FRO 12 Motherblog

My favorite enrichment workshop would probably have to be the performance of “Baruch Voices.” Actually I’m not even sure if that counts as an enrichment workshop but I enjoyed it. The first time I had heard the Voices performance on convocation day I was so tired that I hardly paid any attention to the readings. The ones I did manage to hear were very funny and very interesting at the same time. They were all very different and when I heard that freshmen had written them, I was even more excited. I wondered if the emotions they felt entering Baruch, I would feel as well. This time around when the Voices performances consisted of my own peers, I enjoyed it even more. This time I paid attention to each and every reading and I loved hearing how although we are all freshmen, the differences between us are the most interesting. From a personal point of view, I feel like sharing yourself with people is one of the hardest things you can do. I really do not have a problem expressing myself but amongst people I really do not know all that well is a little harder. Seeing my fellow freshman peers have the courage to lay themselves out on the table and have someone read their inner most thoughts and feelings to others is very humbling to me. I would have never thought I would have had the courage to write a monologue sharing myself with people. I did it though and my monologue even got chosen to be read amongst the entire freshmen class. Not only did I feel accomplished but I felt inspired. This workshop inspired me to not be afraid to share myself with other people and not to feel anxiety or nervous because most likely we are all going through the same thing. The Voices performance made me realize that being a freshman attending a city university is difficult, but that does not mean that you are the only one feeling that way. From the workshop,  I heard different personalities and that was comforting to know that people are people. I feel like the workshop also summed up my entire freshman seminar experience and although it seemed pointless at first, it turned out to be an enlightening experience to find out the person I am.

Time goes by fast. I have been a college student in Baruch for 3 months. It was a remarkable experience because it made me maturer and more sensible. Comparing to high school, college  is more challenging. I had to read lots of readings and memorize  many words and their definition. It was not easy because almost all readings are boring and hard to memorize. I  easily  fell asleep when I read them everyday. I hate reading, but I had to read because I would get a quiz in the next class. The content which Professors taught in class and which in books were very complicated. I need to spend more time to make myself  understand all of them, and actually there were much content I couldn’t understand even though I read several times.In a addition, I got a lot of paper to write, and I had to wrote at least 3 pages for each. College life is not easy at all.

Besides all the work, college had some  interesting things for me. There were various clubs that offered to every student. They made some activities  during club hours every Thursday. Some of the activities were very funny. I went some of the club with my friends, such as HK club, UCLA, Japanese club and VITA. They all offered refreshment, and the members in each club were nice and enthusiastic. I love the games in HK club. I felt relaxed when I was there, and I made friends with some of the members. Gym was my favorite place in Baruch. I went there to work out with my best friend every week. We usually ride the bike and ran the treadmill there. We couldn’t do any weight training exercise because we didn’t want to develop muscles. But we enjoyed to watch  people doing weight training exercise, especially to the strong people, because they looked charming when they doing strengthening exercise.

There are only 2  weeks school before winter break, and finial exams are approaching. Pressure goes up to my brain and I have no time to relax. I am afraid of the exams but I will try my best to do well. In conclusion, these 3 months tempered myself, I hated the work but I enjoy the relaxing time.

It would probably be the “Dare to Engage” workshop. Even though i don’t remember what exactly went on in this workshop. I do remember it being interesting. The guy presenting showed several videos on bullying and discrimination which i found were really sympathizing.  This goes on everyday, but no one should be faced with these kind of treatments. It inspired me to say, “OUCH” when it hurts!

The reality show by the NYU students was my favorite. At first I didn’t expect the performance that they had because they were students even though they were from NYU. It was my favorite because it was funny and enjoyable to watch unlike the museum. There were a couple of things that resonated with me, one was about adjusting to college and how to manage time, another was about safe sex and also the incredible dancing.

Blog Post #3:

Meeting New People. N.d. Photograph. Travelpro Luggage Blog. Travelpro. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http://travelproluggageblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/meeting-people-in-new.jpg.gif>.

