Author Archives: estelle.plotkin

I think that so far, my experience at Baruch has definitely lived up to my expectations. Coming from a private school where my hours were 8-5, it was definitely an easy transition coming into college where I went to school from 11-4 on most days. I thought college would be more serious but it still feels like high school. The classes are not too hard and most of my professors are pretty easy going. I expected to move into the city and be out every night but I found that I went out more often as a junior and senior in high school. The clubbing scene got old pretty fast but I’m still finding new things to keep myself entertained with when I go out at night.

My first semester at Baruch went very well. I didn’t have a hard time adjusting or finding any of my classes, which is something I worried about in the beginning of the year. I made many friends quickly and met older students who were able to help me out if I had trouble with anything.

If I had to do anything differently, I think I would have wanted to try and be less shy. There are many people who I met this semester that I probably would have gotten along with but being a shy and quiet person before I’m comfortable with my surroundings has held me back from doing so.

I don’t think I have really changed since starting at Baruch. My personality is very mellow and easy going, so It’s not like I have a loud personality that can easily change. I’m still lazy when it comes to school work and wait until the last minute to do it but as always, I make sure to get it done.

Community Service Self-Evaluation Assessment

1. How did your community service work help the community? I baked brownies to sell to help raise breast cancer awareness
2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project? I was excited and looked forward to helping the community.
3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others? It felt good and rewarding.

4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site? I learned that even though community service is considered work, it is still rewarding to do.

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? I didn’t learn much, I was just happy to help.
6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society? It was a bake sale made by and for Baruch students and in regards to larger issues in society, it was to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer.
7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session? It related to me because I felt some sort of leadership as I was baking the brownies on my own.
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 didn’t.
9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience? It’s always important to give back to your community.
10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not? Yes, because I felt happy that I was able to help somehow.
11. do you see yourself staying involved in the community during your college and adult years? Why or why not? If someone calls me because they need help with something, I won’t hesitate to go back and help. Otherwise, probably not.
12. Sum up your service-learning experience in a one-two-sentence headline: It felt really good to help raise awareness and money for breast cancer. Even baking the one pan of brownies helped raise money and I take pride that I was able to participate.

A. Since it seems that everyone can read what I write, I’m going to make this as impersonal as I can/ I don’t really enjoy writing about myself anyways. I’m an easy going and relaxed person and get along with just about anyone.

B. Some concerns as a freshman at Baruch are that I will not make as many friends as I could. I’m very shy until I’m comfortable with someone and I don’t want the people I meet to think I’m boring by my first impression because I certainly am not. I’m also concerned that even though this is now my school, I feel like a stranger to everyone in the hallways. I went to a private high school where all the students and faculty knew everyone so I could always walk around the corner and find one of my friends. Since I went to a small high school, the work was very easy and it was easy to get away with a lot. I’m concerned that I will have to work much harder now than I did to achieve the grades I want.

C. As explained in the paragraph above, there is so much that differentiates my high school experience from college. I’m not going to re-explain why it’s different but just the fact that I knew everyone last year and hardly know anybody in the hallways now makes a big difference.

D. I think my first year in College will change me because I’m now living on my own in the city. I will gain a lot of independence and will have to be more responsible regarding my schoolwork.