Author Archives: emma.swanson

I thought the Rubin Museum was very cool and possibly one of the most interesting museums I have been to. The exhibit that our class observed was the “Mirror of the Buddha” Exhibit. This exhibit featured Tibetan art. The portraits and sculptures were so pretty, most were covered in painted tiles and gold. The ideas that each painting represented was open to each viewers interpretation, which left it open to your imagination to decide because the painting were so intricate. The colors were very bright and stood out from far away; each painting drew you in. I plan to take my Mom to the Rubin Museum when she comes to visit me because I think she would really enjoy it.

My first semester at Baruch has been a very new experience. At first, the workload was very difficult to get used to. As the weeks went on though, I began adapting to the weekly essays and assignments. When I first started researching colleges and I found Baruch, the fact that it was in the city was very appealing to me. The fact that the business school was so highly ranked also appealed to me, too. However, after my first semester I have learned that going to a commuter school makes it more difficult to make friends. I have met a lot of great people, but it is hard to form relationships when everyone lives in different areas. Also, I’m not loving how many math requirements I will need to complete my major :/

There are some things I would’ve liked to have done differently this semester, but I think for the most part I am changing what I didn’t like already. I didn’t really enjoy living in the dorms, its such a cramped space and I didn’t have a kitchen or anything. Now I’m moving a lot closer to Baruch with some friends, which I think will be much better for me. Now I will be able to spend more time at the library and focusing on school (maybe).

I had no expectations for coming to Baruch; I had no idea what the city held in store for me. As my first semester comes to a close, I don’t have any regrets. Sometimes, I felt a little overwhelmed to the point where I thought I might’ve made the wrong decision. But after the stress goes away, I am able to realize that this is exactly where I want to be and exactly where I need to be to reach my goals.

A favorite quote of mine would be, “By your own soul, learn to live and if men thwart you take no heed. If men hate you have no care. Sing your song, dream your dream, hope your hope and pray your prayer,” which is from a poem by Pakenham Thomas Beatty . This poem is so pretty, and the message is so simple: follow your dreams.

http://allpoetry.com/poem/8622857-To_Thine_Own_Self_Be_True-by-Pakenham_Thomas_Beatty_

This poem is special to me because I can relate to it in many ways. I grew up in Buffalo, New York, a town known for horrible weather and delicious food. No matter how many negative things I hear about Buffalo, I love it so much and miss it every day. I especially miss the trees and nature in general, because aside from Central Park, we mostly just experience concrete. I think that going to college away from home takes a lot of courage. Being away from your parents and everything that was familiar to you is very difficult at first, but it’s the first step towards becoming independent, and I’m so glad I did it.

My name is Emma and I am 18 years old. I am a twin-sister, a respectful daughter, and a loyal friend. One thing I value above anything else is my future. I am a firm believer in the cliché: do whatever makes you happy. I don’t care if I make a lot of money or become known around the world; all I want is to be happy and to be surrounded by good people who make me laugh (oh, and food! I love food!). These things that are so important to me also play into my biggest fears: being unhappy or being alone. Also, I’m deathly afraid of being pushed into the subway or witnessing police brutality (: I know these are totally weird, but everyone has some irrational fears.

Lastly, I would like to say I have excellent taste in music. I’m very eclectic because I enjoy listening to all types of music from acoustic to rap to electronic. If you ever ask me to recommend you a song, I will end up burning 3 CD’s and force you to listen to them with me in the room, so that I can tell you how great each song is.

Thanks for taking the time to read my boring monologue (:

David Gray – Babylon
Listen to his album, it’s so old school but awesome!

My name is Emma, I’m 18 years old and freshman at Baruch. Orignally, I was born and raised in a rural-type suburb of Buffalo, New York, called East Amherst. And yes, I don’t care what anyone says, I’m a fan of the Buffalo Sabres AND the Buffalo Bills! I would say I’m a caring person and a very loyal friend. I love meeting new people, going out to eat, going to museums, and nature in general. I love hiking and going to see new things. I just moved to an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I am right next to the East River, and I love walking down there after school. Currently, I work at New York Sports Club at 92nd street. I love working at a gym because being fit and healthy is very important to me! My family is also very important to me. I love my parents and my twin brother, Kyle. I also miss my dog, Jake!!

I love my new roommate, Tannaz! In Freshman Seminar, I told a story about me borrowing her sweater and spilling make-up on it. Don’t tell her!! Getting along with my roommate was definietly a top concern, but now, she is one of my best friends in the city and I really enjoy spending time with her. I have made a lot of friends in my building, but I want to continue making more!

Another concern I had was that my classes would be too difficult; when I tell most people I am going to Baruch, they go ‘ooh…I heard it’s really hard there’. While most of my classes are challenging, I think that they are keeping me on track and focused. It is very easy to lose your head while living in NYC–there is so much to do instead of studying!! I’ve been managing my time well, trying to balance between my job, my friends, and school.

My last concern was joining clubs. Baruch is so competitive that you need join clubs to stand out and improve your resume. There are so many clubs to chose from at Baruch, from the looks of it; I’m sure I will find more than enough clubs to spice up my resume. Baruch has been so different from high school so far, simply because of my increase in independence. In high school, I relied on adults for EVERYTHING. I even had to ask teachers if I could use the bathroom. I’m 18 years old, legally considered an adult, yet I need permission to leave the building–even if I don’t have class?? Living on my own in the city has made me completely independent. I cook, I clean, I go to school, and I make my own money. Life couldn’t get much better!