FRO 1000 – LC 16

Baruch itself definitely lived up to my expectations. I anticipated the large campus, lots of people, diversity, lots of classes and clubs/organizations, more free time and responsibility and the great neighborhood. All of that is exactly what I got. How I responded to everything, however, did not at all live up to my expectations. They told us “manage your time”, “be responsible”, “join clubs and make friends”. All that went out the window for me – fast! Another thing I didn’t expect: it still feels a lot like high school – probably because I still live at home, commuting to and from school and because we’re in a “vertical campus” which is basically a nice way of saying it’s a building. Did anything exceed my expectations? Yes, how much choice I have in terms of the courses I take and clubs/organizations I join. I found ones – more than one club of the same kind actually – that are perfect for me.

I would describe my first semester as bittersweet. It was disappointing but a learning experience. I did a lot wrong, but that means I know what I have to work on. So I would say that’s how I’ve changed: I now have more insight into myself. If I had to do it again, I would be more responsible/grounded and outgoing.

P.S.: Tenure should be abolished!!

At the end of my senior year of high school, I volunteered at my District Office. They usually have college interns who are majoring in political science or something like that, but they were short so I was very much welcomed. The district office isn’t where the councilman, Jumaane Williams, works but where the employees deal with constituent and community issues. During my time there, they held a health fair, provided aid for block parties, provided immigration services, etc. I worked mostly with the Director of Constituent Services, who assisted individuals with stuff like housing issues, slumlord issues, severely damaged sidewalks, access-a-ride problems and a multitude of other things. I also worked a little with Councilman Williams’ Scheduler, who organizes all of his events, appearances, meetings, etc. Overall, it was great to see how a community is organized and how much work is put into it. Plus the fact that there are so many departments and people who are there to help with certain issues that a lot of people in the community probably don’t even know about.

Since joanna thinks i havn’t been keepin up with my blogs i gotta do this extra one.  I dont know what to write about to im gonna do that free writing thing.  asdfsdfsdfsadfasdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfggdfgdfgdsfgdsfgsdfgdfgsdfgsdfg just kidding, sike dsfsdfsdfgdsfgdfjghhsfdbsadbhbsdcvksdbkjcbhzkxbvhjxb, haha just kidding.  So yea the semesters coming to an end and well baruch sucks but its was really good meeting new people.  Gabriel thinks im really popular.  It was really fun hangin out with the people from our LC.  I might miss you guys.  Except vinod dorai he has some sick car fetish, its a bit to much.  Hmmm what else, i cant really think of anything else.  Just sittin here bored outta my mind bouta go knockout. Soo yea i guess thats it joanna don’t fail me 🙁 oh nd its my birthday tomorrow get me somethinf

My volunteer experience was cool.  I volunteered at the visiting nurse service of new york during the summer goin into senior year.  Dam those were some good days.  I worked as a staff assistant so basically I just filed things and did the dirty work for the workers there.  Most of my time consisted of slacking and being on breaks throughout the 6 hours of volunteering I did.  Those breaks usually added up to about 3-4 hours.  I was there with 2 of my good friends and we just made the best out of things.  We also made friends with the guy in the cafe downstairs so during breaks he would give us free food.  We would also spend alot of time in the lunch room in the office.  Ate whatever they had in the fridge.  Not really sure if the food was for everybody.  So yea basically we had some fun.

Well LC, it has been fun, i like almost all of you and its been a good semester thanks to you guys. I think we all became one big family that piss eachother off and have jokes and stuff, im gunna miss most of you ; )

My first semester turned out way different then i thought. I thought id be drowned in school work, with no friends, bored all the time and miserable. My first semester was anything but that. I made alot of good friends, classes were cake, and i had alot of fun. I learned to not mind the commute as much as i thought and Im not too worried about the rest of the college career. With the exception of mrs. roacha, who I will not call professor ever until I actually learn somthing from her other then the fact that complete morons can get jobs as college professores, all my teachers were actually really good and i actually enjoyed my classes. Also Joanna was a really good FRO leader and shes really cool. Im actually gunna miss having an LC and being with you guys everyday but we will always be a family. AWW.

