My first semester at Baruch is already half over, yet I’m left with the feeling that my journey has just begun. Personally, it’s taken me a long time to get used to the environment that Baruch offers. Maybe it’s just me, but up to this point, I still long for that sense of community that I experienced in high school. Despite the difficulty in settling into my new surrounding, this first semester at Baruch, this first semester of college, this first semester of independence, has brought a few good things into my life.
Beginning with the friends that I’ve made and the friends that I still see on a day-to-day basis ever since the years of high school, I’d like to say that that is what keeps me going throughout the semester. Coming to Baruch isn’t so much more different than first stepping into my high school, Brooklyn Tech. During my first year of high school, I was determined more than anybody to transfer out, but I didn’t. I’m not sure if it was my indecisiveness that took over, or simply just the feeling that things would get better, but I stuck it out at Brooklyn Tech and I hold no regret of my decision. Hopefully that stays true to college as well. If not, then it’s time to slave over college applications and essays all over again. But I’m ready to see it through to the end.
Another aspect that I’m proud to hold under my arms is having a job. My first paycheck was framed and polished and vacuum-sealed, in my head. But jokes aside, having a job gives me that elated feeling that I’m supporting myself. Yeah, I didn’t frame or vacuum seal my first paycheck, but the happiness was all the same. Everyone’s looking for jobs nowadays and from what I hear; it’s a storm out there. I’m grateful to be a swim instructor that gets paid $13/hr.
During all the time that I’ve spent at Baruch so far, there was one thing that I came back to at the end of every night. What do I do? How do I make a schedule? How do I become CEO of the New York Knicks? How do I live up to the expectations that everyone has set for me? All questions that have no one answer and questions that I should probably stop asking myself before I sleep. Somebody once told me, live in the present now, after all, when else are you going to be able to? Short-term goals are my way of approaching situations now. One step at a time, I’ll shape my future.
