Author Archives: carmen.cedeno

My semester at Baruch was a whirlwind..it was nothing like I would’ve expected it to be. It had its ups and downs..but all in all, it went by really fast! If I could change anything, it would probably be how I handled some courses. There are certain courses I feel I should’ve dropped, but I did not…hopefully in the end, it all works out. I hope that next semester will be much better, especially seeing as I chose subjects that interested me with great teachers! I’ve definitely learned that in college, you need time management skills! I still have yet to master those skills and I am always busy..but I hope I can improve within the next semester.

Have I changed? Well, I’m not sure about that. 🙁 I think maybe next semester, I will change.

Hey! So, I may be a bit late in posting this..but better late than never.
Well, as I have mentioned before in my previous post, my name is Carmen and I don’t know who I am exactly just yet.

For the most part, I love to read, relax and spend time with my dogs and my family.

I can honestly say I have way more dislikes than likes. I dislike a lot of things, and they all range from actual tangible things to intangible things. For example, I dislike smoking (of any kind), any type of insect that has more than four legs, heights, anything Ed Hardy, the abuse and degradation of the English language and scary movies.

Overall, I’m still growing and learning..so I can’t really sum this up and give anyone a concrete list of the things I like, the things I dislike and who I am.

I consider change to be something important to me. I like inconsistency and embrace it. I believe it’s what makes life spontaneous, and I get very bored of the same things and people quickly, especially if I dislike them from the start. Independence is also very important to me. I hate being tied down by other people and difficult situations. I like being a free bird and having control over my own choices. That’s why I also have a problem making a commitment to people or becoming too close to someone..I can’t handle the feeling of someone depending on me for emotional reassurance. I feel suffocated, and I usually keep people at an arm’s length, except for a selected few.

I appreciate a lot of mottos and quotes, especially because I love to read..so I usually come across a lot of great sayings. Personally, I love the Persian proverb, “This too shall pass.” It’s a great saying to repeat in one’s head, especially during hard times.

My first year of college will definitely change me. I think I will become wiser and more independent as time passes. Likewise, I will mature and hopefully straighten out my priorities (getting rid of procrastination is a must!). All in all, Baruch life is okay at this moment…still a bit peeved by the fact that I wasn’t able to choose my classes. But, oh well, “this too shall pass.”

a. Tell us who you think YOU are!
I believe this is a hard question to answer at the moment; I’m still trying to discover who I am and establish my own identity in the world. So far, I know I am a student at Baruch..I know my likes and dislikes, but that’s as far as I can really go. Learning and discovering who one is never stops..it is a process that continues for a lifetime, and therefore, I believe that anyone who answers this question with a self-assured answer hasn’t really accepted the fact that everyone continues to grow and learn each day, regardless of age.

b. Share your top 3 concerns about your freshman year at Baruch and explain why.
I have many concerns, some that I even find a bit ridiculous, especially because I am a freshman. I’m mostly concerned about my classes and the type of professors here at Baruch. The only professor I’ve had this semester that I consider sane is my History teacher. I don’t know what is going on with the other professors. Also, I wish I would have been able to either take more classes or choose my own classes. I can’t believe I’m not taking French this semester, and it saddens me because I hope I don’t forget anything by the time I am allowed to take it. In addition, I’m concerned about how the school staff communicates with themselves in general…I feel like no one talks to each other and it has happened on more than one occasion, where I have asked a professor something and it will be the opposite of what someone else who works in the school has told me. It’s like playing ping-pong..and I feel like everyone here is just looking out for themselves, which is typical of a business school..but, come on, even the staff?

c. So far, what do you think will make your Baruch College experience different from your high school experience?
I feel like the work and the days off will make my Baruch College experience different from my high school experience. I’m used to having very diligent teachers who love giving work..and that’s the mindset I have. I feel as if my first semester is sort of a joke, and it frustrates me to not be doing anything productive. I know school just started, but first impressions are also the last impressions..and most of my professors have given me the impression of, “I just come here to get paid.” I need to write essays..I need to read literature..I need to do something productive. I’m not paying $6,000 dollars this semester (out-of-state, no financial aid) to listen to personal stories and have everyone babied on how to insert quotations in an essay. I feel like that’s also what angers me the most..the fact that my classes were chosen for me when I’m the one paying out of my pocket (in reference to question three). I don’t feel like I’m being academically challenged enough, and I hope that does not affect me when I choose my own classes next semester. Most people feel that I should just get an easy A if I’m not having any problems, but I like my education..and this isn’t high school anymore..I’m paying out of my pocket.

d. How do you think your first year at college will change you?
I have no clue, really. But I believe I might’ve somewhat answered this in the previous question.