Author Archives: Heather Jena Markovitch

A fish in the sea with thousands of other fishes.

The picture I chose to represent my experience thus far at Baruch, is a picture of different fish in a sea of many.  Like this picture, the students at Baruch are all different, some hang in groups, some hang with others that appear to be the same, some follow the flow, others go their own way but in the end we are all part of a bigger picture, we are all just trying to survive and make it out of freshman year in one piece. We are all trying to get by and at some times, it is easy to forget your identity and go wit the flow. At the end of the day we are different with different “colors”, needs and different personalities.  At times it can seem overwhelming and alone but then you look around and you realize that every one around, everyone in your freshman seminar class are all in the same big sea.

I believe the greatest education is best acquired through experiences and journeys; which was the exact type of education I received last year.  Normally, one goes straight to college after finishing their senior year, but in no means am I nor do I want to adhere to normal.  Instead of going straight to college, I took off for a year and travelled 6,000 miles away from home to a foreign country with foreign people and foreign customs.  I went to study religion and philosophy in Har Nof an extremely orthodox town located in Jerusalem, Israel.  I had no idea what to expect or what would be expected of me.  To say I had an unbelievable year would be a huge understatement; my year exceeded any possible expectations and not only did I experience an entirely new world, I experienced an entirely new me.  Being 6,000 miles away, not speaking the language fluently and not having my parents bail me out of trouble, made the experience and my time being there that much better.  I didn’t realize being thrown into a completely different environment and a different culture would actually make me responsible for my actions.  That’s the thing about being so far away, away from home, away from what you are used to; you are forced to grow up and take responsibility for your actions.

In that one year away, I learnt more and experienced life through actually living.  I learnt about religion, about life , about philosophy.  I travelled from the North of Israel all the way down to the Southern tip of Eilat that borders Jordan.  While being in Eilat, I hiked a mountain that from the top of it you see Egypt, Syria and Jordan.  I lived on a kibbutz and spent some time there.  I spontaneously took a trip to Cyprus and Rhodes.  What i am trying to get at is that when you are thrusted into an unknown world and culture, it forces one to be appreciative of what you have and get by by yourself.  I did not have a car  there I either took a public bus and got lost or hitchhiked with whomever (something i do not suggest unless you are in israel!).  These experiences and journeys are ones that made me grow up and take responsibility for my own actions.  I got into trouble and didn’t have my mom to bail me out, I got lost and didn’t have a phone to reach anyone.  These experiences shaped the person I became and I learnt more about life and about myself then any classroom will ever teach me!

Starting freshman year in College, entering a new environment it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and sometimes alone.  I just got through a bad break up with a guy i was dating for a year and a half, and most of these songs represent who I am now.  Music is food for the ears and the first half of these songs got me through a really tough time.  They comfort me, make me happy and ensure me that things will be okay. The second half of these songs are just songs that represent me.  These are songs i drive to, chill out to.  These songs are happy and fun songs that friends and i listen to then just break out dancing. I am a supportive, compassionate friend and these songs represent that as well. i know how to be there for my friends and always lend a shoulder to cry on; with that said i can also be crazy wild and fun and the last half of the songs represent the carefree wild girl within me.  I love the power of songs and lyrics because when someone hears a song for the first time they can instantly think one thing, but once they analyze the lyrics and listen to the song over and over a whole new meaning arises; i feel like thats the same for many people including me- people meet you and instantly, based on first impressions make assumptions; but there is always more than meets the eye and once someone gets to know you better its like listening to a song over and over and finding deeper, more substantial meaning.

1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly8QA7ZHeLc

Birdy- Skinny Love

2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glCCRbcZaR4

Bon Iver- Towers

3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciOfJsqh7M

Radiohead- High and Dry

4)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDHY1D0tKRA

Death Cab For Cutie- I will follow you into the dark

5)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE6wxDqdOV0

Lana Del Rey- Video Games

6)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

7)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ9gFAKYRYE

The Naked And Famous – Young Blood

8)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQVxFPxYyw0

Amy Whinehouse- Valerie

9)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxDdEPED0h8&feature=branded

Lana Del Rey- National Anthem

10)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXzFCS72QIA

The Police- Roxanne