Author Archives: Jenna Bagcal

As first semester of college comes to a close, I can’t help to be amazed at how quickly these few months have flown by. I don’t know if it was the newness of the college experience or not having classes 5 days a week, but I really did enjoy my first semester at Baruch. For the most part, my experience at Baruch has lived up to my expectations. I’ve made some great friends, been swamped with work, and wanted to pull my hair out at times. But to me, those things together are what I expected out of Baruch. I knew that college wouldn’t always be easy, and there would be times I wanted to give up. But I know that the constant struggle and challenges are preparing me for my future endeavors, so quitting is never an option.

In terms of the work, I think that my first semester was pretty successful. My grades were on par with what I expect for myself, and I surprisingly haven’t slacked off (that much). However, I do wish to change some things about myself next semester. I found that I procrastinated WAY too much this time around, and I want to make a conscious effort to do everything efficiently and on time.

In terms of changes, I don’t think that I’ve changed too much these past few months. The one thing about me that has changed is that I’m more outgoing when it comes to talking to people. I came into college with the mindset of being a friendly person, and I think that that attitude has allowed me to make some great friends and potential friends. All in all, first semester at Baruch has definitely made me look forward to the next semester.

Anyway, here’s hoping for a good end of the semester. Good luck to all of you, and see you around

– Jenna

A creative spirit is truly how I see myself, and I value all of the beautiful things in life. Music and writing are my two biggest forms of expression, and the beauty that surrounds me spring from these very sources. To be able to utilize words or play an instrument was always integral in my life, and it has shaped the way in which I view the world and myself. However, my life is not limited to these two outlets of creativity; I am a multifaceted individual.

I have unconventional dreams for myself, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Stereotypes are meant to be broken, and this is ideology is one that I live by. For years, I was told by some of the most important people in my life that my goals and choices were unrealistic and unthinkable. Whenever I told someone that I wanted to do something other than nursing or another career in the medical field, the idea was basically ignored and shut down. People would question why I would chose to pursue a career that I loved if it was not as monetarily rewarding as medicine. But I could never imagine myself pursuing a career for which I have no passion and drive. Although many of this seems far fetched to many people, I will never allow this fact to dissuade me. What good is having an extensive amount of wealth when one’s happiness is compromised?

Music and writing are my passions, and my goal is to incorporate my two loves into a successful career. I am on a life quest to fulfill my life’s plan: to find happiness AND success within my family, my career, and my life as a whole.

Hey there to whoever is reading my weird, but well thought out words. I know a lot of you guys already, but for those of you whom I haven’t met yet, I’m Jenna. I’m 18 years old, I was born and raised in the Bronx. I know there are so many negative stereotypes about people who come from this borough, but it’s pretty safe to say that I do not match any of these stereotypes. I promise But, other  than being from the Bronx, I think that I’m a pretty unique individual. I want to write for Rolling Stone magazine when I’m older, and one of the main things on my bucket list is to learn to play every instrument before I die. Before coming to Baruch, I attended an all girls private high school, with a graduating class of about 140 girls. People always ask how going to an all girls school was, and honestly, it was a great experience. It was different from a traditional high school model, but the friends that I made throughout my 4 years and the quality of education that I received are unmatched. These are the friends and experiences that I will hold with me throughout my entire life. I feel that my high school education prepared me for college, and even for my future endeavors.

However, although I felt well prepared for college, I did have some initial fears. First off, I was always worried that it would be difficult to make friends in a commuter school. Because Baruch is not a traditional dorming college, I feared that the students would come to class, do work, then go home. How would I ever be able to make friends in that type of environment. I now see that I was naive in thinking that, because I have already made such great friends within my first few weeks of being here.Another concern that I had was the class sizes, because prior to attending college, I had it set in my mind that all classes took place in a large lecture hall of hundreds of students. I didn’t know how I would handle big classes, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t fair well. But, after realizing that most of my classes were of a manageable size, that fear disappeared. Even in my large psychology class, I feel comfortable for the sheer fact that the professor is engaging and entertaining. A last concern that I had was about time management. This was a term that I’d heard throughout my high school career, and I knew that it would be emphasized in college as well. I feared that I would not know how to manage my time between school work, a job, extracurricular activities, PLUS a social life. The thought of this balancing act was overwhelming. But after experiencing time management first hand, I now know that I can handle the tasks that I am given, as long as I persevere and work hard.

Baruch is definitely different than my high school experience. For one, I go to school with girls AND guys now for the first time since 8th grade. Although the dynamic is different, I enjoy it because I am now more easily able to make friends of different sexes. However, the college experience is not much different than my high school experience in terms of the workload, and as I have previously stated, I feel very prepared for all of the new learning experiences that will come in the future.

College has already started to change me for the better. I feel more knowledgeable and responsible than I previously was. I know that my first year in college will foster positive characteristics in me that will be necessary for life in the real world.  I am excited to see what else college has to offer, and I will be ready for all of its challenges.