My first semester at Baruch has not lived up to my expectations. Like the average first year student, I expected my social life to be filled with parties and gatherings. Fortunately, these assumptions did not play out and honestly, I am super relieved! I am one of the world’s biggest procrastinators and given all the work college has provided, I take the longest time to finish all of the assignments. I think my first semester of college could have been better. If I had the chance to do this all over again, I would have definitely studied more for exams and slept earlier. I believe changing is inevitable when you enter a new chapter of your life, college being that new chapter, Baruch has made me become more aware of the vice and virtues of growing up.

Like a balloon floating, I am very optimistic

likewise, I am also easily let down, or in the balloon’s case, deflated.

Born into the first generation of my family in America, both my grandparents and parents really expected a lot from me. It was already engraved in my mind that I had to teach my sister the rights and wrongs of life and also everything I learned in school so she would have a headstart. At the age of five, after learning the alphabet, I taught my three year old sister the ABC’s by writing on the wall, pretending I was a teacher. “Won’t we get in trouble?,” I remember her saying. I figured it was alright as long as it was for a good cause. But, of course, I got a good lecture after my mommy found out. As I grew up, I’ve become more independent, yet very dependent. I can wash everyone’s laundry, clean the whole house (bathrooms included!), make different varieties of dishes for dinner, and help my siblings with their studies. I’m practically a second mom in my house! Yet, even after accomplishing these tasks, I still need help opening a water bottle, I’m terrified of birds (even pigeons), insects (like butterflies even though I think they’re beautiful), and rodents (even bunny rabbits and squirrels)!! I’m still scared of the dark. At night, I leave the hall light open and the door cracked at at least an inch. I’m always insecure when I’m alone. I can not eat dinner by myself nor go shopping by myself and it makes me sad when I see others by themselves. Something unusual about me is that I am not ticklish unless I’m already laughing. Many people feel that they were deprived a lot from their parents, but I see it from a different perspective. I think I am very spoiled and as a Christian, I feel that God has given me so much. I participated in both Korean and Chinese Fan Dances in my high school. These activities definitely took part in building up my happiness in high school and will forevermore stay with me.

These are photos of Korean Fan Dances from 2008, 2009, & 2010.

Bonjour mes amis! My name is Maggie He and I am afraid of change. I lack confidence, which causes me to become embarrassed extremely easily. I am hypocritical, and a very bad liar. I laugh too much and am oh-so ashamed of my smile! I love shopping & s h o e s. I strive to be a devoted Christian, but materialism always gets in the way. I am the eldest child in my family, but the one with the smallest bed! My sixteen year old sister has had two growth spurts and I have had none; she’s practically 5’8’’! My eight year old brother is ALMOST as tall as me too! I am clearly not the leader of the two but the one with the most responsibilities. As unfortunate as I am , I absolutely love love love them with all my heart. Growing up in Brooklyn for ten years and being taken away from the big family I was so used to seeing everyday and night was definitely a huge contrast to the life I have now. Moving to Staten Island has stripped me of my piano, dancing, and swimming lessons. I have never been able to fully accomplish any of those abilities. I guess that’s why I’m afraid of change? Because changing has impacted my life in so many ways.

My low self esteem has led me to my top three concerns about college. “I’m not smart enough, I can’t do everything that needs to be done.”, “What if no one likes me? How can I differentiate between those who really like me and those who are just trying to be nice?”, “Will all of the hardships of college lead me away from my focus on God??” I know I just have to work harder, “High school is nothing compared to the real life, Maggie!”, so I have been told, “You have to grow up someday!”. Grow up? That’s another major change! ):

My Baruch experience is one hundred percent different from my high school experience. There is definitely more time between classes and everything is so independent, it’s scary! I can feel my mother’s pain while she fills up the car with gas after all those years of driving me to school when I pay for the express to get to Baruch. I need to pay hundreds of dollars for textbooks which compared to high school’s is nothing. Everything is different in my perspective.

The first year in college will change me completely. Being active in classes is a must. Time management is something that will be engraved in my mind for the rest of my life. I have to wake up on time. I have to catch the bus on time. I have to get to class on time. I believe if I try hard enough, I can do anything I set my mind to. Go me!