My favorite workshop I went to for Freshman Seminar was the trip to the Rubin Museum. Before the trip I had walked by the museum a few times and I had always wanted to go in. This class finally gave me the chance. I love learning about art and the history the is involved with it. Up until the trip, most of my knowledge on art history had been on European art. I really liked this trip because it exposed me to art that I had never really learned about. I found it really interesting that the the museum had previously been a tenement building and then a department store. The way the owners converted the store to the museum looked really cool. Another part of the workshop that I enjoyed was the way the tour was led by a Baruch student. I thought the art in the museum was also really cool. The sculptures were fascinating. I wish I got to learn more about the history behind each piece though. The meditation room was very interesting. It was dark with a lot of candles and figures of Buddha. I can see why people would want that kind of peaceful atmosphere to meditate.

I liked all the workshops though because they exposed me to things I wouldn’t otherwise have experienced. The News Literacy seminar was interesting because it taught me not to trust everything you hear or see in the media. Voices was fun because it taught me about my peers. My favorite part of these seminars ultimately was bonding with my fellow students.

My first semester at Baruch College will soon come to an end. It is a bittersweet moment because on one hand I really like my classes and the people I have classes with, but on the other hand I’m so excited for what comes next. Baruch has opened me up to many new opportunities that I will never forget. Today I even tried sushi for the first time! Even though I didn’t like it I’m still glad I tried it. Going to this school has also allowed me to explore parts of the city that I wouldn’t normally have visited. Last week was the first time I walked by the Empire State building (which is pretty pathetic since I’ve lived so close to it all my life.) There are so many great things about Baruch I wouldn’t even be able to pick my favorite part about it. I really like the hustle and bustle of the city, the campus buildings, and all the people I have met so far. I am so excited for what is yet to come.

I chose this picture of Grand Central because this is where I pass through every day on my commute to and from school. I think this is a beautiful building and taking the train is one of the highlights of my day. I love watching the tourists’ faces as they look around in awe (even though they get in the way sometimes lol.)

For as long as I can remember, people have been trying to scare me about the future. People always used to say, “Wait until you reach this grade. Things are going to be so much harder.” They were always warning me how difficult things were going to be when I reached middle school, then high school, and then college. “Oh wait until you take the SAT. It’s going to be really hard.” Now that I’m in college people warn me about challenging courses. But you know what? Nothing is ever as bad as people make it out to be. I wish people would have a little more faith. Instead of trying to scare me, give me some encouragement.  I already have fear about what the future holds. Instead spreading anxiety people should try giving each other hope that we can take on whatever challenges lie in our way. I’m going to be one of those people.

Music is something I really enjoy. I used to think I needed to have it in my life every day. Then one day my head phones broke. All of a sudden I stopped listening to music. I can’t even remember how long I went without listening to music; it was such a long time. Of course I heard music in commercials and once in a while I would hear songs on the radio when I was in the car, but I stopped listening to music for enjoyment. Before my head phones broke, putting my them on and blasting my music to block out outside noise was a daily ritual during my commute to school. I would spend several hours a day listening to songs that mimicked how I felt on the inside. My music was an escape to my fantasy world, a place where things in life happened the way I wanted them too and where the opportunities were limitless. But all of a sudden one day, that was gone. I could have easily replaced my head phones and gone back to daydreaming, but I was beginning to realize that I had to wake up and deal with reality. I didn’t want to avoid my problems anymore. So for several months I went without music. Funny enough, I didn’t even miss it. I was forced to pay attention to the world around me- the sounds, the noises, the people. It wasn’t just me in my own little world anymore.
As a result of this little experiment nothing changed significantly. I daydreamed and my creativity also decreased. I felt less imaginative. I don’t think I became less self-absorbed or started facing the challenges I need to face. However, I have learned that I will never again give up something I love.
Recently, I have started listening to music again. The first time I put my head phones in I had a big smile on my face that I just couldn’t get rid of. I thought I would just share some songs I really like. I hope you enjoy.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/Favorite+Songs/77766048