Category Archives: Blog Post 1

         I am an ordinary student among the thousands of students in the Baruch College.I always pay my attention to my dream and try my best to achieve it, even though I have to face different kinds of challenges.Also,I am a person who never feel dispressed no matter what happen to me,because I always talk to myself that I need to keep smile with people,then the people may have the same feeling with me.So be optimistic is my expect way to enjoy my new life in college.

          As a freshman of the college,I have to acclimatize myself to the new surrounding.There are several concerns about my freshman year at Baruch College.First, time management is my biggest concern. Usually,I do my job without any sense of the time,however it is important to develop the time mangement in college, because I have to get in the class on time and finish the assignments without exceeding the deadline.Also,in order to catch up with the teachers’ schedule,I have to preview the book and  review it after class which I never did before.Secondly,I concern about my academics,it is difficult to get high GPA the help of the professor and classmates.I know that the GPA determines whether I develop my skills during the classes.Certainly,I wish I could develop my abilities to have a good foundation for the future in college.Finally, I worry about whether I can get used to the new life,college seems like a diffetent stage during the entire life,I have to face new rules,new people,and new surroundings.sometimes,I need to make a change to fix myself in order to interact with new things without misunderstanding.

         Baruch College experience is different from my high school,it  not only offers me a chance to develop my academic skills,but also cultivate my abilities to  look toward the social life.During the college,it teaches me  to be independent and mature when I deal with a problem or socialize with the other students.The most important thing is that it reminds me of my responsibilities,I could understand what is my duty and what should I need to do.Anyway, I would learn a lot of  knowledge which I never understood during the high school.

             Ultimately, during the first year of  Baruch College,it impove my writing and conmunication skills.Also,it help me to understand how to get well with the new people.Just be brave and extroversion.I think it may change me to manage my time intelligently and size the every opportunity exist.I feel excited to figure out my dream and look forward to the new experience in Baruch College .

             Let’s fighting together to have a different and excited new college life.

Who am i?
I’m 17 , was born on 18th Jan 1994, and well honestly that’s all I know about myself, we think we know ourselves the best and we could write an much as we were asked to but now when I am actually writing about myself I’m amazed at how little I know about myself. My name is Amar Kapoor and my previous name was Ksheetiz Kapoor ( bet you can’t say it) , and I changed my name because most people couldn’t say my name and it would take me an hour explaining how my name is pronounced. I’m from India I was in New York from 2000- 2004 and then I went to India and now I came back to NY on July 4th. I think of myself as a good friend I’m always there for my friends whenever they need me however I’m not too good at taking the initiative of talking to a stranger. Back in India almost the entire school was my friend and everyone knew me but when I came to Baruch it all seemed so different. The day I had classes I didn’t know anyone and since it is a commuter school students just attend classes and leave. I wish I lived in the dorms they are cool (sorry I’m going off the topic ). I’m kind of the guy who acts immaturely to have fun and would do the stupidest things to make people laugh in my high school I was always doing something or the other to make my friends laugh but now I don’t do that because back in India since I knew everyone I was more comfortable with all that.
I think my college experience has been very different from my high school experience. I feel relieved now because I don’t have to study as much as I had to in India. We are taught to be self-dependent in college and our teachers don’t keep on reminding us what to submit. College is more flexible I have joined lexicon; our college’s yearbook and I enjoy taking pictures of most of the events happening in college and meeting new people oh yeah! I forgot to mention I love photography, and im really passionate about it.
I think my main concerns will be making new friends, coping up with college’s grading policies and getting a good grade.
I think the first year of college will have a positive effect on me I will become more knowlegable, will gain more experience, my communication skills will increase and I will be able to socialize easily.

I think that who I am depends a lot on where I am and where I am from; since I was born and raised in South Korea, I am greatly influenced by its aspects. As I moved to New York, both places became the foundation of my characteristics and qualities.

I am a blithe and carefree girl; I gaze at every situation in a positive way. When a test grade is less than I had hoped, I do not feel badly. I look forward to another opportunity to improve myself. I try to never be devastated by past experiences. Instead, I become introspective, always trying to learn from and turn the circumstance into a positive event. I strongly agree with Tom Krause’s saying and I have spent my life believing in the concept, “There are no failures – just experiences and [my] reactions to them.”  Nobody likes mistakes. That is why when mistakes occur, I try to get past it as quickly as possible and look forward to the next challenge. The word that describes me the best is competitor. I am a daring individual because I am constantly challenging myself, embracing new learning and self-improvement strategies. Before, I was very self-conscious speaking in front of others. When I was given a chance to work for a lawyer, I did not hesitate to say yes. My desire to try and experience new occurrence overcame the fear.

