Author Archives: nicole.liotto

I was glad that we had a presentation about the classes we had to take and registration. I was confused about what i had to take and what to do. I feel that this presentation helped many freshman students figuring out what to do. Registration is a new thing to us, especially because we were basically handed our classes and schedules for the fall semester. For me, this process is overwhelming! The presenter did a great job explaining everything we needed to know. I know now to go on the website and I can get a list of everything I need to know, which I use when I am trying to figure out what classes to take.

I wish we did this in freshman seminar though. Instead of that one time we went over about presentations and resumes and job interviews, we should have went over any questions we had for registration because I know most of the class had many questions.

This workshop was very helpful. At first, of course, I wasn’t interested in sitting in on it but as time passed I realized that they provided very helpful information. They talked about interviews and what to have and not have on a resume when applying to a job. I feel that many college students today need to know about this information for internships and regular jobs, now and for when we graduate.  I learned that SCDC provides mock interviews, where they will help you with what to say and also what to wear and how to present yourself to an employer. I definitely plan on using these services.

Going into this panel discussion I knew it was going to be boring. Who wants to attend a mandatory assembly about stuff that we are not interested in? The only member of the panel that was interesting was Charles Li, the author of The Bitter Sea. It was nice to see him in person, especially because I enjoyed reading his book over the summer for school. The workshop was exactly what I expected, every student either talking to their neighbor, sleeping or on their phone. I felt bad for the other members of the panel, being that everyone was on their phones while they were talking. It was hard to hear and understand them, which made it even harder to concentrate. Having them push the students to ask questions was awkward in a way, I felt people asked questions because they had, not because it was something that they really wanted to know.

The question I have been getting a lot lately is “how is school going?” or “do you like school so far?” My answer is the same to everybody. “It’s okay,” I would say, “Nothing too special.” When I say this, everyone starts to feel bad and wonder why college is just okay. When they ask me this, I have to ask myself first before I can answer.
I grew up in the city and went to school in the city all my life. When choosing a college I knew for sure I didn’t want to go away. Not being in the city and not being able to walk out my door and be a block away from Broadway and stores seemed so strange. I never have gotten home sick before, so that wasn’t a fear of mine. I just knew I was a city girl, so staying in the city felt right. I’ve been told that all college kids do when they go away to school is party and I’m not a party freak. I’ll have a good time once and awhile, but they way some kids go out at night and have fun, just isn’t me. Knowing this, I just felt that staying in the city where I grew up would be safe.
Since school has started, I wonder if I made the right decision. I feel like I am back at high school again, walking into and out of a building in a neighborhood that I am so familiar with. Maybe I need a change. Even though I live in the city, I am dorming about 10 minutes away from my apartment where I grew up. I felt dorming would have me experience somewhat of the college experience minus actually putting all my stuff in boxes, and driving about 2 to 3 hours away to campus. Maybe I need more time to actually have it sink in and realize that I am at college, but as of right now, I feel no difference.

city kid - posing on the streets of new york

Hey hey. I’m Nicole Liotto, most of my friends and my family call me Nikki. It’s kind of weird to hear people call me Nicole, but oh well. I am 17 years old….I have a late birthday, a really late birthday, christmas eve! a week before the end of the year :/ I live in Manhattan and have lived here all my life. What can I say? I’m a city girl. I love it here, although in a way I am starting to get annoyed with it. Too many people are moving in, they dont belong! I use to be really shy, but I noticed that as I am getting older, it has gone away more and more. I am currently dorming at the dorms on the les…yes i know, why would I dorm if I live in the city? HEY, let me experience the dorm life with out actually going away to college, thanks very much! I love love love music. I use to play the guitar but that was a long time ago and now I can’t play for my life. I love trance music. I dont really hear a lot of people who like it but when I find someone, I love it. If you don’t like it, then fine with me, go listen to what you like to listen to.

My top three concerns about my freshman year at Baruch are:
1. Mid-terms and Finals. I never, ever had a midterm or final. I would have regualr tests in school. One after almost every chapter/topic I learned. I feel like I won’t be able to take in everything and remember for the test…this goes for every subject (except math. i love doing math and i did exactly what we are doing in calc now last year, so its good).
2.Participation. I hardly participate in class. All my life in school, all my teachers would say that I never participate and that I should. Well, sometimes I just don’t have anything to say, or someone has said what I was already thinking…or sometimes I’m just not paying attention!
3.Feeling like I actually want to be here. At times I feel like I should have chose a different school. My friends and family ask me how school has been so far and my answer to them is, “its okay, nothing special”. I want to feel like it’s something special and fun. My concern is, will I be happy here? and will there be something that will make me feel like Baruch is the right place for me.

So far I don’t think that there will be anything to differentiate my college and high school experience. I went to h.s in the city and I have lived in the city all my life, which means so far nothing feels different to me at all. I went to Simon Baruch Middle School which is in the neighborhood of Baruch College so I know the neighborhood in a way. Nothing feels different so far, not even the dorming since I live a 10minute walk away from my apartment (again, I know I’m crazy but let me experience the dorm life!)

My first year at Baruch may change me in many ways and it may not. It may take me a little longer than my first year, because in my first year I probably wont even know what I want to do. At first I wanted to be a math teacher all my life, then it went to business for some reason, but now i am interested in dermatology ( I know, I’m crazy) but I hate science! I hope my first year will help me know what I really want and what will be the best thing for me.

🙂