Freshman Seminar Motherblog, 2011

I have to say, my first semester here at Baruch has gone by a lot faster than I thought it would, minus the fact that finals are dragging. Overall, I really enjoy it here. At first I hated the commute, but now that I like school and I look forward to seeing the friends I made, I don’t mind travelling here in the morning all that much. I was a little hesitant about having the same people in all of my classes because it reminded me of high school, but I only have about 7 of the same people in all of my classes, and I actually love it because I always has someone to talk to. A lot of people say the first semester in college is stressful and really hard, but I found it enjoyable. I liked most of my classes and professors so the work didn’t bother me too much. But I did have a lot of work all due at the same time, which I guess I kinda liked because it helped me learn how to organize my time better and I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. Overall, Baruch really exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the semesters to come!

I have to say, my first semester here at Baruch has gone by a lot faster than I thought it would, minus the fact that finals are dragging. Overall, I really enjoy it here. At first I hated the commute, but now that I like school and I look forward to seeing the friends I made, I don’t mind travelling here in the morning all that much. I was a little hesitant about having the same people in all of my classes because it reminded me of high school, but I only have about 7 of the same people in all of my classes, and I actually love it because I always has someone to talk to. A lot of people say the first semester in college is stressful and really hard, but I found it enjoyable. I liked most of my classes and professors so the work didn’t bother me too much. But I did have a lot of work all due at the same time, which I guess I kinda liked because it helped me learn how to organize my time better and I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. Overall, Baruch really exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the semesters to come!

I have to say, my first semester here at Baruch has gone by a lot faster than I thought it would, minus the fact that finals are dragging. Overall, I really enjoy it here. At first I hated the commute, but now that I like school and I look forward to seeing the friends I made, I don’t mind travelling here in the morning all that much. I was a little hesitant about having the same people in all of my classes because it reminded me of high school, but I only have about 7 of the same people in all of my classes, and I actually love it because I always has someone to talk to. A lot of people say the first semester in college is stressful and really hard, but I found it enjoyable. I liked most of my classes and professors so the work didn’t bother me too much. But I did have a lot of work all due at the same time, which I guess I kinda liked because it helped me learn how to organize my time better and I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. Overall, Baruch really exceeded my expectations and I’m looking forward to the semesters to come!

1. For the most part, Baruch is exactly what I thought it was going to be. A school where students got a good education for a bargain price, and once class was done an over with, students went their separate ways. Personally, a majority of my time was spent in the library studying or procrastinating on work, or in the gym trying to burn of all of the $1 pizza. I’m not the most outgoing and social person either, probably due to be being an only child, so most of the time I was doing work by myself until I began to socialize more towards the end of the semester.
2.  Overall I feel I could’ve done a better job, grade wise. At the beginning I was still in high school mode and felt I could get nothing less than a B without an ounce of studying. Long story, short, the highest grades I was getting were B’s, but after some time management and getting adjusted to the college system those grades began to increase.
3. Mainly, time management and learning how to balance school among everything else that I do. If I had done that, I would’ve have missed out on easy A’s at the beginning of the semester and then pay for it in heavy study towards the end. Also, I mentioned that I’m not the most talkative and social person, so I would’ve made more of an effort to get to know the rest of the block members cause you guys really are down to earth, which is extremely rare to find nowadays.
4. I would hope to think that I’ve matured as a person, view life differently and make different decisions then I would have. For whatever reasons it may be, entering college makes people, or maybe just me, view things differently; in a more mature and deliberate way. For what reasons? You guess is as good as mine.  But I feel, now, I’m a step closer to figuring out what is it that I intend to do with my life, career wise, and hopefully as the semesters continue and I develop more growth I’ll be a few steps closer in achieving my career choice. As for now, it’s one step, one goal at a time and one wise decision at a time, that’s my overall learning experience from this semester at Baruch.

I don’t remember exactly what I said during the monologue session of class, but I do remember that what we fear as an individual was the main topic and was expressed by the vast majority of us. So what do I fear most in life? For the most part, not
being able to accomplish whatever it is  that I’m trying to accomplish, if that makes any sense at all. In other words, we all have dreams that we wish to succeed in, and have goals, both personal and professional, that we seek to achieve in, and if I’m unable to accomplish those things, whatever it may be, I feel I would have failed as an inspiring man, son, and as a mere person. Of course, we’re all in the beginning stages of our lives, and we haven’t come to a clear consensus on what we’re trying to do with our lives in all aspects; as a person, child, sibling, student and career choices, etc, but my main goal and what I dedicate myself into doing is simply achieving different stages of my life as I get older and more mature. What if I don’t? The thought of that is what frightens me the most.

I suppose Baruch has lived up to my expectations. I honestly was not expecting too much when I came into the school. I knew it was a cuny commuter school and I was not waiting to join a sorority or live in a dorm or go to sporting events like a lot of my friends were looking forward to. All I expected from Baruch was to come to school do my work and go to my job in the city and come home. And that is exactly what I have done so far. Since I didn’t expect much from my college experience, it is kind of impossible for me to be let down.