As I make a transition from high school to college, there are number of concerns that worry me. Since college is so different from high school, it may be the reason why I have such concerns. One of the concerns that I have is a responsibility. Unlike high school, professors do not guide you into any directions; they do not sit with me and go over tests. From being on time for classes to completing assignments, it is all up to me. College is about having independence and letting me be my own guide. Because of freedom given to me, I have to manage time precisely. It may be the one that I most worry about since when I focus on something, I do not stop until I finally realize I have an assignment to finish. Lastly, socializing with people is another concern of mine. Since I was not born here, lack of understanding certain jokes or slangs can be frustrating.  

While in college, I plan to use my characteristics in order to not only improve me, but to help others and the community as well. I would like to get to know people who are different from me. I want to experience new people and their personalities. I am very excited to start a new journey as a college student. Even though there may be obstacles during the way, I am confident that I will be able to overcome the obstacles.

Out of the hundreds and thousands of students passing the doors of Baruch everyday, I stand out. No matter who you are, a professor, a student, a faculty or staff, you have seen me. For those who haven’t, you will get your chance. I will soon be known as the girl in the blue scarf…the girl with the lion’s mane. Why? It’s pretty obvious. All you have to do is glance my way. My lion’s mane is who I am as a whole. I am a community giver, a friend, a survivor, and a writer. I am a speaker, a pianist, an educator and most importantly, I am a Muslim. Many Muslims are afraid to talk about themselves and who they really are…I’m different. Whether I want to hide or just shun myself from the world, it is an impossible task. The world is my stage and all eyes are on me. Red converse shoes, short, brown dress, and with my lion’s mane, it’s hard to miss this simple girl trying to be heard.

Time management is a prowess yet to be mastered. My predilection of reading leisurely has now ceased to be. Words are comfort. They are more than just friends; they are who you want it to be. I want to be heard. I want my writing to be inspiring. I have to start now but my concern is how? The clock ticks mercilessly against the scribbles of my paper and pen. Pretty soon, time will be up. Will I be heard? Like all of us, I wonder how many friendships I will make…and how many I’ll lose. Life is a troubling place to not have best friends.

I feel the presence of Bernard Baruch when I walk in. He walks up, unlocks all of my doors and opportunities, and throws the key far away so I will never be able to close them. I feel Bernard Baruch pushing me to take risks and things I would have never took interest in. It’s overpowering sometimes. It’s different from high school. Really different. Taking chances were rare. Sometimes, I feel its safer to keep things in so the only one judging would be myself. Fortunately, Baruch is not letting me do so. He’s wanting me to be heard.

Every now and then, there’s a fork in the road. I begin to walk in one path, peering at my surroundings and sensing the “would-be” success at the end. As I choose that rocky avenue, I have my eyes on another path, certain that I have made a mistake. The first year will give me the breaks to test and try new things. From the performing arts, Encounters Magazine, to helping fellow classmates and volunteering for the community, I think the first year will change me for the good. Nothing is guaranteed so I really don’t have much time to fear. I have to make my mark and go for it. So bring it on!

“Who do you think you are?” I think I am a follower of my dreams. If my life is without a dream, I may feel like my soul is taken away from me. College offers the opportunity for me to discover my dreams and also to help me to reach them.

My top three concerns about freshman year at Baruch are: my grades, finding new friends and improving my English. I am most concerned about my grades. I expect to pass all of my courses, and not get dismissed from the college. I also expect that my first year at Baruch will be very exciting. I look forward to gaining more confidence as my studies progress. Another thing I care about is friendship. Baruch is a new environment for me right now, so I hope to meet new friends so we can have fun, learn, and also support each other if we are feeling down.  I also want to improve my English. I have been in the United State for 4 years, but my English have not really been reflective of it. I hope to have great progress with my English during my first year.

