Author Archives: christopher.hugh

About two years ago, I began volunteering at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I worked with children ages 8-13. It was a great experience getting to know the children even though some of them were a little difficult. I helped the instructor with his lesson plans for the children and also took them on trips. After spending time with the kids, the other interns and I started to become sort of role models for them. They would talk to us about anything and even come to us for advice if they had problems. Most of the kids in the programs lived in the neighborhood and because I now have a job at the same museum, I still see them around. It’s nice because Ive seen them grow for the past two years, and I’ve even become friends with some of their family members. Working with kids was a great experience because it teaches patience as well as how to interact with people who have a major age difference from you. I still some of those kids today and I honestly think that if it weren’t for the program and the help of  us former interns at the museum, that some of those kids would have joined the gangs and gotten into the drugs that the neighborhood is filled with.

About two years ago, I began volunteering at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I worked with children ages 8-13. It was a great experience getting to know the children even though some of them were a little difficult. I helped the instructor with his lesson plans for the children and also took them on trips. After spending time with the kids, the other interns and I started to become sort of role models for them. They would talk to us about anything and even come to us for advice if they had problems. Most of the kids in the programs lived in the neighborhood and because I now have a job at the same museum, I still see them around. It’s nice because Ive seen them grow for the past two years, and I’ve even become friends with some of their family members. Working with kids was a great experience because it teaches patience as well as how to interact with people who have a major age difference from you. I still some of those kids today and I honestly think that if it weren’t for the program and the help of  us former interns at the museum, that some of those kids would have joined the gangs and gotten into the drugs that the neighborhood is filled with.

This semester has been going  pretty fast and I can’t believe I’m about half way through my freshman year. It’s definitely been fun and college is for the most part what I expected it to be, which is trying to fit social time and partying in between studying, work, and class.

I think my first semester went pretty well. I  got to meet some cool people, and most of my professors were on point. I definitely got a feel for the workload that I can successfully handle, and the workload that is just overwhelming. I managed to keep most of my grades between Bs and As, and I’m really looking forward to next semester.

If I could redo this semester, I think I would have put more time and effort into my schoolwork. There were definitely a few things that I didn’t do too well simply because I wasn’t prepared. I also probably would have made more of an effort to meet more people. The learning community helped me make friends fast, but it would have been nice to meet a couple more people this semester.

I think I’ve become more independent since my start at Baruch. It’s to the point where I might as well have been dorming. I take it upon myself to balance my academic life with my social life and with the exception of some monetary support from my parents every now and then, I’m basically on my own. I also learned what my limits were, as far as managing time and partying goes. All in all, I think this was a productive semester that I enjoyed. I’m just waiting for that amazing break then I’m charging head on into next semester.

I can’t believe it. Today is finally the big day. The day I turn 18. All these years have always been leading up to this moment. I can do all the things I used to do without sneaking to do it now. Of course I can’t still legally drink, but that’s another story. This makes me wonder what I’m doing with my lief though. Pretty soon I’ll be 21, out of college and in the real world. Ill have bills to worry about. Rent, food, all those things. Wow, I guess I havent thought much of the fact that one day, I’ll be completely on my own and responsible for everything. It seems a bit daunting, but I guess it can’t be that bad. Everyone has to go through it after all. Well Ill save those worries for tomorrow because today is a day of celebration. Not only is it my birthday, its also New Years Eve. Ill make each birthday special, because in a few years, Ill be celebrating my birthday as a grown man, not a college freshman.

I am Christopher Hugh, a 17(soon to be 18) year old freshman who’s lived in Brooklyn all his life but still has gotten to see some exciting places in the world. On the surface, I’m a son, a brother, an uncle, a musician, and a friend to alot of other people. I like to think of myself as a cool person that’s a good friend. I’m also an unusual mix of Jamaican and Chinese. I see myself as a person who likes to travel,  try new things, and meet new people, even though at times I can be a bit shy around a very large group of people I don’t know.

My top three concerns about my freshman year are 1) Ill have a hard time adjusting to more free time 2) My grades and 3) Getting to know the city Ive always lived so close to, but never really took the time to visit often. The whole free time concern is going well so far, but  back in high school, I always did work because there wasn’t really time for anything else. Coming from a specialized NY high school, we still had full days as seniors -_-,  and major classes which was like having a freshman schedule, minus the two lunch periods which were kind of cool. So after a day at school, work, and some chill time, I had until 8 or 9 at night until 6 the next morning when I had to wake up for school which meant cramming school work, facebook time, and sleep into that window. Now I have 6 classes and 2 hour gaps to do whatever I please,so I have to make sure I dedicate it to what I need to get done. My grades are important because that is what we all go to college for, to get the grades for your degree, get out without too much debt, then land in a good career. Getting to know NY better is a concern because if I’m going to spend the next 4 years here, I need to know where I can lay back on weekends and go to have some fun.

I think the fact that Baruch, as all colleges do, gives you more freedom will make my experience different from high school. Alot of the 8-3 structure that high school gave me is gone. Its up to me to decide when to tackle which assignments.

I think my first year at college will make me more responsible, give me better time management skills, and definitely make me more independent. It will also improve my social skills, since making friends at Baruch is either joining a club or organization, or joining an LC.