Month: October 2011

Hi Professor,

I am having some problems uploading the assignments on blackboard. Can i  email you the assignment instead?

Sincerely,
Felyesha George

 

My name is Felyesha George. I was born in Guyana I departed in New York at the age of eleven. I love to dance, trying different foods without vegetables such as onions, peas and carrots. I also enjoy sleeping, playing sports and pretending to be a model, which I hope to make reality someday, I also hate insects I would most likely faint if I came in contact with one.  Although their small creatures, and they might fear me more than I fear them but their also weird and they sometimes get under my skins.

I would identify myself as a devoted, determined and an  independent young lady, who knows that one day I will be successful. One who would strive to be the best at anything I set my mind too and accomplish my dreams. My biggest challenge is failure. I don’t like the word failure I try to keep it out my vocabulary. I strive for what I want, but fear failure.

I’m the role of a big sister and a role model to my younger siblings, guiding and providing  them with information my parents cannot.
Encouraging them to follow my footsteps but take a few more then me. Be a leader not a follower. I expect to make the best out of college to stay focus on my first steps towards my future career. I want to grow into a more organize and independent individual one who can stand tall on both feet and don’t have to depend on others. My personal motto is to stay focus on what’s ahead not what’s left behind, the past is the past no one has the power to go back in time and change it. One can only work on changing the future

One person that inspires me is my mother, she’s a hard working and a devoted mother. She always puts others
before herself. And does whatever it takes to help one in need. She once wentout of her way to give a stranger a $100 to go back home. The individuals family disowned her and she needed money to purchase a ticket to go back to her home land. These are just two of my mother’s best qualities when it comes to caring for others. If I ever needed a shoulder to lean on I can always depend
on my mother for always being there and supporting me in everything I do.

Finally, during my free time I enjoytutoring children. I love the feeling knowing that I’m able to share my
knowledge with others and not just sit down on it. Encouraging them  to succeed in and out of school, always
strive for the best and nothing less.

What do I really want? I mean, REALLY really want? There’s so much out there that I can have, that I can take, but is it worth it? Will I be putting my blood, sweat, and tears to waste..

I’ve often wondered where my life would lead me, and so far I can’t complain. Living in NYC and away from my parents has been a weird blessing for me. Without the sheltered living and unlimited food, I’m finding out more about myself than I thought was possible.

I think I know what I want now… I want what I’ve got and what is to come. There’s no limit to what can happen or what I can avoid. Everything that happens to me continues to shape me into what I am becoming. Shaped by the other, shaped by me,  by you and Baruch College. This is what I want.

 

High School could be tough but college can be 10x harder. The struggles of high school were just growing pains to prepare me for college. Although at the time the bigger picture seemed so far away. There were so many frustrating and embarrassing moments that made me wish graduation would hurry up. I recall a time where I struggled with my chemistry class. That class confused me unlike any other. But, the regents were even harder. I was so embarrassed that even after taking it 3 times I still managed to fail it. But it was important that I kept my head up and moved on. High School didn’t only teach me lessons through struggle. Good leadership qualities were instilled in me from being President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of Student Council and captain of the basketball team. These roles shaped my social skills and raised my confidence. No one wants to follow a person who doesn’t believe in themselves. Being involved with NHS and Student Council required me to actively be involved with my community. Any event that I had free time to volunteer for, I was there. When I give back I feel empowered and good about myself. I’m making a difference in someone else’s life.

Being so busy left me no time to hang with friends. So coming into Baruch I was really concerned if I would find a good group of friends that shared the same or even different interests as me. To my surprise, I ended up being 1 of 21 players on the Women’s Basketball team. Making friends was a lot easier than I thought. I developed a really close bond with three girls in particular, Jasmine, Iyana, and Sheridan. It was like an instant connection from day one. We help each other adjust to living away from home and making a transition from high school to college. Together we have so much fun and share an infinite amount of laughs. But most of all were there for each other when times get rough. When Jasmine first got here, we helped see her through an ACL injury. We made things comfortable for her and never made her feel out of the loop. When I was having health problems, in and out the hospital for three weeks the girls were very supportive of me. They would text me often to check up on me and wish me a speedy recovery. They wanted me to be back on the court just as bad as I did. Now, I’m back and healthy, enjoying this college experience, living on my own in the dorms and playing basketball. I feel so mature and independent. I have found a stable group of friends, something I lacked in high school, and a new team of sisters. I even developed some good study habits to keep me on top of my grades.

