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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

Hello, friends. My name is Shaniece and I am 17 years old. I have a big family with a lot of girls, I have 4 sisters and one brother.  I’m in the middle and that can be hard at times. I grew up in Maryland and moved to Brooklyn when I was 11 years old. Growing up I was always very shy and quiet, and I still am when you first get to know me, but I think I’m starting to grow out of it now. Music and art are my 2 favorite things. I started playing the upright bass about 4 years ago. I had so much fun playing classical music my high school orchestra and the New York All City Orchestra, which is only supposed to be for high school students but maybe I’ll go back this year anyways. I just started playing the bass guitar last year when I got one for Chirstmas, which is also so much fun. And I’ve always liked to draw, and paint, and sculpt. So now that I’m not going to have as much leisure time as I did in high school I  really hope that I will be able to make time for the things that I love to do.

Heyy, Bloggers My name is Oshin Sharma,  I am 18 years old.  I recently shifted to New York City. I was born and brought up in India.India is a vibrant place,just as vibrant and colorful as the beautiful saris worn by women here.India has so much to offer,because while its modernizing in many ways ,the culture is being carried along it.Even though i have moved here but i will always treasure my rich culture and history.My parents had moved to the states 8yrs ago and   I stayed back with my Grandparents to  finish High school .I am very close to my grandparents.They are very loving. My mom says that too much pampering by them has turned me into a brat 😀 .After all  Grandparents  are parents  with lots of frosting.I really miss them and I plan on visiting them soon.I knew after shifting here I would have problems adjusting to the new atmosphere  but I guess I’m handling that well.New York has such a lively energy.It is an urban paradise ,replete with popular landmarks,attractions and so many must-visit places.It was my dream to attend college in NYC and meet people from different spheres of the world..So far my  experience at  Baruch college has been refreshing  and I look forward to  joining  clubs and making new friends here.

My name is Kareem Williams , I am 17 and i LOVE socccer. Although as of lately I havent had enough time to go play with my friends due to other obligations. I come from Benjamin Banneker Academy, which is a high school in Downtown Brooklyn. At Baruch I intend on majoring in Business Finance. My life is basically consumed by school and work. In the future I hope to make 6 figures and own a very nice house. 🙂

My name is Julonni Washington, I was born on July 20, 1993 and spent every year of my life living in a place called the Bronx.  I have enjoyed my life so far and my main goal is to keep enjoying life.  There is nothing special about my childhood to share so I will not spend hours thinking about what to say. I will say that right now, I am looking forward to an enjoyable four years at Baruch and several more enjoyable decades exploring the world’s major metropolis’. I am currently in one so it’s less work to do for me.  If there is one thing you would want to know about me it’s that I am a marriage of opposites. I eat a lot of food yet I have a very slim body. I don’t think of myself as a stereotypical ‘nerd’ yet the first thing my peers point out is my intelligence.  I am very open to conversation yet have very few close friends.  I may not have a lot to say on here right now but in person it’s a different story, one that only a few lucky people will experience.

Hi. My name is Taylor Higgs. I was born and raised in California my whole life. Even though I was born in Cali, I wasn’t lucky enough to experience beach, sun, and surf everyday. My house is more in the dead center of the state, which is about a 1-3 hour drive from the mountains, beaches, and woods in all directions. If I had to choose though, I would have loved to live closer to a beach. I grew up in a family of 7, with two brothers and two sisters, and I am the 4th child. I grew up around sports and music from an early age though the influence of my dad, he was a great singer and a strong athlete. My oldest brother got all of father’s athleticism, now in the MILB for the Seattle Mariners, and my other brother got all his musical talent, majoring in pianoI performance at Chapman University. Me, I got split in between with a ukulele and a chance to play D3 volleyball, and it is debatable that I am the better looking of the 3.. But anyways, I came to NY to get as far away from home as I possibly could. To experience things on my own and have a good time. I’m hoping that you guys would have fun sharing that with me.

Aloha Fro-mates, My name is Bianca Work. Yes, Work, like the occupation. I’m eighteen years old, and am currently living in Rockaway, Queens; which I despise. This is only because it takes two hours to get to school every single morning, and two hours to get home every single night! Seeing as I had planned to go away to college, Baruch is a difficult adjustment. I’d love to major in Finance, or Industrial and Organizational Psychology,  so that I can work in Law. BUT that doesn’t mean that I’m always a serious person. I’m extremely creative and am always baking, cooking, or doing some artistic thing on the beach, which is conveniently located a block from my house.  Whenever I am stressed or overwhelmed, I take my beloved guitar and go sit on the sand. Speaking of the beach, I usually spend my summers in Sicily. I wish that I could live there permanently because my entire family and all of my friends live there. I have the traditional HUGE Italian family. That means the three thousand cousins, huge Sunday dinners, and barely being able to hear yourself think around relatives, because they’re all so loud, is all part of the norm for me. I’m used to my surrounding always being hectic and frenzied and that’s why I fit perfectly into the city life. Everything is quick, upbeat and always in motion. I am actually extremely shy at first which is sort of hard in College. I spend a lot of my time doing Community Service. Every Saturday I volunteer at a Soup Kitchen in Park Slope. Last night I actually part took in the “Light the Night Walk” in Queens. Toodles.

At 17 years old i very few people know who they are, and even fewer can describe themselves accurately. Personally i think i am a realist. I tend to view the world in a structure. I dont usually plan for things to go wrong, so im not a pessimist, but im always aware that the possibility of something going wrong is always possible. My top 3 concerns for Baruch as a freshman are about its organization, its lack of functional escalators and lack of public housing. Baruch’s organizational system is horrific in my opinion. Before my placement exam i spent countless hours calling the school, and never even having someone pick up. Eventually i physically went to the school and waited almost an hour to be told that my placement test had not been graded yet. Baruch is a relatively large school, and as such getting to class can be a hassle, especially if you have classes back to back. Unfortuantely the escalators never work, and the elevators take too long. I frequently walk from the 4th to the 10th floor, which can be a hassle. My last concern for baruch is that it has almost no affordable public housing, and the housing that is affordable is already taken. Most college students look toward college to move away from thier parents, and here i am stuck at home for another 4 years. Baruch has not been majorly different from my highschool. The city is a minor improvement from my old school, but even in high school i had any number of places to choose to hang out with friends. Ironically, while Baruch is located in the city, there are very few places to shoot pool and the like close to it. The only major difference in Baruch for me are the teachers. Teachers in highschool always pressured you to do work and the like, which only made me want to do it less. Here the teachers dont force us upon anything, which i find to be refreshing. Finally i think my first year of college will make me mature in regards to my decesion making. I hope to make ( and have already made ) new friends and i look forward to the upcoming year.

Hello, fellow FRO classmates/bloggers, Natasha, it is a pleasure. Brooklyn born and raised its NYC all day everyday. Truthfully, I was hoping to get out of the city for college, but Baruch thus far has been a pleasurable experience. I’ll see what Baruch has to offer. I must say that food around the school is great, but I am already getting bored of the burgers. I hope we all make the best of our FRO experience and enjoy each others company.