Monthly Archives: October 2010

I used to be a shy person until I met my first girlfriend. She made me who I am, an adventurous, thrill seeking, and open hearted guy. I love going out and engaging my life in social activities. I like mountain climbing, hiking, bicycling, motor boating, fishing, skiing, swimming, cave exploring, sky diving, anything that gets my heart pumping. The most recent activity I’ve participated in was white water rafting in the Poconos with my hilarious friends. There was 5 people seated in my raft but somehow we ended up with 1.

Everyone gets on the boat with a lifejacket on and we carry the raft into the water and we all jump into it. We reach our first rapid, it wasn’t that big but we managed to crash into a rock so we all had to get out onto the rock and push the boat off and quickly jump back in because we were scared the raft might leave us. The water turned calm so we all jumped into the water for a swim and it was freezing. Another raft came by our raft and there was a crazy guy who had a big water squirting device that squirts water at 20 miles per hour so it felt like we got punched in the face. He squirted everyone and we all screamed in pain but it was funny. We reach the 2^nd rapid and this one was the most insane one because we literally crashed every rock and we had to hold onto each other’s hand. One kid almost fell overboard and hit his head on a rock. The 3^rd rapid was the funniest one. We had a bucket in the raft for our stuff like clothes, food etc. I thought water would’ve gotten in so I opened it. I didn’t know the boat turned sideways and the rapid was right behind me since my back was facing it and my friends didn’t notice either. We crashed into a rock and I fall backwards with the open bucket. I basically poured everyone’s stuff into the water. 3 people jumped off the raft to save what didn’t wash away. No one even bothered to pull me back up into the raft. My brother lost his shirt, and our food which consists of dumplings, big Macs, cheeseburgers and bacon and cheese sandwiches were just floating down the rapids. The people left in the boat also jumped off further down the rapid to save stuff they saw. The raft was abandoned except my brother who was shirtless. We were then picked up on by one by oncoming rafts behind us, and thankfully we all met up again in the calm waters.

At the end of the trip we looked like fried chicken, golden to the crisp. We all laughed at each other and we all had our group hugs. Even though my brother was angry and everyone else was angry at me for losing their food and clothing we all had a good time.

Dear God,

Please give my English professor sunglasses. She keeps looking at me.Also, please make the weekends longer. I need more Sunday. It’s not that I don’t like school, in fact, I’m pretty happy with this semester so far. Luckily, my classes aren’t too difficult. I was nervous that college would be overwhelming but it turns out I got lucky. I feel more empowered now that I’m in college and this time it isn’t because I have my car. I like being on my own schedule, doing my own things, and being independent of anyone around me. That’s probably what I like most about myself: strong independence. Anyway, don’t forget the sunglasses.

Andrew

Something about me is that I am a superstitious person.  No, I don’t carry lucky charms, voodoo dolls or any of that non sense but stuff about good luck, bad luck, jinxing and curses really get to me.  Lately, I’ve been taking that stuff seriously.  Like for instance, when I played the lottery on my birthday, I had like almost a ritual just to scratch a bunch of ticket.  You can be dam sure I need the right coin. Need the right time and place, listening to some good music and all that stuff.  Another thing about superstition is that it often comes to bite me back in the butt like when I’m playing a game, or doing a test or whatever.  Like before a basketball game with my friends, if I see people that look like “scrubs”, I start talking a lot of trash that ends up coming right back at me and before you know it, it’s a very closer game than I would expect, or I end up losing.  This also happens most of the time when I’m over confident taking a test or exam, and I’m telling myself and others that the test is going to be very easy and when I actually do get the test, it’s like I’m looking at a whole new language and I end up getting some score that’s unacceptable for my parents.  This happens a lot too so it’s not just a coincidence and I’m starting to further believe this whole jinxing effect.  I always believe everything happens for a reason, and that’s why I’m a superstitious person.  Don’t get me wrong I’m not some paranoid freak that thinks there’s a figure watching my every move.  But I’m pretty sure you guys have had that before, when you’re overly excited, confident or even cocky before doing something, and then you get that buzzkill. I’m not sure if it’s a bad habit but it certainly has kept me on my toes all the times and always thinking.

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.

“Whatever Will Be Will Be”

That’s my life motto, is, was, and probably always will be. If I were to tell you my life story, the recurring theme could easily be summed up by this quote. I believe in fate, I believe in predestination, I believe in the purpose of life. I’ve never been the luckiest girl in the world and I’m probably not the unluckiest one either but I sure have had my fair share of bad luck with pretty good outcomes.

