you exactly what you need to do. I think the first year of my college will make me more of an independent and hard-working student. In high school, I would normally not do the readings I was assigned and still do well on tests. However, in college I have to do the readings so I have to spend more time in my day in during my homework for my classes. I also have to learn how to not procrastinate my work because I work part-time and I have dance practices on the weekends. Procrastinating will just damage my GPA in college so I have to learn how to start my work when the professor gives us the assignment and not do it all the night before it is due.