Author Archives: stephanie.lubniewski

a. Tell us how your experience at Baruch College has lived up to your expectations? Not lived up to your expectations? Exceeded your expectations?

I came to Baruch with my expectations not high or low I didn’t know what to expect and in the end I think having that frame of mind worked out nicely. I wasn’t disappointed when things didn’t go my way and kept an open mind in all situations. It made the transition from high school student to college student a lot easier to handle.

b. How well do you think your first semester at Baruch College went?

My whole family along with myself was very worried about how I would do in college. Throughout high school I had always let everything from social life to jobs get in the way leaving school last and not doing as well as I could have. So I knew I would have to change my priorities, which I did, and put my focus more on school than I had in the past. Which so far has worked out very well for me helping me get passing grades and stay on top of my school work as best I can.

c. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

Not really anything I really just wanted to work hard and pass all my classes. So as long as I have passing grades on all my finals at the end of this semester I’ll be happy with no regrets.

d. How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

Mainly my study habits have changed drastically. I honestly didn’t know how to study before I came to Baruch I had always just slacked off when it came to studying for tests and not given in it my all. But now that my education is being paid forI it is crucial that I work my hardest and not waste money.

1. How did your community service work help the community?

I volunteered at the  ”Make tracks for turtles”  Run for the Wild at the New York Aquarium, I worked at the half way point making sure all the participants in the race went in the right direction.

2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

I didn’t mind at all as long as it’s something I was interested in or something that wasn’t too boring.

3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

It was fun I knew what I was doing was for a good cause that I supported and that made it a lot more enjoyable.

4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

I worked with a father and daughter the whole morning who came out to volunteer and support the cause not because they had to like I did but because they  were passionate about the cause and wanted to. I thought that was so great that a seven year old an her father would come out early in the morning for no reason other than to help their community it made me feel as if I should do the same more often.

5. What stands out as the best and/ or most trying experiences that occurred while engaging in your community service project? What did you learn from these experiences?

My job was to stand at the turn around point and lead the runners and walkers in the right direction once they got there. At first it was great seeing all the runners and helping out. But after a while it lost its charm and 45 minutes as the first of the walkers started coming I knew I would be standing there a lot longer waiting for all of them to finish which I was. It forced me to be patient and not to rush them but support them since they as well were there to help the cause.

6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

It put money towards the New York Aquarium.

7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

It gave me experience in being a leader in my community by lending a hand.

8. How has your community service experience changed your thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, yourself, the community, and community service work as a whole?

It has made me want to get involved more in my community in any way, it showed me how good it feels to take time out for others with no anticipation of reward.

9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?.

That even though it can be inconvenient to my free time and force me to do work when I want to relax it feels a lot better to spend a day taking care and being their for others in need than it does focusing all of my spare time on myself.

10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?

It was very early in the morning and far away which at the time was frustrating but it was only once and once it was over I was happy I had done.

11. Do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not?

Most definitely I’m currently in the process of becoming a volunteer at New York Animal Care and Control because it is a cause I believe in and something I know I would enjoy doing that will also be allowing me to give back to my community.

12. Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline:

Being able to help out the Aquarium and raise money for creatures in need of care who can’t raise it themselves was very satisfying.

A. I like to have fun, go out and try new things.

I am social and friendly I give everyone a chance before

I judge them. I love my family and friends and miss

them a lot but I’m very excited to be living somewhere

experiencing life in a different part of the country.

B. 1. Keeping up on my work and studying. Everyone

has always told me that you go to college thinking you

can do it and then it hits you, how much harder

and more intensive the work is compared to high

school.

2.Being away from my friends and family. I was so

used to living in the same place with the same

people having my friends and family always around.

I was nervous of the challenge of being away from

them not being able to see them everyday. And

having to make new friends for the first time in

forever.

3.  Studying I’m so used to how I studied in high school

where my teachers would practically hand us what

would be on each test. I knew exactly what to study

and focus on but now I have to study everything and

prepare completely because the professors in most

courses don’t tell you exactly what they want.

C. I will have to manage my time better. I go to

school a lot less hours than I did in high school

now so I have much more free time but their is also

much more independent work to do that I have to

find the time for.

D. Since I am living on my own now I know it will

help me mature and grow as a person gaining more

independance. It will also teach me how to learn to

be alone I’m so used to being around friends and

family all the time, that the extra time to myself on

weeknights is a big adjustment.