Author Archives: FERDENY CHEN

I thought that the Voices performance was spectacular. I could tell that the actors really put a lot of time and effort into the whole show. Some of the monologues were very entertaining and the more serious ones were delivered with a lot of emotion. Judging from the response they got from the audience, I thought the actors did a wonderful job. I was very interested in all the stories they presented. I was surprised at how well the authors of the monologues were able to write about their personal experiences in such a way that allowed me to relate to them. I was very glad to be able to see this amazing show.

I felt that the workshop with Colm Toibin was a very fascinating experience. It was actually my first time meeting the author of a book I have read so I did not know what to expect, but I have to say that the way he delivered his speech was engaging and funny at the same time. Since I had really enjoyed reading his book over the summer, I was a bit excited to hear that he would be speaking at Baruch. I found it interesting to listen to him talk about his childhood and how he put parts of his own life into the book. Whenever he referred to something in his book, I was eager to listen to him tell the story behind it and how he came about writing that part. I was especially surprised by how he was able to write about homesickness in a way that so many people could relate to the main character. Learning about Toibin’s writing process and personal history gave me insight on how he created such a wonderful masterpiece where readers of all ages can appreciate.

One of my most favorite and effective ways to relieve stress or express my emotions is through writing. Whenever I am feeling worried, sad, or angry, I would just sit myself down and start pouring everything out on paper. Writing always makes me feel better afterwards and it has been my outlet for years. Although not as effective, listening to music also helps me relax. When I am somewhere where I can not get any privacy or just do not have pen and paper on hand, I would listen to music to keep my mind off things. Listening to music is a good way to distract me from the real world because I love to concentrate and enjoy the songs. I also like to visit the park near my home when I am free. Since I am in the city for most of the week, I like to get away from all the crowds and noise and just be around nature. Sometimes I just have to take a break from everything and appreciate all the small things in life, which are also very important to me. I like to think that I am a pretty optimistic person. I do not like to linger on the negative things that happen to me and allow it to bring me down. I tend to look on the bright side of things and hope for the best. I have found that being positive makes me a happier person so I try to think optimistically as much as I can. Reading is probably one of my favorite hobbies. There are so many genres I like to read about but I enjoy reading fiction the most. It sounds cliché, but I think that books can be so interesting sometimes it feels like an adventure whenever I am reading one. Another thing I like to do is to exercise. I mostly just run outside when it is warm because it feels great afterwards. It feels so much better than sitting in front of the computer or television for hours. I love running so much that I try to get my friends and family to join me because I believe it is such a healthy thing to do for one’s body. Just like most of the students who attend Baruch College, I want to get a job in the business field one day in the future. For now, I think that is what I want to do when I am older, but it is not impossible for me to change my mind when it comes time to choose my major. I entered Baruch with the desire to major in something that has to do with business, but it is not a passion of mine. I want to try it out to see if that is really what I want. Last but not least is my joy of helping others. I always try to lend a helping hand whenever I can because I believe that the help will come back to me when I need it.