fro11lc06

a) Baruch didn’t really live up to my expectations. I expected some classes to be easier but it’s a lot harder, and there were so much work piled up. I think I just need better time management and know how to set my priorities.

b) My first semester was pretty rocky. It would have went better if I didn’t procrastinate as much and was more organized with my notes.

c) I would have took better notes and organize my time a little more. If I set my priorities more efficiently, I would have probably done better on my exams.

My experience at Baruch was pretty much what I expected. A little more work than I had in High School, but nothing too difficult. I think that overall I had a good first semester. If I could do one thing differently most likely it would be try not to procrastinate as much as I did. I think my biggest change would be that now I place a more importance on school than i previously did.

When I began my first semester at Barch I expected it to be very stressful and I thought I would be strugling in some classes. But it turned out to be the opposite. I’m doing well in all of my classes and I’m, starting to become more ivolved by joining clubs and making friends. If I could do it over again I would try to spend more time in the library studying for my Public Administration class. I think I have become more indepedent since I started Baruch College and more aware of what I have to do to become more invovled on campus and get better grades.

a. Talk about how your experience at Baruch lived up to your expectations? Not  lived up to your expectations? Exceeded expectations? 

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.

When I first applied to Baruch College, I was expecting another communter school for me to go to, classes to attend whether harder or easier, and pretty much just another chapter in my life. Honestly, I didn’t have extremely high expectations otherwise I would have placed mysel in a dorming school but I didn’t want to do that. So I guess in concluding my thoughts, Baruch was what I expected. I mean, I wasn’t expecting fireworks to go off every dazzling minute but I certainly wasn’t expecting hell either. Baruch isn’t the worst chapter of my life, but I’m not saying it’s the best either.

My first semester was better than what I expected to be. I was extrememly nervous my first week but now I’m gradually becoming more and more comfortable with the college environment. I met great friends, have good classmates, some excellent and nice teachers as well. I can’t complain about my schedule. Mondays and Wednesdays off? I certainly don’t have that for next semester. Alas, next semester, I have to go to school everyday as well as the fact that my profesors might not be as cracked up as they I expect them to be.

Of course I have my regrets, that’s just part of human nature. I guess if I could have done things differently I should have done more things, I should have reached out more to clubs and activities, and get over my natural nervousness with new people and professors. I should have participated more. The world doesn’t revolve around me, other people are probably feeling just as nervous as I am and got over it.

I would think I have changed. My sarcasm isn’t as biting as it was in high school. I’m more subdued around people but I guess that’s because everything is completely new. Ask me again in four years and I am pretty sure I would have changed even more. My confidence level probably decreased, I also don’t have as much as time as I did to do stuff I want to do in my spare time.

Name: Maxwell Michael
Freshman Seminar Course #: LC06
Name of Community Service Organization/Activity: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
1. How did your community service work help the community? I helped to encourage the runners.
2. What were your initial reactions upon hearing that you would be engaging in a community service project? I was excited to know that I would be able to do something good for the community.
3. How did it make you feel to give your time and energy to others? It felt good to give my time to a noble cause.
4. What did you learn about yourself, the people around you, and the service site? I learned that there are a lot of people who want to work towards eradicating a disease.
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 experience was encouraging the runners at the event because it made me realize how many people actually attended the event.
6. How did engaging in this project relate to your education and the larger issues in society? I now better understand how many people are affected by breast cancer.
7. How did your community service experience relate to the “Leadership and Service” session? I was given my assignment and then acted as a leader to actually perform my duty.
8. How has your community service experience changed thinking, attitudes, and actions towards others, yourself, the community, and community service work as a whole? It hasn’t really, i’ve always enjoyed working with people.
9. How has your community service experience impacted you personally? What is the most important thing you learned about yourself throughout this experience? I realized how a small action could effect a large amount of people.
10. Were you satisfied with your experience overall? Why or why not? I was satisfied because helped an important cause.
11. Do you see yourself staying involved in the community in your college and adult years? Why or why not? I do, because I have been involved with charities before and I don’t see that changing in the future