Information-wise, the Rubin Museum was interesting, but too much for me to take in. I was intrigued by a lot of the things that were discussed explaining the pieces on display, but not enough to fully follow all of the information. I was more fascinated by the statues and pictures from an artistic perspective. I tend to be biased towards Asian culture, especially its artistic aspect. The designs were so intricate and original, and the history behind each piece enhanced the art that much more. They had the ability to be both awe-inspiring and give a sense of peace to the beholder. The example of the church in particular was my favorite exhibit. It was so authentic, as if I were into an actual sacred establishment peeking in Asia. Seeing everything come together in that room made the aesthetic aspect that much more beautiful. The dim lighting and authentic hymns was very calming and put me in a more peaceful mood.

The GIF I picked to describe my college life so far is about sleeping. I have work everyday after class so I get extremely exhausted. When I get home, I would usually lay on my bed and pass out for a few hours, and wake up at around midnight to complete my work.

Being a freshman at Baruch College has had its ups and downs. It was a great experience so far, as I transitioned from being a high school student into a college student. I met some new people and learned a lot of new ideas throughout my classes and on campus. However, the workload has definitely started to pile up. After a long day of class and work, I feel very little motivation to continue with any of my homework and I start to slack off. All of my free time between classes and at home gives me more reasons to be lazy and not be on top of my things. However, once I get back on top of my workload, I feel like the rest of my semester will be less stressful, until Finals week.

GIF source:http://9gag.com/gag/aKz6116

I found the trip to the Rubin Museum interesting. I haven’t been to a museum in ages and finally going back to one was not as boring as I expected. When Danny went around, explaining the different pieces of art, I felt intrigued about the different works. I’ve always seen the statues around but I was never able to grasp the reasons behind why they were made that way. I learned about the different meditation positions. Walking around the museum allowed me to examine many different pieces of art and I couldn’t help but notice how intricate each piece of art was. The amount of precision and effort that was put into each statue seemed unreal. I’ve gained a new found respect for these monks after learning their past and their hard work. Overall, the trip to the Rubin Museum was a pleasant one and I would definitely go again if I had the chance.

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The picture I chose, to represent my experience at Baruch for the past few months, is rather stereotypical. This meme embodies my experiences because coffee has become a necessity in my daily routine. I’ve always enjoyed having some coffee, but this enjoyment  has only intensified throughout college. For the post part I have had at least one medium sized cup of coffee per day. Typically, I have coffee first thing in the morning because it gives me  energy for the whole day. I’ve learned to prioritize my time and tasks, and have become more organized in the process. One negative aspect of drinking so much coffee is the cost of it, a lot of my expenses are for coffee and its a little upsetting, but definitely worth it. I’ve expanded the variety of drinks and blends that I’ve tried, and have discovered new flavors that I like. I enjoy going to new places and trying their coffee and comparing it to other place. So far I have discovered a few key places I like to go to and signature drinks that I get there. The picture of the coffee is a small representation of the past few months. I have learned so much about myself and have adjusted to new routines and daily challenges.

http://lickettysplitt.tumblr.com/post/45623301274/dont-know-the-source-but-its-a-fantastic-idea

(source: tumblr blog)

My time at Baruch thus far has been similar to what the GIF above shows, doing something that seems simple and ruining it. The GIF is of a man measuring a door and losing control of the measuring tape. It seems like a pretty easy task to do; only a very dense person could possibly ruin it, and he does. Maybe the man did not have enough experience, maybe he just did not hold it correctly, or maybe he just did not think the situation through.

The GIF I chose to represent my experience in college reflect the views I have gained towards school. It may seem simple, but unless you actually focus and do your work right, you will end up with a bad outcome. College is somewhat feared by freshman at first. You are in a new school and do not know most of the people around you. Everyone seems to have an idea for their life or at least what they will be doing in the near future. The classes you thought you would be pulling all nighters for do not really require them, so long as you manage your time well. All in all, college is just another place where your responsibility and priorities are put to the test. The best thing to do is to get yourself a planner and give yourself time to study and complete your work. Don’t be THAT guy.

At first I was skeptical about the trip to the Rubin. I didn’t expect it to be as interesting as it was. I didn’t know much about the themes of the exhibits. The Asian theme expanded on the culture, history and artistry of Buddhism and Hinduism. The craftsmanship involved in the creation of the statuses, decorations, and accessories was fascinating. It takes a lot of skill and talent to create one of those pieces.One surprising part of the trip was our tour guide. Danny, our peer advisor, had so much knowledge on the history and details of the exhibit. The history and culture of Buddhism is so detailed and elaborate, so it must be ever difficult you know so much about the topic.  The trip, itself, was different in comparison to the standard classroom setting. It was interesting to take the class to a different atmosphere and a break from the normal. I learned so much on the trip and hope to return to the museum to further explore the exhibits.