My first semester has gone pretty decent. I made a lot more friends than i ever expected which I really enjoyed. School work wise, I definitely could have been more on top of myself. I honestly did not push myself at all and just got by doing decent work. My grades have not been bad but they could have been sooo much higher and I could have done a lot better. I also could have focused more in all of my classes because I always end up cramming to learn things on my own at home. If I would do anything differently about this semester it would be to stay focused starting from the first day of school. I would pay more attention in class and take more notes. I would also choose a schedule that did not have any class on friday!

I don’t think I have changed since I started Baruch, i just think there is a big difference in me from high school and now that I am in college. The way I act in school is very different now because I am no longer that social, I just go to class and go home which is very different than how I was in high school.

Coming to baruch made me realize a lot about myself, and not in the way i planned. I realized that i am very different in school then i am at home or with friends. When I am at school i tend to stay by myself majority of the time. During my breaks i sit alone, not because i don’t know how to socialize or don’t have anyone to sit with, but because i want to. I don’t speak up too much in any of my classes unless i have a serious opinion about something. Getting ready in the morning before i leave for school… well yeah that never ever happens. I wear sneaker and a sweatshirt everyday, but with my friends at home they have never seen me in a pair of sneakers. Some days I even wear sweatpants to school if I don’t have to go to work after.

The difference of the person i just explained at school, is that when i am at home with my family or out with my friends i am the complete opposite. I am never quiet and I am always surrounded by people. I go crazy when I am out and even when i am at home i always like to have fun everywhere I go. In my high school i was the same way always talking to everyone and having a good time.

Im not saying the way i act now is a bad thing, it is just different for me. College is definitely more serious and people are there to learn and don’t want to be distracted. I’m not going to try and change the way I act because I am comfortable in baruch the way I am now.

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

1. I really think that Baruch has exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect much from college in general and from Baruch, but the truth is I really learned a lot of things that are applicable to everyday life.

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

2. I actually feel that my first semester at Baruch was great!! The workload was heavy yet fair, and I really learned a lot. My only change for incoming freshman is that they should be able to choose their own classes/professors.
3. What would you do differently during your first semester if you could do it all again?

3. The truth, nothing. I think this first semester was amazing!!
4. How have you changed since you started at Baruch College?

4. I have become a much more worldly person, and became MUCH more interested and appreciative of the arts. I also learned a lot from all of the classes that I took and the teachers don’t hold anything back which is great. It really gets you interested in to what they are saying when they are genuine when saying it.

I don’t like structure to these kinds of things, so I won’t write my answers under letters or numbers. First of all, my experience at Baruch hasn’t truly lived up to my expectations, but I don’t hate the school at all. I expected a school that was moderately tough(It didn’t disappoint in that aspect), but every class is simply boring to me. I hate how obnoxious and self absorbed and utterly insane a majority of my teachers are. I only really felt like one of the classes mattered. Granted, it wasn’t an easy class, but I really did enjoy it(props to you Albright, not many teachers can successfully teach damn near 500 kids and do it well). And I guess this provides a link to my first semester and how it is being in a blocked schedule. Sure, registering is a real pain in the ass but it provides the freedom we all crave. Art history was the biggest waste of time and if English 2100 is any indication of what English is at Baruch, we’re going to have a problem. Having said that, it  have been much worse. As far as grades go, I don’t feel I did all that bad…until November came by and crushed me with assignments and tests. What I’d do differently for my first semester, nothing really. Being in a blocked schedule, I did all I could. I can’t force myself to be interested, that isn’t me. Even if I could i simply wouldn’t. As far as change goes, I’m in the city a lot more now and I’ve become a bit of a caffeine addict. God bless Starbucks.

I don’t like structure to these kinds of things, so I won’t write my answers under letters or numbers. First of all, my experience at Baruch hasn’t truly lived up to my expectations, but I don’t hate the school at all. I expected a school that was moderately tough(It didn’t disappoint in that aspect), but every class is simply boring to me. I hate how obnoxious and self absorbed and utterly insane a majority of my teachers are. I only really felt like one of the classes mattered. Granted, it wasn’t an easy class, but I really did enjoy it(props to you Albright, not many teachers can successfully teach damn near 500 kids and do it well). And I guess this provides a link to my first semester and how it is being in a blocked schedule. Sure, registering is a real pain in the ass but it provides the freedom we all crave. Art history was the biggest waste of time and if English 2100 is any indication of what English is at Baruch, we’re going to have a problem. Having said that, it  have been much worse. As far as grades go, I don’t feel I did all that bad…until November came by and crushed me with assignments and tests. What I’d do differently for my first semester, nothing really. Being in a blocked schedule, I did all I could. I can’t force myself to be interested, that isn’t me. Even if I could i simply wouldn’t. As far as change goes, I’m in the city a lot more now and I’ve become a bit of a caffeine addict. God bless Starbucks.