It felt as if nothing was changing as days went by one by one, but when I look back I just say wow because everything is different and better. The big picture no longer seems far to me. My experiences have taught me very valuable life lessons. It’s not where you start, but where you finish. That’s why one of my theme songs is “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, because in a nutshell Jay-Z briefly states where he started and how he ended up. “Me, I’m out that Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie now I live on Billboards and I brought my boys with me…” Also the line “New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of There’s nothing you can’t do…” I’m sure many can relate to. Growing up in New York City is rough but if you continue to strive to be great, you will see the results you want. Being accepted into Baruch is just one of many goals I have yet to reach and I won’t stop until I fulfill my dreams.

This is an important message from Julonni. The Charlie Pellet impersonation ends there. The fact that I know who he is makes me unique or incredibly strange. Maybe snow in Dubai strange. The sad thing is I can’t make that judgement. It shouldn’t matter who’s judging anyway; besides what about me is strange? Is it that questions like “who’s the best rapper alive?” don’t appeal to me where questions like “what is the best skyscraper on earth?’ do. Is that I would rather watch Jimmy Kimmel Live than watch Jersey Shore? Is that my life revolves around weather, cars, sports, skyscrapers and mass transit where others lives revolve around their so-called “friends”? Someone should tell me why so I can move on with my life, maintaining the good mood and optimism i’m always known for. A person as ‘unique’ as myself shouldn’t have to answer that question but somehow unique gets replaced with ‘incredibly strange’. Why am I spending my first semester of college searching for this thing called a “social life” when I should be focused on these things called my grades. Things like a girlfriend or chillin at a friends house are fantasies in my universe where trivial books like Heart of Darkness remain an ever stark reality. When will the shackles of academia loosen themselves from the wonderful 5’6″, 136 lb black 18 year old named Julonni? Only time will tell in the meantime I have to get back to work on my anthropology paper.

New York, my own little concrete jungle, filled with girls in high heels and boys with cigarettes, paved with loud urban music and over priced coffee. Friends pulling all nighters and couples fighting all night, all while traffic lights are being ignored. Everyone has a fake ID in their wallets, along with two metro cards. And money is the answer to 85% of your questions. The youth wreaking havoc with their red painted lips and pomade waxed hair. Legs, so many long legs, dancing to euphoric beats and collapsed on polyester cushioned couches. The air is thick with the smell of hot dog water and salty pretzels, which no one really eats anyway. You end up chatting with a vaguely hung over, lower east side, hipster artist, he is engaging, but for just a second. The night filled with lights, so many, many lights, you feel a sudden rush, a flush, and you blush. Scantily clad girls running down subway steps with their date’s jackets and guys thinking why the hell did I give her my friggen jacket. Eyes looking up at the high rises, the sky rises, your own high rises. Do I kiss him, does she kiss with tongue, do we have to say goodnight to each other, or can we break night together? College guys, always in wolf packs, sex infused and searching for girls with long blonde hair, in the city of brunettes. The whole notion of ‘sleeping when you’re dead’ now sounds a tad bit foolish, you’re tired, but you’re body is living in the moment, for life is time, and time is all there is. It’s all about want, no one really needs anything here, what do you want? And so we’re born in the capital of the world and we can never escape, but don’t look down on us, because we are free in all the ways you are not. Who’s going to save this uncontainable teenage wasteland? And I am in the center of it all. On the 7 train traveling back to Queens, trying to remember the dream lived the night before. And in the morning starts the routine of school, work and conscience decisions.