My life had been pretty normal and decent until I turned 8. I lived in a three family home in Brooklyn and my parents owned a Chinese takeout restaurant down the block, life was pretty simple and normal for an 8 year old. A series of bad financial decisions forced my parents to sell the restaurant, move to Pennsylvania, and buy a new restaurant there. Therefore, my parents moved out of the house leaving me in the care of my grandmother. Year after year, my parents tried to sell the restaurant in Pennsylvania because they wanted to be closer to me but of course, that didn’t work out either. Today, I have realized that not having my parents around at such a young age forced me to learn how to take care of myself without any parental guidance. That’s part of the reason why I am so independent and self-sufficient today. I didn’t have parents to come home to when I was picked on at school, I didn’t have parents to punish me when I got bad grades, I didn’t have parents to guide me and nurture me when I was lost. I had no other choice but to suck it up and learn how to deal with it by myself because I knew that at the end of the day, my parents were out there making a living so that they could support me.

This just goes to show that no matter how hard my parents tried to come back to me, they were destined to go to Pennsylvania and stay there because that was the only way I would have been able to learn to become an independent person. I’m not saying that I don’t need my parents, but a large part of who I am today is due to the mistakes that I’ve made and the lessons that I’ve learned from them.

I’d like to think that I’m unique, but then again, we’re all unique because no two people are the same. I haven’t quite figured out who I am or who I want to be but I do know that I’m well on my way. There isn’t one specific word that I would use to describe myself because I honestly don’t think I’d ever be able to make up my mind. I’m extremely indecisive and I have the attention span of a walnut so I really wouldn’t be able to sit down and think of one. I’ve been told that I’m blunt yet considerate, opinionated yet open-minded, tough yet sensitive, and closed yet outgoing. I know that right now it may just seem like I’m contradicting myself but I’d have to agree that all of those adjectives, together, are a good place to start describing who I am.

I have a lot of concerns in regards to my Freshman Year at Baruch. My first would be achieving and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I know that that’s near impossible, but a girl can dream, can’t she? I feel like having a high GPA, especially this year, would really seal the deal on my future because I’m hoping to transfer out of Baruch. I need to do this for myself and for my parents because I want them to be proud of me, I want to give them something to brag about, and I feel that the best way for me to do that is to transfer to Binghamton and get into the business school there. My second major concern would be procrastination and time management. It has always been hard for me to push myself to start my work on time although this is also a major problem for most other students as well. I know that in order for me to achieve my 4.0 GPA, I would have to attack this problem head on. My third concern would be my ability to come out of my shell and making new friends. Ever since high school, I’ve always been told that I’m extremely outgoing and fun to be around. I’ve never found it hard to socialize and make new friends. But lately, I feel that it’s getting harder and harder for me to come out and just open up to new people. I’m not sure why but I hope that this problem will go away as soon as I fully adjust to the Baruch environment.

So far, Baruch is on a whole different playing field than Brooklyn Tech. I kept hearing that Baruch would just be a bigger version of high school since so many of my former classmates were coming here as well. Right off the bat, I noticed that it really didn’t make a difference because the school is large enough that I rarely run into them, although I’d love to. That’s one of the main differences between the two schools; in Tech it felt nice to see familiar faces everywhere I went but in Baruch I feel so alone at times because everybody seems to be doing their own thing and there’s just not enough time to slow down and say hello. Another big difference is that there are so many more resources here are at Baruch than there were in high school, I like the fact that it’s so easy to get access to a computer. On the bright side, a larger school also means that there are more opportunities. I’m able to take advantage of more clubs, more diversity, and more connections.

I think that my first year at Baruch will greatly change me, especially in terms of my work ethics. I’ve never really had to push myself at much but I know that I will have to this year if I plan on have a successful career. This year will shape me because I will have to shed my bad habits and develop better ones that will undoubtedly help me later on in life. I hope that this first year will set me on the right track to success.

