My favorite out-of-class experience was at the Rubin Museum. It contained so much history and one small place.Their collection of ancient artifacts were absolutely stunning. I really appreciated how our tour guide really took the time to explain numerous symbols and gestures withing the paintings and sculptures. One thing that really interested me was the meanings behind each hand gesture or pose contained in nearly every painting or sculpture. I never knew that little details like that actually had purpose behind it.

The thing that caught my eye the most at the Rubin Museum was the vast set-up of the shrine. The collection was so impressive, nearly every inch of each altar was decorated with some sort of authentic figurine. The atmosphere was so peaceful that all I could think of was the word “zen.” I thought it was pretty awesome. It’s interesting that some people actually go to that place to meditate or focus on school work.

I, personally, really liked the tour of the Rubin Museum. Also, I really like the fact that it’s free for Baruch students. That is definitely a plus. But all in all, I thought the experience was a good one and was actually quite enjoyable. Perhaps I might visit again sometime very soon.

These girls? They mean the absolute world to me. To other people, we might seem like a handful of loonies, but that’s just us being….well, us! I am so thankful to be able to a part of such a great team, but I’m also very sad that we’ll never have the same team again. But I do know that it only gets better from here.

After winning CUNY Championships and making it to NCAAs, I am so determined to do it all again and perhaps get even further for the next seasons to come. But for the past 3 months, our team has been through a lot. We’ve seen each other at our worst, and definitely at our best.

I love volleyball so much. It takes me away from any problems I have in school or with family. Because once you step on that court with your team and you all are playing your hearts out, nothing matters. All the matters is at that very moment, you are working together and playing hard. Who cares the score? Who cares if they’re nationally ranked first place? All that matters is that you’re there, working hard, playing to your fullest potential, and your teammates are there with you doing the same.

So for me, these first 3 months at Baruch have been great. Playing college volleyball has always been one of my dreams, and not it’s coming true.

This is us We may be crazy, wacky, slightly intimidating, and really weird, but this our team, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I sounded so great. It sounded so clear. I knew I could do it again another year.

Sure it was tough, had to do lots of stuff, but I had to make some name for myself here.

I had to take some kind of defense in it. So listen to this: Crystle Dela Cruz, Senior Class President.

Up all night, in fear and in fright. For the next day was the speech I had to say.

Memorizing, perfectionizing, turning my words into some sort of writing.

Just one other opponent, with that “popular” component. I had my speech down, I just had to own it.

So finally, it was time. Me? Nervous out of my mind.

Other people went first, I was last on the floor. After each and every speech, I shook even more.

My opponent went up, her point was understood. Well-written, somewhat smitten. Just in general, good.

But I didn’t want good, I wanted no regret. Giving my class something they would never forget.

So motivated, I walked up there so fast. And I looked up, froze, and was stared at by my entire class.

I knew my speech in my head. But I couldn’t do it, it had to be read.

Pulling the paper from my pocket. Awesome speech no more. But I was shaking so much that my speech dropped to the floor.

A collective class sigh. Me down from my once-inspired high.

But I remembered..

This chance could not be missed. This challenge could not be dissed. I needed something to cross off my bucket list. So I took the mic off the stand and thought “Hey, I got this.”

It was the greatest speech of my life. Rhymed, perfectly timed. Some kid even asked me to be his wife.

I was hyped up for an entire week. Classmates constantly complimented on my speech.

The Friday after, the day begun. I stepped outside and smiled at the sun. Had an awesome school day filled with fun. The results were in and they told me that I …… lost.

Yup, best believe it. She won by a bit. And for a while, I felt like a piece of…. crap.

But I realized who cares? I did something no one expected. And I may sound dramatic, but my whole life was affected.

Because ever since I was little, parents noncommittal, fighting with me stuck in the middle, hoping that it’ll

Someday get better when I finally get that letter from the dream college on my sweater, on the volleyball team as setter.

So who cares if I lost the election way back when. Because it showed that myself I had to believe in.

So here I am today, Reciting this monologue that I have to say. Still hyped we won our game the other day. Realizing I choose my own fate as I may. And right here, right now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s a link to my playlist:

http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Crystle+s+Playlist/77742423

Welp, here’s some songs..

1. Home by Phillip Phillips – Home is across the entire country for me. Traveling from coast to coast is actually a lot scarier than I seem to pretend it isn’t, especially for an eighteen year old fresh out of college. I was a bit nervous thinking of how everything will be different and how alone I might feel. This is a big city, and I’m a little girl from California. The thing is, I always need to remember that everything is going to be ok. No matter how alone I might feel, I need to realize that there are always people here to help and support me. This big city is now my new home.
2. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu – This song, from Lilo and Stitch, reminds me so much of Disneyland, my favorite place on Earth. I honestly have an undying love of Disney. Since May of last year, I have gone to Disneyland more than ten times. Some people would say that I’m obsessed. I completely agree. I love Disneyland and I get homesick of not being there.
3. Slow Down by Clyde Carson – Strangely enough, this song remind of home. By home, I mean “the Bay”. We pretty much had our own style of music, that we even had our own dances, including this song. I know it may be a bit inappropriate, but this song really does remind me of what we used to listen to and how our parties and dances were like.
4. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham! – Zoolander, my favorite movie next to Tangled, has this song in it. It always brings a smile to my face and I think of the scene that the song plays to because it is ridiculously funny. ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCINO!
5. Let Me Be Your Star by Smash Cast – Smash is my favorite TV show. I love the fact that it’s about getting on Broadway. This song is also a bit inspirational to me. It reminds me that if I really want something, I have to go out and get it.
6. (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To by Weezer – I used to play guitar in a band while I was in high school, and this song would always be super fun to jam to. It was so lively and upbeat that we would literally go crazy rocking out to it. It is one of those songs that automatically make you happy as soon as you hear it.
7. Love On Top by Beyonce – Back in March, I was in one of my best friend’s cotillion. It is basically a huge party 18^th birthday party where she has a “court” of 16 closest friends/family and we all perform for everybody else. It was so much fun. This song is the one we used for her surprise dance, and we nailed it. The night couldn’t have gone any better, and if I could I would reply that night over and over again.
8. Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers – This song makes me miss my brother. He was the biggest Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, and we would always turn this song up and go crazy. He and I are very close and we barely get into fights. We are pretty much the same person, just different genders. He’s my hero.
9. Life’s A Happy Song by The Muppets – From The Muppets Movie, this song is that happiest song I’ve ever heard. I can’t help but to sing along whenever I hear it. When I’m done, I just need to listen to this song, and I’ll be in a great mood for the rest of the day.
10. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day – Green Day is my all-time favorite band. I’ve been obsessed with them since I was in 6^th grade.