My name is Kareem Jamaul Williams, I am currently a freshmen intending on pursuing a
Business Finance major. I was born on November 30, 2011, so I guess it could be said that I
am the baby of the group. When I was a child I used to live in Jamaica with my grandmother
because my mom was in a situation where she was unable to take care of me at the time. I
moved back to the US at the age of 6. When I returned to the US I lived with my mom and
dad till I was about 11 years old. At that time my mom and dad got a divorce and I alternated
from home to home weekly. I currently only live with my mom because my dad moved back
to Jamaica my freshmen year of High School. In my high school years I played on the school
soccer team, this is really when I got my first dose of brotherhood, and for two club teams; FC
Vipers and Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC). I would be playing soccer still for DUSC
but It was recommended by my eye doctor for me to stop playing due to my severe eye problems.

I consider myself to be self motivated and very independent, my mom is hardly home
because she works crazy hours so for most days I’m on my own and am forced to make more
decisions on my own, turning me into a very mature young man. I find that I’m a very easy
going calm individual and I don’t let a lot of things bother me because if I did I would probably
be too stressed out at such a young age. Some things that interest me are girls, soccer, music and
money, my favorite thing to eat is probably Cereal. I am a very picky person when I comes to
everything I do so there is not much things that I eat, so because of that I mostly feed myself
cereal when I find that there is nothing else for me to eat. One interesting fact about me is that
one of my ancestors was white hence why I am one of the few light skin people in a dark skin
family haha.

Maxie Fuchs

Freshman Seminar Monologue

The college experience is different and unique for everyone. But  what does the college experience mean? How can you take advantage and make the most of your time in college? The college experience is very important to most new incoming freshmen. For the first time in their life they are free from their parents, and can do whatever they like. College is a time where you gain your own independence, but with more independence comes a lot more responsibilities. It’s about freedom, and the freedom to pick one thing over another. Its about empowerment, and with that empowerment comes choice, courage and change. And while making money, and finding a career might be the main purpose of college, it’s not the only one. It’s important to take advantage of these next few years and take advantage of the opportunity to create your own future and make a difference. And not to lose hope even when you run into obstacles and things seem hard. Appreciate both the good experiences and the bad. Take time and see how you can learn from your mistakes.

But it was difficult for me to see my purpose in life, what I’m good at, and how I can make a difference and leave my mark. I spent time thinking about who in my life is my role model, and who in my life is my inspiration, who in my life has taught me the concept of appreciation. Over the years I have had my family, friends, teachers, and peer mentors repeatedly ask me the same question: That being “If you could spend ONE day as someone else or “walk ONE mile in someone else’s shoes,” what type of person would that be?

My natural inclination was choosing someone who is lucky, someone famous, someone rich, someone fortunate. But I later realized where would that leave me? Sooner or later I’m back with who I am, and for better or worse that’s probably where I’d want to be. Would spending time as someone who seems to have everything leave me better than I was before? Perhaps. Perhaps it would leave me embittered. After all, I can’t take it with me.

In one day?  What would could I possibly learn poolside, or in the ski slopes, or in the casinos of Monte Carlo, or even in the boardrooms of the elite? One day would not give me a true inkling of what a person who has everything lives like. All people have problems, certainly, but they are masked much of the time, smoothed over by the comforts that money can buy. I don’t think I would waste that opportunity, if it were presented, for one day in silk sneakers.

But time in the shoes and torn socks of someone who struggles; one day is everyday. One day of hunger, one day in poverty, one day in danger, one day without the comfort of family, or security. What is it like to worry about tomorrow, even if today is taken care of? What is it like to mourn for past mistakes that may have lead to a bleak future? How hard is it really to turn your life around when there are few resources and opportunities? When people speak of someone lifting themselves up by their bootstraps, what does that really mean?

My grandfather was born in Poland; survived the Auschwitz concentration camp, and came to America as adults. My grandfather worked for almost three years in the crematoria of Auschwitz as part of the Sondercommando, the Germans forced labor-killing machine. Like many other survivors, he came to this country with just the few items that were on his back. He had no place to live, no money to spend, and no family to rely on, nothing. My grandfather built a life for himself. He worked hard to get where he wanted to be and did not let the horrendous past bring him down. Rather, he gained from his experiences and learned lessons that made him a stronger person. When my grandfather died at the age of 82 I was only 7 years old. However, even at such a young age, I was old enough to know him, old enough to feel his aura, and old enough to miss him when he was gone.

