Author Archives: Ivana Obreykova

As far as projects or cleaning or pretty much anything else, I am a bit of a perfectionist. I can’t go to sleep knowing something is half done or messy – it haunts my dreams. Although this quality has its downfalls, all around I see it as a positive thing that defines me. I mean who would complain about a very neat person…its like saying someone is too sweet. Although that may be possible…hmmm.

Anyway as far as anything else about me goes, I am a super hard worker which may be seen as a branch of being a perfectionist. I was raised and trained basically to think because I am an immigrant I have the duty to be outstanding and prove my way to success. It is an obligation I intend to follow up upon because I have seen just how sad it is when a persons life becomes consumed with money problems.

I have this perspective that money is not important, its experiences and people that matter, the being and health is important to me as well as enjoyment. However, I cannot deny that money rules everything around me but I refuse to let it consume my life. Therefore, I must somehow assure myself to always have enough money to survive without worry, not asking to be rich just have enough to comfortably pay my bills and have money in the bank to raise and assure my family’s health and happiness. That’s what everyone wants! I, the perfectionist with great ambition, am sure to do just that in order to achieve my long term goal.

My experience at Baruch has been not too exciting as far as my first semester goes. My expectations were far worse than the actual experience. I honestly thought I would be home every night color coding notes and actually doing all the OCD things I was too lazy to do in high school. I still haven’t gotten to do those things because I have been too swamped! The problem is not that this school has given me obscene amounts of work – yet- it is just that my procrastination causes all my stress. My first semester has been subject to great amounts of stress I caused to myself because I chose to leave things until the last minute. As time has passed however, by the end of the semester I have begun to take control of the procrastination and really put a handle on it. I think the fact that this semester’s classes were not particularly challenging really helped to prepare me for future semesters at Baruch as the work continues to get harder and harder.

This semester, being a part of a learning community has helped me build a bond with every one of my class mates. I have managed to make a small group of friends from my learning community who I talk to and hang out with on free time.

I was very happy with the amount of time I had free this semester, it gave me just the right amount of relaxation and social life that I missed out on when I went to both school and work during my senior year. Also, all of the teachers I have had this past semester have been lovely, I do not have any complaints. I am actually interested in taking more courses with some of the professors I have met this semester.

If I could change anything, I would probably try to get a handle on my procrastination and make sure I wrote out and followed time limits on work that way I would never be piled with a ton of work the evening before class. I think that that is exactly what has changed about me because I have seen the downside of bad habit and now am able to fix it and assure an even higher level of productivity for next semester and the ones to follow.

Name of Community Service Organization/Activity: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

1. How did your community service work help the community?

-Our community service work was to basically motivate those who were in the walk with encouraging words and warm smiles. Although it may not seem like much having someone to cheer you on will always help.

2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project?

-Well, I do a lot of community service on my own so engaging in a new form of community service I was not used to was something new but exciting.

3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others?

-It felt great knowing your there to try and help make the world a better place…one step at a time.

4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site?

-I learned that even the slightest effort truly does make a difference. If you’re a bystander cheering other on, a volunteer to help set up the event, or a participant in the walk; taking a part to a noble cause gives the ultimate feeling in the end.

5. What stands out as the best and/or most trying experiences that occurred while engaging in your community service project? What did you learn from these experiences?

-The best feeling was probably when you have the people walking/running look over to you and smile because our presence truly made them feel a bit happier.

6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society?

-This project sheds light on the fact and ideal that every little thing really can make a difference, it helps motivate me in the future to strive harder because although I may be a single person – I can make a difference on my own.

7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session?

-It was related because it gave us a duty we were assigned as ours and I acted on that duty and made sure to fully achieve it.

8. How has your community service experience changed thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, yourself, the community, and community service work as a whole?

-My attitude did not really change because helping the community out has always been one of my passions.

9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience?

-I learned that banning together instead of working alone can make a greater difference and that being surrounded by positive attitudes really does help.

10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not?

-I was satisfied to an extent, my only wish was that we could have done more to help.

11. Do you see yourself staying involved in the community in your college and adult years? Why or why not?

-I do see myself staying involved in the community in my college because it is such an optimistic one. I enjoy how everyone really listens to one another and ban together for a common cause for the good and it truly is a great thing to become a part of.

Good afternoon, I am Ivana, although many prefer to call me Eve. I was born and raised into a lower middle class family living in a third world European country. Life over there is a lot different than in the States. There’s actual law and security while over there it is pure chaos. It’s a good thing we moved here in 2001. The “ghetto” here does not even compare, this country is far better. As an immigrant, I can define myself as a harder worker than most because I have been brought here to learb, if I don’t it’s a fail. That is what has lead all my life all these years. As an entering freshman, I ammostly worried about the workload I will be handed. Apart from that I am unsure how difficult it will be to meet new people and also how easy it will be to maintain a relationshop with these people in a commuter school. I think what truly makes this expirience more different than high school is is the piles of homework that I am certainly not used to having. I think this first year will hep turn me into a far more responsible person and also end my procrastination on just about everything.