Well to start off, my name is Philip Wang, but I prefer to be called Phil. I was born and raised in Queens, New York and attended F.H. La Guardia High School, which specialized in the arts. I love being athletic and have a solid foundation in swimming since I’ve swam competitively on several teams. I also have a passion for playing handball. Jogging or simply taking a walk helps me think and feel relaxed.
I started playing handball in high school to meet new people and gradually i developed a love for the sport. It became sort of an addiction for me, that grew out of control during the beginning of my high school career, i would always be late to class because i played in between periods. I gradually took control of it later on, as it was affecting my grades, but i was still dedicated to it. The handball scene quickly disappeared in my school after my sophomore year and then was senior year and i was the pratically the only regular left. I kept at it and people started to come out again, but it was too late. I tried to start a club for it as well, but there just werent enough people interested. I didnt join PSAL in highschool because La Guardia simply lacked many boys teams, such as swimming, handball, football.
I consider myself to be sort of an open minded individual, I try not to limit myself with what i have. i try to adapt to the situation, i’m very open to change. I also try to be empathetic whenever i can, since i went through some family problems of my own during high school. I don’t regret the decisions I made since it really shaped who i became and i was able to make myself a better person. I’m also very optimistic, i try maintain a positive outlook on things . I try and stay motivated and motivate others if they seem to be down or struggling.
hmmm… 3 concerns about my freshman year at baruch…
I am concerned about maintaining my grades since i didn’t do very well in high school, college is a fresh start for me, its my second chance and i want to take advantage of this opportunity.
My second concern is adjusting to college life. I had it easy in high school, but now its a whole new game, this is real life. In highschool, it was the same routine everyday, now the classes are scattered throughout the day and teachers don’t care if you are in class or not. It is really up to me to show up to class and put in the effort. Its a responsibility.
My third concern is time management. I want to be able to comfortably balance my social life, academics, sports, family and work. Being a freshman at a new college, i’m still discovering many new opportunities and it conflicts with my schedule.
In high school, i was depressed. The social scene there did not work for me, as i started to realize who i really was. I didn’t have many close friends in school as I did outside of school. I just couldn’t relate to my peers in school. My social life was pretty much outside of school. It was tough, going through 8 hours a day with practically no one to talk to. Don’t get me wrong, i wasn’t completely antisocial, I did socialize with people just not much in school.
At Baruch its a whole different atmosphere, i feel comfortable here. I feel like its what my high school experience should have been like. There are alot more people with the same interests as me and that i can relate too. There are also many clubs and sports teams available for me to participate in. It’s definitely a plus.
I feel i have already changed as a person, just going through the first few weeks of college. I am still adjusting but i believe college will make me an overall better person.