So, I’ve been running low on money and I desperately need a job, preferably, my old one. It appears to me that a person don’t appreciate what they have until its gone. When I had a job, I was always complaining how bad it was, and how I hated it. Thinking back, my job where I worked as a tutor in a learning center wasn’t that bad. It left me with a lot of fun memories with my students and my coworkers. The only thing that annoyed me was how slow, lazy and annoying the kids were. They ask so many pointless questions. They are curious about everything and there’s always a need to know why for them. ” Because I said so” became my signatured phrase. Another phrase was “stop picking your nose and go wash your hand”. Oh and the nosebleeds were a killer too. Kids nosebleed a lot these days. I remembered when I was a kid, I never had a nosebleed. Like all my coworkers, I have favorites. My favorite was a 3^rd grader who loves to sing and dance to lady gaga. Seriously, kids mature so fast these days. When I was a 3^rd grader, I spent time playing in the park and outside my house. Kids now, are always on the computer. I hear them discussing about facebook and they are 8 years old. Anyway, I’ve worked in that place for 4 years already. I think that I should move on to something new but it has such good pay for sitting there and doing the kid’s homework. Also the kids entertain me most of the time. I wish this semester could just end already so I can pick a better schedule where I can fit in a job. This schedule right now, where I end at 5 everyday, gives me no time to work and no work equals no money!

Your mind, body, soul – everything in perfect harmony
From your straight light brown hair to your gorgeous green eyes, to that cute walk of yours
Your smile – in my head, at one point – the 8th wonder of the world
For you there were no rules – you were the exception to the rule

I continued to be blinded,
Until one day I had awoken
I realized that you weren’t in Harmony
That your mind changed with the tides
You, yourself had no idea what you wanted, but made me believe it was I you desired
For that I am not upset, simply stronger now
For you, you’ve realized that I’m not around
Now your upset, cause you need that shoulder to lean on
You give worth to something after you loose it
But im not gonna be the one that you can always run to
My heart beats but for you its quiet

In December of 2009, I was almost beyond certain that I’d never do this ever again. And this, was to work in a frozen yogurt store. By March of 2010, here I was, pulling levers and serving these overly popular frozen treats. Trust me, until you’ve worked in one these stores, will you ever realize how psychotic people are, and over what? Frozen yogurt? Yes. Although I dread going to work almost every time, I tend to feel better once I’m in the store. Working in Red Mango is like working in a store that’s constantly on its menstrual cycle, the hormone levels being the number of customers. In the summer, it was constantly busy and boy was work hectic. The only thing that kept all of us workers happy was the fat juicy paycheck that we’d get at the end of the week.

I remember the free smoothie week. Oh boy, that was without a doubt the worst week of my life. On the very first day, the line was out the door and wrapped around the block. This is a Manhattan block I’m talking about. The founder of Red Mango was there, along with a live DJ and people went nuts. We worked feverishly nonstop for the whole day. I felt like passing out and never waking up. The floor was soaked, circuits were being blown (I kid you not), and we had no break. Safe to say things got a lot easier after that week, but now I have crazy customers to deal with.

It was a typical day at work, and I’m taking an order from a customer. Then out of the blue, some guy runs into the store, whips out a big red horn from God knows where, blows it real loud, and runs out. Everyone just stopped whatever it was they were doing for 10 seconds and looked at each other, then of course, laughter erupted. Situations like these aren’t so bad. Now wait until I tell you about how annoying customers can get.

I absolutely despise these ladies who ask for a sample of EVERY SINGLE flavor. Really, I know samples are free and all, but you’re really pushing it. Especially when the Pomegranate flavor lever is always fighting with me. And the worst part is, they have the nerve to leave all their dirty sample cups on the counter when there’s clearly a trash can in front and behind you. I’m so relieved when guys come in to order a frozen yogurt, because they’re not crazy picky like the ladies are. I kid you not, I have never had a male give me attitude; it’s always the girls!

Next, I have to tell you about the customers who always mix up the blackberries and the raspberries. HONEY, there are name plaques for the fruit there for a reason. Then you throw a fit when I put in raspberries like you told me to, when what you meant was blackberries. Unbelievable! When customers get to the register and get their yogurt rung up, one a few always say, “what!” when we tell them their total. The prices are listed nice and boldly for you on the menu, I’m sorry you refuse to read. They complain to me like I made up the prices or something. Sweetheart, I’m just an ordinary worker, complain to the managers.

I feel like I’m ranting a lot, but it isn’t at ALL that bad working there. Sometimes, you meet interesting people. Sometimes. Meeting new coworkers is always fun too, unless they have an ugly personality which doesn’t happen TOO often. When it’s not busy in the store, the atmosphere is pretty relaxing, and my coworkers and I can just chitchat about life and everything. Work has so far been a great way for me to meet new people outside my usual groupie. And of course, the free yogurt at the end of the shift helps too.