Academic Enrichment Blog

Charles Lee was the most intriguing speaker out of all of them. I was very happy that someone with his experience was there to deliver his message to the students of Baruch. I respect him as both a professor and a person from within my own culture. His stories captured my attention and his struggles reminded me of my own family struggles. One thing that i thought was funny was when he forgot to speak into the microphone and kept talking without realizing no one could hear him. He is so modest and funny and it shows that he is a great man with many words to say. He is both intelligent and experienced in his work. The rest of the speakers each delivered their own stories that meant a lot to them in their lives. The Bitter Sea had reminded each of them of the struggles they had within their career as well as the stories that had caught their attention and changed their view on the world. Their stories have reminded me of my own struggles and the struggles within my family. The story of the ship reminds me of my great grandparents struggles while coming into the United States. They had to endure the pain, poverty, and loss of family. Everyone had been separated when they had come here in search of more stable and safe environment as well as a better opportunity for their future generations. The panelists and the author of The Bitter Sea had related their life stories and struggles; career struggles, family problems, and other life changing situations. The Bitter Sea develops a struggle within the boys childhood and his gradual change as he ventures through life. Through his adventures finding his identity while making new friends he discovers the negative aspects of life, the struggles and poverty of China and the relationship between his parents. As he grows up he starts to understand that his parents are going to divorce and that his father did not love him but rather more concerned about his work. The only one who truly loved him was his mother who had become a nun in search of a better life. These realizations and struggles can be related to everyone, especially with the lives of the panelists who described their problems in searching for jobs and completing their academic career and how they had become successful and lived a valuable life. It is truly amazing what these people have gone through. The panelists come from all different parts of the world, have traveled across the world, have seen the struggles of life in different parts of the world, and the adventures these places have to offer them. Each of them lived valuable lives and are happy with what they had to go through since they have learned what it takes to live and prosper. The lives of everyone is complicated but with the right mindset anything is possible and everything is accomplish able with a little inner strength.