What made him different was the fact that he lived through the Holocaust.  From his experience, he was able to appreciate what life gave him and demonstrate to others how lucky and fortunate they really are. Only one in every thousand survived the death camps. And I believe he was one of them for a reason. He taught me the anguish, the hope, and the promise that day follows night no matter how bad things seem. He taught me that within my DNA lives a survival instinct that can get me through the toughest things in life. Today may be dark, but tomorrow will be light.

Each person is put on this world to fulfill a task. Before time runs out, its important we leave here knowing we made a difference. My grandfather left his mark on me, and impacted my life in a tremendous way. From him, I learned to be a better person and to appreciate even the small things in life. I hope to influence others the same way I was influenced. I hope to learn valuable lessons like these to build a life on. If I were only given one day, I would choose to learn from an experience that I could treasure forever.

I wouldn’t say I’m a nerd, or a jock, or any specific stereotype. I spend my time going to the opera, volunteering at a soup kitchen, reading literature, and doing many other fulfilling things in my spare time. They’re a jumble of things that have no relation to one another. I guess that’s how you may explain me though. It’s probably because I spent a vast majority of my life always trying to live up to the standards that were set for me. But, I’ve always been confused as to whether or not what I am doing is right for me. Always allowing myself to be manipulated into doing what someone else wants because I crave others’ approval. And consistently trying to accomplish too much. I’ve always been pressured into being best at anything I do. I mean ever since I was a young girl it’s been drilled into my head that I must always succeed. How could I not be a perfectionist? Don’t get me wrong it has its highlights, but, over and over again I’m told never to waste my time doing something that won’t benefit my career in the long run. Learning to play the guitar was worthless, teaching myself to bake was pointless, and deciding to come to Baruch was a disappointment, according to my “elders”. Having a father who owns an Executive Recruiting Company, one uncle who is a licensed CPA, and CFA, another uncle who has been a lawyers for the past 30 years, and 4 cousins that all graduated from Harvard can put a lot of pressure on a girl. Of course everyone around me expected I’d end up somewhere like Boston University or NYU, but that’s because I never really told them I wanted otherwise. It explains everything about me. It is why I start studying for an exam two weeks early, why I’m in business school instead of culinary school, and why I’ve spent every summer since I was 14 at national youth leadership forums, yea fun. In highschool, I started studying for the SAT’s in freshman year. Sophomore year was filled with numerous visits to college campuses. Junior year I was juggling being captain of the mocktrial team, debate team, and being president of the community service club. In my senior year I enrolled in an international business competition, even though I have no interest whatsoever in finance, derivatives, or learning about anything that has to do with investing. I already have my course schedule mapped out until senior year. Always competing can be really difficult, and it tends to push people away as well. I rewrote this monologue 6 times because I didn’t know what I wanted to say and I couldn’t understand why it was so difficult to decide. I think that’s why it was so challenging to complete this assignment because I never really focus on me. I had no idea what I wanted to tell you about myself, but I guess that’s because I don’t fully know who I am yet.

Wow what a day. Less than 12 hours ago I had to say “see you later “ to that special someone and now I’m introduced to this whole new world. I’m not talking about the world of college and school, you can get used to all that real quick. But I’m talking about this new world without that someone. Sure we’ll still see each other whenever we have the chance to and of coarse well still talk. But its just that thing of knowing the distance we have between us that kills me. When I had to look at her for what almost felt like the last time, knowing that she was leaving and say goodbye, I collapsed. That wall of how people know me as an impassive person crumbled. For the first time in my life I felt helpless. Its incredible how something so important can be taken away so quickly. But in my case nothing was taken away because I still have that special someone. Every day I think about the times we’ve shared and the ones coming in the future. Because even something like distance cant keep us apart. -Tyler Sharkey