Author Archives: tchiu1

When I first applied to Baruch College, I was expecting another communter school for me to go to, classes to attend whether harder or easier, and pretty much just another chapter in my life. Honestly, I didn’t have extremely high expectations otherwise I would have placed mysel in a dorming school but I didn’t want to do that. So I guess in concluding my thoughts, Baruch was what I expected. I mean, I wasn’t expecting fireworks to go off every dazzling minute but I certainly wasn’t expecting hell either. Baruch isn’t the worst chapter of my life, but I’m not saying it’s the best either.

My first semester was better than what I expected to be. I was extrememly nervous my first week but now I’m gradually becoming more and more comfortable with the college environment. I met great friends, have good classmates, some excellent and nice teachers as well. I can’t complain about my schedule. Mondays and Wednesdays off? I certainly don’t have that for next semester. Alas, next semester, I have to go to school everyday as well as the fact that my profesors might not be as cracked up as they I expect them to be.

Of course I have my regrets, that’s just part of human nature. I guess if I could have done things differently I should have done more things, I should have reached out more to clubs and activities, and get over my natural nervousness with new people and professors. I should have participated more. The world doesn’t revolve around me, other people are probably feeling just as nervous as I am and got over it.

I would think I have changed. My sarcasm isn’t as biting as it was in high school. I’m more subdued around people but I guess that’s because everything is completely new. Ask me again in four years and I am pretty sure I would have changed even more. My confidence level probably decreased, I also don’t have as much as time as I did to do stuff I want to do in my spare time.

I was forced to do community service before in high school, at least 5 hours every semester. This means twenty hours of community service per year which means in my entire high school career eighty hours of community service. Not to mention the community service I did in the summer is completely disregarded because I have to do community service during that semester in the school year. Frankly, I don’t give a damn. I have other things to worry about, this is like swatting an annoying fly that won’t go away. But at least I remain committed to it. If I have a task I will still finish it.

Imagine my expression when I realized I had to do even more community service in college. I thought that was done with but apparently not. Anyway, our living community decided to go to the Making Strides: Breast Cancer walk on Sunday October 16. The walk starts at 7, which means I had to walk up at 6:20. This was alright on weekdays since I have school but on a weekend when the MTA system is unpredictable and annoying? Worse yet, it was still early in the morning and it was freezing. We had to stand around in the cold. I admire that walkers, for enduring that weather and smiling at the same time.

I am still traveling down that road called life.

I am exiting one stage and entering another.

I stand here firmly in the present:

attempting to look forward in the future

and yet afraid to continue my journey.

I look hesitantly into my past

the memories that remain grow hazy

but the experiences become vivid.

If I look in a dictionary and search for my name,

I find no meaning

the entry is blank.

So I take a pen and write

the pen hesitates before meeting the paper.

What defines me?

Do I write my meaning or do others write if for me?

Should I leave it blank and expect it to write itself?

Still, I attempt to write something

but I grow frustrated and dislike the entry I have given myself.

I cross it out.

The blot is ugly and I immediately regret what I have done.

Then I realize why the entry remains blank,

it is because I am still traveling down that road called life.

I’m Tammie Chiu, and I was born and raised in New York all of my life. I live in Queens and love the city. I can’t really bear the thought of leaving this metropolis.

My top three concerns of my freshman year is doing well in my classes to have a good GPA, finding enough friends and classmates throughout my college years, getting a job or an internship to jump start my career, and doing all of this at the same time. These tasks are what I feel a necessary part of life, growth, and development. If I can accomplish these concerns then I know perhaps there will be some success waiting for me.

So far, the college lifestyle feels much more independent than high school. I am expected to do many things for myself and moreover, I will not get as much assistance than I would have in high school. Things are slightly more difficult but nothing astoundingly horrible.

I think my first year at college will be that awkward in between stage from getting adjusted at a new lifestyle to recognizing my potential as an adult within this society. Or maybe not. Who knows what the future holds for me? Hopefully at the end of this year I can be more independent, can multitask successfully, and can put even more effort and work into projects and papers. I also need the ability to read college material faster. I want to develop better networking skills for I abhor the word and also gain an internship or a job as stated before.