Have you ever had that feeling that your supposed to know someone’s name, but you feel like you’re meeting them for the first time? Since starting college at Baruch, I’ve had this experience on several occasions. This never used to happen in high school. Everyone knew each other, even if they werent close friends. I could walk down the hallway and know something about everyone I encountered. Not true in Baruch. I never really realized how much bigger Baruch’s student population is compared to my high school until I walked in on my first day. It left me with an almost breathless feeling, partly because I didnt see anyone I knew, but mostly because I was unfamiliar with the building, and was kind of lost. I am not a shy person, but im not overly outgoing either. Making new friends isnt too hard for me, but it seemed like everybody already knew each other. Those that came to Baruch with me from my high school were nowhere in sight, and the people that I met in Orientation werent showing up either. I felt like I had been pulled from my comfort zone, and tossed into a new world.
It was a few days before I settled in to the new routine. After a while, I noticed that college had in many ways a better social climate than high school. Even though many people didnt know each other, they are still friendly, and once everybody’s schedules were settled, you find that many of the freshman have the same classes, and have time in between to socialize. I met a lot of cool people, and am having a good time getting to know them. Also, the classes themselves are more interesting, since the basics have been covered in high school. You can also see that everyone is actually trying, because while high school felt like an obligation, everyone knows that what we learn in college will determine out future careers. College is making me do more for myself, since now there isnt an annoying guidance counsellor or teacher pressuring me to get my work done. Everything is on me now. I feel myself becoming a more responsible person, because the stakes are higher. One of my biggest concerns is that a bad test or missed presentation will ruin my GPA for an entire semester. Another concern of mine is the wide range of classes to choose from. Once all the required courses are done, everyone will be picking different schedules, and taking different classes. In high school, if you were struggling, or missed a homework, there were always friends to help you out. Now, im wondering if there will be anyone to help me if I mess up.
Well, ther is no point in worrying about all this now. So far, everything is going smoothly, and I am hoping it will stay that way. I am not very good at ending essays or blogs, but i guess a decent conclusion would be that overall, Baruch seems a great place to spend four years, and that I am looking forward to the new experiences.
