Who Are WE? We're PR3!

You guys might have notice that I’m often sweaty as hell when walking into class. I’m winded and look like I’m about to pass out. Well its because I was just playing handball. That’s pretty much how I always spend my free time, going down to B3 and hoping there’s an open court. I guess it doesn’t sound like much fun to everyone else, but it’s one of the only things I look forward to during the week. With the excessive amount of tests and homework, and then my job after school, handball is the one thing that keeps me sane.

I’m not a very talented person, and I’m not saying I’m great at this game either, but it is the one thing I’m decent at. My competitive said rarely comes out, but during a game, I go all out. I played on the team during high school and the game feels like one of the things that I’m still familiar with in this new environment. Its really comforting in its own way. So sorry if I tend to disappear on you guys… I mean if you wanna chill, you know where to find me!

I’m sure by now; everyone in this room is familiar with me, Derek. It’s been a little over a month since we’ve all started our college careers together in block 57. At first, I was really skeptic about making friends with everyone. It felt so different from high school, where everyone knew me and I could instantly connect with anyone. I spent the first couple weeks of college just hanging out with Elvin and anyone else I knew from before college. It felt weird just randomly associating with people from my class. But now, it feels completely different. This freshman seminar class really helped me get to know everyone. At first, it was like we were being forced to interact, and that was just awkward. Gradually, it became comfortable.

You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when I found out I was going to Baruch with Elvin, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack… it grew by one. So there… there were two of us in the wolf pack… I was alone first in the pack, and then Elvin  joined in later. And a month ago, when we were first introduced to you guys, I thought, “Wait a second, could it be?” And now I know for sure, I just added twenty more guys to my wolf pack. Twenty of us wolves, running around Baruch together, looking for strippers and cocaine.

Baruch was definitely lacking the homely feeling that I had from high school during the first couple weeks of class. I didn’t know where to go or what to do during my breaks, but that has begun to change. I’m not saying I feel quite at home yet, but I don’t feel like a complete stranger anymore. Naturally, I started bonding with others, and saw how our small “block 57” came together. I know, I don’t get to hang out with you guys much after school, but that’s just because I have to go to work. But the time we do spend together during our free time is pretty cool. I learned that Matt Scott is an awesome math teacher, and I learned more from our small study group than what Professor Miller has taught us the past month. I learned that Andy and Thomas are actually pretty damn good at handball. And I learned that Aleksandra totally wants me (just kidding). All these small things are apart of the college experience that we’re going to look back on ten years from now and really miss. So besides all this Gauss Jordan stuff from calculus and forty page readings about slaves for English, Baruch isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

Kobe Bryant hits a game winner on Dwayne Wade (Miami C-Heat)

Who am I? According to Professor Sarah from my Sociology class, I’m one person made of various different roles. By day, I’m a student at Baruch College, with high expectations for myself. By night, I’m a lowly employee at the most terrible place ever, Forever 21. I mean sure, roles are the easiest ways to define oneself, but does that really show who you are? I’m Derek; I’m not the perfect guy but I’ve always considered myself an exceptional son, and an even better friend. I’m that guy who seems like an ass the first time you meet him, but after a conversation, you’ll be surprised. I’m that guy who’s always taking care of his friends who had just a little too much to drink. I’m that guy who you can rely on to keep your secrets and his promises. I’m the guy that puts his friends and family before himself. I’m not perfect, but for the people I care about, I damn well try my best to be.

Baruch is so different than from what I’m used to. I came from a small one-floor school of about 500 students, and a graduating class of 108 kids. I used to be somebody, but now that I’m here, I feel like I’m just another random face. I used to be on the top of my high school, but I’m nothing here. I hope this atmosphere of impersonality fades soon. And then there’s that job I need to have while going to school. Paying for school out of your own pockets is tough, and requires so much patience. I’m taking it day by day, but it’s been incredibly hard to balance school, studies, work, and then of course, fun. It’s definitely taking its toll. And finally, this is it, college. I’m almost an adult, but I don’t know if I’m ready for it. I’m not sure who I want to be, but I know I can’t waste my time here. Hopefully it’ll work itself out.

The transition from high school to college hasn’t been easy. The responsibility is all on us. Our teachers (or professors) aren’t going to reach out to us individually. We are expected to take the initiative. High school was carefree. I didn’t bring a book or a book bag for the last year and a half of high school. Now I have a 5 subject book, filled with notes I diligently take down during every class, and I’ve actually bought textbooks. I can’t half-ass college like I did with high school. I’m going to get what I put into college.

College has totally reformed me! I slacked off most of my entire high school career, but ever since college has started, I have not missed a single assignment. I’m starting to organize myself, and my time. By the end of this year, I hope to reach a higher level of maturity, and reform my attitude completely. There’s a reason that there’s a picture of Kobe Bryant up there, besides the fact that he’s freaking awesome. He  has that killer instinct, and that’s the attitude I want. He knows what he wants, and he can literally win a game by sheer will. That’s what I want to do with my life. I want that drive and determination that he has. I want to set my goals, and have nothing stop from achieving them. CLUTCH LIKE KOBE !!