DTE: Surviving College 101

Sometimes I wonder about this. I wonder how people view me, and I want to know what they think. It makes me ponder if I would change myself if I knew what other people are thinking. Am I a bitch that no one wants to be friends with? Or maybe people think that I’m studious and hardworking, and want to be friends with me to use me. I don’t know, and it has been a huge problem for me. Maybe I’m so pretty that the girls are too envious to want to befriend me? (Just that thought reminds me of my best friend from HS; she was always like “Honestly, I think I’m so much prettier that her.”) That’s what my dad said, jokingly, at the start of this semester. All I know now is that all my friends so far, apart from one exception, are male. Of course, I don’t really mind this much, since according to someone, I’m just like a dude who likes to check out other girls (which I totally do NOT do). However, the problem that arises is that I do have a boyfriend, and he is the jealous type. The thing is that I totally understand why he would be. People have told me before that I come off as pretty flirtatious towards both sexes, but that really is just my personality, and so it is understandable that he would feel this way. So, a very immediate goal for me this semester is to make more girl friends! That is much easier said than done, and I am trying.

There is one big thing that really distinguishes the difference between high school and college, and that is that I don’t know anyone at college. There are so many people, and I’m just not used to it. In high school, I knew practically everyone, but here, I’m sometimes lost and alone, with no one to say “Hi” to and no one to walk and talk with. This loneliness often would remind me of times in high school where I wouldn’t have to try and find people to hang out with, and that my boyfriend was there all the time. The biggest transition for me is that my boyfriend is no longer by my side all the time. Now, we have to scrape a few measly hours a day to each other when we were so used to being together pretty much 24/7. I feel like this first year alone without him definitely makes life harder, but it also gives me an opportunity to work on my own and be independent. I don’t want college to change me, since I’m perfectly content with how I am now, and what I want to obtain from attending Baruch is the passageway to internship/job opportunities, and of course, the education. Can’t forget that part, now, can I?

Who do I think I am?  Truth is, I don’t really know.  I have an IDEA…so let’s go with that.  My name is Leandros Katsigeras.  I’m 18 years old.  My birthday is on April 11, 1993, which means I’m an Aries.  I’m not into astrology, but everyone always mentions their signs when they talk about themselves.  I’m Greek (Dad) and Colombian (Mom).  I have a brother, Coco (his real name is Nicholas…but I don’t like it) who is my wing man.  All of this has everything to do with who I think I am.  I’m 18…which to me was the age where I became a man.  It was a time when I put my priorities ahead of me.  I got a full-time job (no more days where I just waste gas and go park-hopping), graduated high school (the fun and games were over…but I’ll always take with me with memories and friendships that I made) and got accepted into college (4 years of hard work that’ll dictate how the rest of my life will proceed).  High school and college…complete opposites.  From my college experience so far, I’ve learned that I’m on my own.  I can’t really depend on anyone but myself to get my work done and really succeed.  Teachers don’t really care about you or your personal situation, your commute or if you’re the nicest kid in the world.  They’re just there to teach and it’s up to us as individuals to decide whether we want to take advantage and learn.  In high school, we were spoon fed everything.  We were given second chances.  We were treated as kids.  Now, we’re treated as adults.  We’re independent.  We choose when to study, how to study, where to go for our breaks, when we want to go to the bathroom or whether we want pizza or stir fry for lunch.  While this is a huge transition, I don’t seem to have any concerns at all.  For the past two years, I’ve learned how to sustain myself.  I know how to study, I know how to make friends, I know how to put in the effort if I want to see results.  The only concern that I have is that I won’t enjoy my college experience.  But knowing myself, I’m social and plan to make friends and join clubs.  All in all, my first year at Baruch will be a great one.  The idea and feeling that I get that I’m on my own and that I’m living my life without the help of anyone else is very self-assuring.  I expect to learn new skills on how to network, new study habits to succeed in any class and how to become even more outgoing to set myself apart from everyone else.  So that’s parts b, c and d.  From my parents and cultures, I learned a variety of values.  I learned that family comes before friends.  If my family needs anything or if we all decide to go out to eat, you know where I’ll be.  Responsibilities….I seem to have more than Spider Man.  Work to save up money, manage my car (gas and repairs), maintain my grades in college, stay in contact with my friends as to not lose my social abilities, take care of my dogs (german shepherds aka wolves aka Rocky and Marco), spend time with my family and most importantly, take care of myself physically, emotionally and mentally.  My parents have taught me everything I know.  The meaning of responsibility came from them.  They’re both immigrants that came here when they were 20.  They barely knew English and had no money.  And they rose to the top and were able to support my brother and I and give us more than we could ask for.  I don’t know how they did it, but if they did it, then so can I.  Also, both my parents taught me about chivalry…so I do consider myself a gentleman.  While I can go on and on about theory and how to treat a woman, I won’t.  It’s way to much for one blog post.  So let’s see…I consider myself a responsible man that is chivalrous as well.  That’s not it though.  I also consider myself humorous.  I love to laugh.  I mean, who doesn’t?  It can make a bad day turn into a good one.  Laughing has the ability to make you like someone.  Laughing can break the ice during awkward moments.  Laughing can unite strangers.  Life’s too short…so I find the humor in everything.  I watch comedy shows, act like a goofball or think of embarrassing moments. If you can make me laugh, then we’re good to go.  FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN.  I’m a fun person.  I love to experience new things or when I’m bored, go with any instincts or cravings.  Whether its going to the park to play with a frisbee, drive to the beach on a cloudy day, mini-golf or try out new restaurants.  I’ll do anything to just get out my house, take in the fresh air and just LIVE.  I’m always down to hang out whenever I’m free.  If you’re in the mood to get Chinese, yogurt or a gyro, I’m the guy to go to.  So, responsible, chivalrous, humorous and fun.  Almost there.  I LOVE to think.  I go to Gantry State Park in Long Island City, the seashore or my roof to just lie down and think.  I can think about colors and how they got their names, relationships of all kinds, religion and its significance, music and it’s ability to soothe or how we’ll only have thumbs after a couple of hundred years because of our addicting texting habits.  Responsible, chivalrous, humorous, fun and thoughtful.  That sounds about right.

P.S.-Shirley, I’m sorry that I exceeded the 500 word count limit…but I couldn’t help myself.