Blog Post #4:

My favorite workshop of the semester was definitely when we went to the Rubin Museum. The art and culture of the Himalayans made me more aware of the world around me, and reminded me that there are vast differences between different parts of the world. What is normal for one region, may seem out of the ordinary, or overdone to another region. By seeing the art, I was also able to closely examine the similarities between the pieces, and use my analyzing skills to find common themes. Finally, this trip has made me very excited for the Chase Seminar ANT 1000H course I am taking next semester, since it will be taught in conjunction with the Rubin Museum. When the class begins, I will be able to have a pre-existing knowledge of the museum, and all it has to offer.

Good morning everyone! My name is Jordan Giordano. Today you will learn a little more about me. In college is important for me to determine and express my identity in college, thus this is one of colleges true purposes. Overall it is important for all of us to get to know each other more especially since we will be spending the rest of the semester together as well as potentially all four years. Like all of you, I am a current freshman in college that is still adjusting to this new lifestyle. The change from high school is quite difficult, in some ways I actually  miss high school yet in some ways I don’t. Yet in other ways I found college to be a big disappointment compared to what I expected. In many ways this semester does not seem that different from high school, the fact that I can’t choose my classes as well as the fact these courses are somewhat similar to ones I had in high school. Aside from this the overall freedom and greater opportunities that are offered outweigh the drawbacks. Overall I can describe myself as a hardworking student who wants to make the most out of this semester and at Baruch in general. Some of the biggest challenges I face this semester are the new adjustments compared to high school as well as the overall workload of 5 classes. My biggest goals this semester is to develop better study skills, get used to college life overall, make new friends in colleges and try to develop hobbies and interests related to my major in school. Another goal that I have this semester is to get a job; though this semester is practically over I still maintain these goals throughout the rest of the school year. Yet an internship would be another important goal as well though this would come later in my time at Baruch. Some of my goals for Baruch in general include to maintain a good gpa, graduate with a BBA in real estate development which is my intended major, join clubs and make new friends closely related with my interests, improve myself identity and determination as well as overall improved academic skills. Aside from school I can describe myself as a typical 18 year old. I am the type of person who makes the most of their free time and try to enjoy every moment. My biggest enjoyment during my free time is to spend time with my friends and family. One of my biggest interests is traveling, whether its exploring places far away or even just in my area, undiscovered places overall fascinate me. Traveling is also one of my greatest skills that I possess, I am the type of person who will always find their way around and never get lost. Some of my other interests include listening to music, working out at the gym, going for long walks, photography as well as just overall relaxing. It is important to maintain as much free time as possible regardless of your situation; it is a great way to reduce stress especially in my life. Overall I can describe myself as a typical 18 year old college that is determined to achieve their goals and make the most out of their college experience. Thank you for listening and if you have any questions please feel free to ask!

My favorite workshop would have to be Academic Advisement for several reasons. First of all, it was the only thing I could remember that I actually attended that I thought classified as an actual “workshop”. But mainly it was because it was reassuring to know I would have some sort of advisory to help me through my first time registering for courses. It was good to know I wouldn’t have to go through it alone, and more importantly, I now know how to do it for the next six times and how much preparation goes into it.

Out of the several special events and workshops we attended, here are my thoughts on Baruch Voices – the most recent such event of showcased poetry and monologues.  The pieces, written by students and read aloud by rehearsed and animated narrators, were undoubtedly one of the most interesting gigs I’ve seen on campus.  Spanning an array of topics ranging from overbearing parents, suicide and lust for bacon, it was apt to give anyone looking for something funny, serious or both a decent time.

None of the messages found in the topics particularly resonated with me on a personal level, but I give serious props to the second and fourth orators (both male) for their acting and voice talent.  The feel, the attitude, and the spirit of these works were very well portrayed and “lived-through” the actors on the stage, but especially through these two readers.  In regards to the writer with the greatest talent, this would easily be the piece on growing up.  The selection on bacon lust, however, was a close second.  I think the part on restrictive parenting was quite trivial; it was the individual that still needed to grow up if they hadn’t found the stones to say no to that sort of control by age 19 or 20.  The suicide piece could have also had more constructive and inspirational twists or spin, but instead it still felt a bit downer even at the conclusion.

In short, checking out Baruch Voices just once won’t hurt; it’s likely you’ll have a good time if you have nothing else to do.  Again, kudos to the talented people writing and recounting these works, the school is better because of you.

– ZH