Author Archives: erasmo.messina

The Academic Advisement workshop was very helpful. I was able to figure out what classes I must take. I also figured out I must take the SimNet Exam before the end of this year. It was also stressing because it will be impossible for me to get the classes I would want to take. I will need more time to fulfill the tier requirements. But I don’t think it will get any worse in the future.

The four individuals who spoke at this assembly were Charles N. Li, author of The Bitter Sea, Katrin Hansing, a professor of Baruch College who teaches Black and Hispanic Studies, Tashi Chodron, a spokeswomen for the Tibetan Resettlement Project, and Bruce Payne, a director and teacher from Duke University. Each speaker was mentioning the idea of identity. Each speaker was somehow mixed and made them wonder what kind of identity they hold. I didn’t really expect this to happen. When Academic Enrichment came to my ears, I thought it would be about taking academic opportunities in college. I guess I was quite surprised.

This blog will be about the second workshop that took place.The workshop was about the STARR Career Development Center. The center is intended to help Baruch students plan ahead and prepare on how to apply for a corporate job. They show you how to dress for an interview and how to present yourself when you speak. This was very useful because I think it’s important to set up a good first impression. It’s also important to do some background research on a company or corporation you are interested in. It shows how interested you are in your job hunt. It’s also important to send the interviewer a thank you e-mail within a 24 hour period after the interview. The person took their time to interview you instead of doing anything else. You should be courteous and thankful for that opportunity.

The new chapter of life for me is college. A new chance to start all over. For some, it is another step towards success. To others, it is a chance to go crazy. For me, it is to find my purpose in life.   During my first year at Baruch, it was a bit difficult to understand everything that goes on in the classroom. But then, I got the hang of it. All the classes began to come in tact. I am getting use to the academic life in college. My next step is to get use to the social life in college. So far, I’m doing good. I met some great people in my block. Usually when you go to a new school, you tend to take time to know people. Since the people I know have almost all the same classes as me, I got to know them very well. But I will never forget most of my old friends. Some of my old friends already forgotten about me. There are others I still talk to. For those that forgotten about me, it’s their loss. Even if you are nice to everyone you meet, it won’t mean they will all be your friend. I know for sure that I will soon make some enemies. You can’t make friends without making a few enemies. I am what you call a “man of respect”. If you want my respect, you have to show me your respect. That’s how you play the game. I won’t care if you hate me or like me. Whatever you feel about me, that’s how I will feel about you. On that note, I am having a blast. I’ve seen the people that attend this institution. I don’t really see anything to complain about. I feel like I’ve changed very much. In elementary, middle, and high school, I was this shy boy who didn’t like conversations. Now, I am the opposite. I feel more confident than before. I don’t feel as scared as before. I’ve become a real people person. That is a good quality for me to have for a career that I am aiming to obtain. For now, this is all I have to say about my experience at Baruch.

1. I think I am a responsible and mature college guy. I manage to get all my work done when I have the chance. I focus more on areas of study that I have more trouble understanding. I go over certain topics If I must.
2. My first concern is all the reading I will have to do. I have to stay on top of everything and not fall behind or I will lose track. My second concern is the length of the classes. Sometimes I would focus on when the class will end. My third concern is the length of written homework. I find it difficult to think of how to write a certain number of pages.
3. My Baruch College experience will be different from my high school experience because people at Baruch are more serious about their studies. A percentage of people in high school don’t seem to care about passing classes.
4. My first year at College will change me because I have to work more harder than I did before. I have to start over the process of making friends. I feel like I don’t fit in with certain groups of people. In high school, I easily fit in with people.