Okay well i couldnt have been any later on this so im gunna end here. Bye LC<3

During my Junior year of high school i went to P.S 2 to volunteer in the summer. During that summer i worked as a teacher’s assistant and looked after the little kids. Although it was a short experience, it was very fun and i learned a lot. Seeing the kids everyday made me very happy. I helped them with their homework and brang them down to the lunchroom to eat lunch. Sometimes the little kids were annoying but they were still cute. One day, the teacher told me to read a short storybook to the kids. To be honest, i felt kind of nervous, they were all sitting down and staring at me. The teacher was also looking at me. As i was reading the book to them, everyone was laughing and i was laughing. I felt relieved when the teacher told me that i did a good job. At the end of the summer, the teacher gave us a party to thank us. This party made me feel accomplished that i helped people out. That summer, i created a bond with the little kids and i would like to revisit P.S 2 in the future.

I joined the key club in freshmen year of high school. With key club, I did a lot of community service including walking in many walks such as walk to cure diabetes, aids walk, breast cancer walk, etc, packing books to ship to Africa, volunteering at soup kitchens, etc. My most memorable walk is the aids walk. The aids walk is the longest walk i ever walked. Its approximately 5 miles and it took me around 4 hours to complete. SO far i’ve been to 3 aids walk, one every year for the past 3 years. The first time i’ve been at the aids walk was when i was a sophomore and i just went because i wanted club credits, but after walking the 5 mile walk, i felt like i was actually helping somebody. By simply walking, doesnt have to be fast, money is donated to help the many people suffering aids fight aids. Instead of wasting a sunday on the internet, on facebook, tumblr, youtube, etc, i spent it productively by walking. And when i walked, people donate money.

Wow…my first semester at college is almost over. The time flew; literally! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was being driven into the city by my parents, my neighborhood looking new and confusing. I also feel like it wasn’t that long ago that my dad and I toured Baruch with one of the security guards, as he tried to show me his alma mater. I remember at that time thinking that it was such a cool looking school, so modern and interesting.

It’s interesting to look back on these past few months and see how I’ve changed. To begin, I’m much more independent. I went from not even doing my own laundry, to doing that, food shopping, time management, planning, and organizing projects. I never thought I’d see the day where I was my own mom! More importantly, I learned how to use the subway, basic street smarts, and the most fun places to go. At school, I saw myself change dramatically. I’m not sure if it has to do with clubs I am a part of or just basic growing into myself, but I am a lot more confident. I remember being nervous when I read my monologue for the class. Now that seems so foreign: I’m okay with speaking my mind, speaking publicly, and expressing myself. I love the friends I’ve made as well. If it weren’t for how busy I am and how much work I get, I’d hang out with them all the time.

As far as Baruch goes, it feels like high school. Overall, other than the independence and the way I have free time randomly throughout the day, I feel as though I’ve just moved. I don’t feel really any older than high school, or that I’m in a different place. I only feel like I’ve moved schools and houses.

I joined key club the beginning of sophomore year in high school.We went to walks for diabetes and breast cancer. We also held events like writing Christmas cards to the elderly and donating coats and cans of food. We also visit homeless shelters to help out. We were split into groups who worked in different sections. Some helped make lunch for the people others helped serve  and some helped clean the home up. I was in key club for three years. It was not only community service but it was fun because we made friends as well and were able to meet new people from key club in different schools.

About two years ago, I began volunteering at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I worked with children ages 8-13. It was a great experience getting to know the children even though some of them were a little difficult. I helped the instructor with his lesson plans for the children and also took them on trips. After spending time with the kids, the other interns and I started to become sort of role models for them. They would talk to us about anything and even come to us for advice if they had problems. Most of the kids in the programs lived in the neighborhood and because I now have a job at the same museum, I still see them around. It’s nice because Ive seen them grow for the past two years, and I’ve even become friends with some of their family members. Working with kids was a great experience because it teaches patience as well as how to interact with people who have a major age difference from you. I still some of those kids today and I honestly think that if it weren’t for the program and the help of  us former interns at the museum, that some of those kids would have joined the gangs and gotten into the drugs that the neighborhood is filled with.