Author Archives: Leandros Katsigeras

For my community service project, I donated blood.  To do this, I went to the New York Blood Center in Long Island City.  My community service worked helped the community because with my donation, I would be able to save up to 3 lives, which is something very important to me.  What better way than to help the community than to preserve its life.  Upon hearing that I’d engage in a community service project, I was excited.  I had shoveled driveways, painted houses and planted trees for other projects, but I decided to donate blood as a way of physically giving a part of me back to the community.  Giving my time and energy to others felt good because at the end of the day I knew that I would be making a huge difference.  After the service I performed, I learned that I will go to great extents to help others.  I also learned that the service site in itself is providing an amazing service in the fact that it is providing a way to survive to the unfortunate.  The experience that stood out the most was actually donating the blood.  Watching them remove my blood in a way felt good…as creepy as that sounds.  The fact that I had the ability to save someone was empowering in a sense.  Engaging in this project made me realize that as I become successful and more knowledgeable, I should give back to the community that has given so much to me.  I owe so much to my community, for it has raised me into a bright, young man.  My community service experience has made me realize that life in itself is valuable and that we as humans should try our best to preserve it and fully live, for life is a gift.  Overall, I was satisfied with my experience.  The personnel at the New York Blood Center was very engaging, enthusiastic and cheerful.  They thoroughly explained to me the process that I would be undergoing and what would happen of my blood.  As I mature, I am certain that I will continue to engage in community service projects to impact the lives of others.  It is my duty as a human to impact the human race in a positive way.  My community service experience made me feel good.

Who do I think I am?  Truth is, I don’t really know.  I have an IDEA…so let’s go with that.  My name is Leandros Katsigeras.  I’m 18 years old.  My birthday is on April 11, 1993, which means I’m an Aries.  I’m not into astrology, but everyone always mentions their signs when they talk about themselves.  I’m Greek (Dad) and Colombian (Mom).  I have a brother, Coco (his real name is Nicholas…but I don’t like it) who is my wing man.  All of this has everything to do with who I think I am.  I’m 18…which to me was the age where I became a man.  It was a time when I put my priorities ahead of me.  I got a full-time job (no more days where I just waste gas and go park-hopping), graduated high school (the fun and games were over…but I’ll always take with me with memories and friendships that I made) and got accepted into college (4 years of hard work that’ll dictate how the rest of my life will proceed).  High school and college…complete opposites.  From my college experience so far, I’ve learned that I’m on my own.  I can’t really depend on anyone but myself to get my work done and really succeed.  Teachers don’t really care about you or your personal situation, your commute or if you’re the nicest kid in the world.  They’re just there to teach and it’s up to us as individuals to decide whether we want to take advantage and learn.  In high school, we were spoon fed everything.  We were given second chances.  We were treated as kids.  Now, we’re treated as adults.  We’re independent.  We choose when to study, how to study, where to go for our breaks, when we want to go to the bathroom or whether we want pizza or stir fry for lunch.  While this is a huge transition, I don’t seem to have any concerns at all.  For the past two years, I’ve learned how to sustain myself.  I know how to study, I know how to make friends, I know how to put in the effort if I want to see results.  The only concern that I have is that I won’t enjoy my college experience.  But knowing myself, I’m social and plan to make friends and join clubs.  All in all, my first year at Baruch will be a great one.  The idea and feeling that I get that I’m on my own and that I’m living my life without the help of anyone else is very self-assuring.  I expect to learn new skills on how to network, new study habits to succeed in any class and how to become even more outgoing to set myself apart from everyone else.  So that’s parts b, c and d.  From my parents and cultures, I learned a variety of values.  I learned that family comes before friends.  If my family needs anything or if we all decide to go out to eat, you know where I’ll be.  Responsibilities….I seem to have more than Spider Man.  Work to save up money, manage my car (gas and repairs), maintain my grades in college, stay in contact with my friends as to not lose my social abilities, take care of my dogs (german shepherds aka wolves aka Rocky and Marco), spend time with my family and most importantly, take care of myself physically, emotionally and mentally.  My parents have taught me everything I know.  The meaning of responsibility came from them.  They’re both immigrants that came here when they were 20.  They barely knew English and had no money.  And they rose to the top and were able to support my brother and I and give us more than we could ask for.  I don’t know how they did it, but if they did it, then so can I.  Also, both my parents taught me about chivalry…so I do consider myself a gentleman.  While I can go on and on about theory and how to treat a woman, I won’t.  It’s way to much for one blog post.  So let’s see…I consider myself a responsible man that is chivalrous as well.  That’s not it though.  I also consider myself humorous.  I love to laugh.  I mean, who doesn’t?  It can make a bad day turn into a good one.  Laughing has the ability to make you like someone.  Laughing can break the ice during awkward moments.  Laughing can unite strangers.  Life’s too short…so I find the humor in everything.  I watch comedy shows, act like a goofball or think of embarrassing moments. If you can make me laugh, then we’re good to go.  FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN.  I’m a fun person.  I love to experience new things or when I’m bored, go with any instincts or cravings.  Whether its going to the park to play with a frisbee, drive to the beach on a cloudy day, mini-golf or try out new restaurants.  I’ll do anything to just get out my house, take in the fresh air and just LIVE.  I’m always down to hang out whenever I’m free.  If you’re in the mood to get Chinese, yogurt or a gyro, I’m the guy to go to.  So, responsible, chivalrous, humorous and fun.  Almost there.  I LOVE to think.  I go to Gantry State Park in Long Island City, the seashore or my roof to just lie down and think.  I can think about colors and how they got their names, relationships of all kinds, religion and its significance, music and it’s ability to soothe or how we’ll only have thumbs after a couple of hundred years because of our addicting texting habits.  Responsible, chivalrous, humorous, fun and thoughtful.  That sounds about right.

P.S.-Shirley, I’m sorry that I exceeded the 500 word count limit…but I couldn’t help myself.