There are a lot changes happening around me every day. I feel like I am maturing and growing more and more every day.  I also found that college involves more work and responsibility.  In high school the teachers were micro-managers, making sure we did our homework or took notes during the class. In college, I find the need to motivate and manage myself in order to complete my assignments. Unlike high school, it’s motivating to see that everyone at Baruch seems more serious about their studies, and are working very hard. At first I felt bored with so much free time. Each day I just sat around waiting for the time pass then go to the next class. Finally I began to take the time to go to the library with my classmate. We found that most everyone in the library were focused on their studies. This was motivating to us, so we sat down, took out our own books, and began to study. The library atmosphere forced us to be productive between classes.  It made the time seem to fly by, and we forgot about being bored.  One of the great aspects of Baruch that I found is that there are many resources that we are privileged to have access to.  The college not only has a great library, but also a computer lab and writing center and some other tools.  These resources are very helpful to my studies and college experience. There are also many activities offered at Baruch.  These activities can help me to develop my interests in other areas, offering me the opportunity to be a happier and more well rounded person.

I think my first year of college will change me because I will begin to improve my writing and communication skills. I will also meet new friends, and at the same time I will get onto the right path toward my dream.

          I am a student. I am a ordinary student at college who is trying to discover the different possibilities in life. I am a sister. I give my little sister my care and help whenever and wherever. I am a daughter. I give my full attention to what my parents has to say and try to reach to the goals that they have set for me. I am a friend. I sit patiently and listen to the stories and problems that a friend has to share. Who do I think I am? My answer would be that I have several different roles in life, but all of them makes me who I am.

          Freshman year at college is the hardest time because it is difficult to adjust to the new surrounding. There are several concerns I have about myself for my freshman year at Baruch College. First, the academics is my biggest concern. The way classes progress and the ways professors teach concerns me the most. It is hard to tell if what I am doing is right or what I am doing is the way that it should be as a college student. GPA is a important part of college and I hope to be able to have a good start in the academics. Second concern would be getting accustomed to the college life. College is a different stage in life, several adjustments has to be made in order to fit in and flow with the others. Third Concern would be meeting new people. I hope to meet and learn about different people in Baruch but it is difficult because Baruch is a commuter school. I hope to find a balance between school life and social life.

          College offers a lot of independence and freedom. Independence and freedom are great way to adjust to the adult life, but being an adult means that I would have to manage myself properly or else I will be the one to take all the responsibilities for failing to complete my requirements. In high school, there are always someone there to remain you of what to do and what should you do. In college, it is all about self-dependent and self-discipline.

          I think the first year at college will change me into someone who is more independent and mature. College allows me to learn how to manage my time and use them wisely, and learn about the different opportunities that college has to offer. I am excited to find out what the college has to offer and to discover the endless possibilities.

      Among 7 billion people all over the world, I’m just like a small ant on one leaf, which flows in the broad ocean without ending. Sometimes, I experience some “storm”, but no matter how hard the situation is, I still believe that, there will be one day, when I find my own ideal place to land.     

     “Who do you think you are?” This is a hard question to answer. People usually can’t see their own portrait rightly. To be honest, I don’t believe there is a perfect person in the world, and of course, I’m not a flawless person either, especially, I have strong feeling of jealousness, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing to have, because that always inspires me to improve to the same level as others whom I’m jealous with.

       Time surely goes by fast. 2 years ago, I’m still a little girl in China, who is wondering around, and do nothing, depending on parents, teachers and friends, but now I’m in America, the country with freedom, but the only one you can count is yourself. During the two years, what I have learned is not only the language, but the ability to live independently in society. Maybe sometimes, I fell lost and confused, but everything will work out in the end.

        As a college student, it’s just as hard as I imagine, the way you behave has to be more mature, and things you have to concern are also much more than in high school.  First, making friends are might not as easy as you think. I want to make a lot of friends who are from different countries all over the world; this is the goal that I didn’t accomplish during my high school year, because of the language barrier. I’m still worried about that now, but I will try, and I believe that I will accomplish someday, because there 4 years left after all, time is enough. Second, the way of teaching in college is really different than high school. There is no one who will help you hand by hand anymore or pages of notes on the board for you to copy. You have study by yourself, and taking notes by listening. Actually, I still can’t fit in this kind of situation very well now, but I will try to fit as soon as possible, because there are some tests coming up soon, I may fail the test though.  Third, the writing skill problem has bothered me for a long time, and plus there are so many paper works and essays need to do in college,  so I have to work harder to improve it, maybe I will go find some help from the Wring Center someday.