The trip to the Rubin Museum was alright, as far as field trips go. The museum had many interesting exhibits and really shed a light on artwork not usually seen. The museum has a great feel to it because it is quiet and the lighting is well placed. You are really allowed to soak in all the beauty of the statues around you. The fact that Danny was our tour guide also made the experience very pleasant. He was really enthusiastic and you could not help but pay attention to him and his knowledge of the exhibits. The museum as a whole was very easy to take in. It was a simple and calming place.

My favorite part of the whole museum trip was when we went into the secluded area with a small room lit with candles. This place was a replica of where monks would pray. The area was very warm and the candles gave it an intimate feel. If you were still and quiet enough, you could hear the faint chants played in the background. That spot had a very peaceful effect on me. Even the smell of the burning candles took you to a calmer state. The dim lighting, warmth, smell, and sounds of this place make it really relaxing. I would probably go back again to the Rubin Museum, but probably on a day where it is not raining.

For the most part, I enjoy museums. It gives me the opportunity to learn about different cultures around the world. Most of the art museums I went to focused on European art. I have not really gotten the chance to explore the cultures of Southeast Asia, so I thought that the Rubin Museum was interesting and very eye-opening. The art was very much influenced by the Buddhist religion and it was interesting that the specific positions of the gods had a lot of symbolism. To me, the history of these countries was more fascinating than the physical structures. The most interesting thing I learned on the field trip was about the process of becoming the Dalai Lama. I also really liked how the art evolved over time. At first, the small metal statues were very simple and plain to represent humble living. The details in the figures became more intricate and ornate with jewelry and draped clothing to demonstrate being in touch with the earthly things and being able to reach enlightenment. The trip was overall very educating. Prior to the trip, I did not really care for Asian art, but the museum has really broadened my view.

google image: MirandaSings

Approximately twenty people have asked me this question. Mostly, I hesitate and say that it is fine. If I am being completely blunt, college sucked in the beginning. But now it sucks less. I think being accustomed to the routine and becoming familiar with the environment in these past three months has eased the transition for me. In the beginning, I definitely felt out of place and was somewhat disappointed with college. I constantly questioned myself and wondered if I made the right decision. After much internal debate, I realized that Baruch is fine and good and not bad. It is definitely not the best university everrrrrr, but it’ll do. I really have come to like my classes. Also, I’ve found a few select individuals who are bearable and are allowed to be in my presence (this is a joke. ha.) In all seriousness, Baruch gets better, even if it wasn’t what I thought it would be in the first week.

Oh yeah, the photo. This is a photograph of this generation’s best singer, Miranda. She is very inspirational and I want to be her. I chose this photo because it is funny. In addition, Miranda is a representation of my feelings towards Baruch. Initially, I was like ohhh ewww. It took time for me to understand and fully grasp Miranda’s talent. In the same way, I am gradually getting the hang of being in university and am starting to even enjoy Baruch.

My experience at Baruch College thus far has been pretty dull and boring. I have not been doing much except going to class. This might be due to the high expectations that I had coming into college. High school was a time where I really discovered myself and enjoyed. I was not so happy to graduate but I believed that college would turn out to be equally enjoyable. There is a lot more freedom and the city is a nice place to be. The college itself is a nice size and well maintained. The environment at Baruch and around the campus is perfect for someone to strive in. My fellow school members are also all very pleasant, making it a pleasant experience for me. There are many positives but there is definitely a lack of excitement for me in college, at least in the first three months. Not being involved in activities other than school is the number one reason for me being bored.

The university offers many clubs and events where people with similar interests can join together and do events. Most clubs meet once or twice a week and do things like help out the community or even have lunch. Not getting involved in a group like this is one of the biggest reasons for me finding myself being bored at school. During my breaks, I am most likely in the library doing homework or studying. That is not what I enjoy but what I am left to do. I have myself to blame for not finding other things to do during my time at school. Another reason I am not all that content at school is that I find less and less time to practice and play music. The last two years of high school, I dedicated a lot of my time into music and the bands I played in. Baruch does not have a music program or a band, which if they did would be something that interests me. However, I need to take what is given to me and make my time in college exciting and memorable.

Baruch is a good school and I would recommend it to anyone going to school for a business degree. It may however be difficult at first to find other things to do, that you like. Then again, it is not like that for many others. I am having a lousy first three months being bombarded with work and enjoying very few things. I have not been doing many fun things but I am hoping to change that with the start of the next semester. I would like to get more involved with the things going on around school.