       Still, there are so many concerns about college, but I believe this is also a great chance for me to jump to a brand new level of life; maybe it’s going to be a turning point. Anyway, college life just start, there are still many unknown things to explore, and I’m also looking forward to it.

College life, fighting!

Have you ever had that feeling that your supposed to know someone’s name, but you feel like you’re meeting them for the first time? Since starting college at Baruch, I’ve had this experience on several occasions. This never used to happen in high school. Everyone knew each other, even if they werent close friends. I could walk down the hallway and know something about everyone I encountered. Not true in Baruch. I never really realized how much bigger Baruch’s student population is compared to my high school until I walked in on my first day. It left me with an almost breathless feeling, partly because I didnt see anyone I knew, but mostly because I was unfamiliar with the building, and was kind of lost. I am not a shy person, but im not overly outgoing either. Making new friends isnt too hard for me, but it seemed like everybody already knew each other. Those that came to Baruch with me from my high school were nowhere in sight, and the people that I met in Orientation werent showing up either. I felt like I had been pulled from my comfort zone, and tossed into a new world.

It was a few days before I settled in to the new routine. After a while, I noticed that college had in many ways a better social climate than high school. Even though many people didnt know each other, they are still friendly, and once everybody’s schedules were settled, you find that many of the freshman have the same classes, and have time in between to socialize. I met a lot of cool people, and am having a good time getting to know them. Also, the classes themselves are more interesting, since the basics have been covered in high school. You can also see that everyone is actually trying, because while high school felt like an obligation, everyone knows that what we learn in college will determine out future careers. College is making me do more for myself, since now there isnt an annoying guidance counsellor or teacher pressuring me to get my work done. Everything is on me now. I feel myself becoming a more responsible person, because the stakes are higher. One  of my biggest concerns is that a bad test or missed presentation will ruin my GPA for an entire semester. Another concern of mine is the wide range of classes to choose from. Once all the required courses are done, everyone will be picking different schedules, and taking different classes. In high school, if you were struggling, or missed a homework, there were always friends to help you out. Now, im wondering if there will be anyone to help me if I mess up.

Well, ther is no point in worrying about all this now. So far, everything is going smoothly, and I am hoping it will stay that way. I am not very good at ending essays or blogs, but i guess a decent conclusion would be that overall, Baruch seems a great place to spend four years, and that I am looking forward to the new experiences.

My name is a mashup of my parents’ names: Joe and Ann, and for the longest time, I spent my time trying to run away from this association. They dedicated part of our house to a memorial of my paternal grandparents, as per Chinese tradition, and I rejected all forms of the typical second-generation Asian immigrant culture. They bowed thrice in front of two faded photographs of my grandparents and planted three incense sticks into the ashes in front of them, and I left my house to get to church on time. It was the morning of Chinese New Year. Their offers to drive me to wherever I needed to go became a great way to check up on everywhere I went, and I stayed out later and later. We never had cheese in the house.

I have my dad’s jaw, my mom’s eyes and her “huck-huck-huck” of a laugh, his incredible willingness and curiosity and her devotion and laziness. I have come to take pride in the small bursts of conversations in Chinese that I’m forced to partake in at work, and for all the fights I’ve gotten into with them over staying out too late with my church friends, I’ve grown to become a pretty straight-laced type of person. I am a steadfast friend and a klutz in time management. I am shy and adventurous at once. My temperament changes according to who I’m with; some would say that I am a people-pleaser. I don’t mind.

As I commuted to Manhattan for a rigorous high school as well, I was not very nervous coming into college. I had a huge workload in high school, but it was a different kind. While teachers expected students to produce a certain amount of work each night to make sure we did our homework, it is now up to each individual to stay on top of their reading. This allows more flexibility, but also requires more responsibility. Going to Baruch makes me feel a lot more in charge of my own career, and as a result, I am more invested in making sure I succeed. I’m concerned about how well I’ll network. Many of my close friends are still in the city, so loneliness is not a terrible issue, but I want to make good friends at Baruch, as well as get to know the people around me. It’s difficult when you are not constantly surrounded by them, and it requires a more active effort to maintain friendships, but I think it’s worth it. I’m afraid I’ll fall behind on my work and that I will not be focused enough on finding out what I love to do, but these are all things that are within my control.

All in all, I’m not sure how much my first year at college will change me. So far, it hasn’t been too different from my high school experience, but I hope to take advantage of more opportunities where I can.