Author Archives: Polyvios "Polys"

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My experience as a freshman is mostly positive so far.  I am in college for a little bit less than 3 months, so I have a good idea about what college is about and what it is its different from being in high school.  Sometimes Baruch, seems to be like high school, because it is a commute college, like most in New York City.  What I mean, is that a lot of students they come to college, they take their classes and then they leave to go home or go to their job if they probably have one, maybe this is a part of the culture of New Yorkers, I am not sure, I’ve been here for about 4 months so I’m still learning about how it is the life in New York City.  About my classes, I have some struggle sometimes, with some terms because I don’t understand them and I need to translate them and do the reading sometimes 3 times in order to understand what the texts actually wants to say.  Since college started, I do a lot of more reading than what I used to do, books were not a friend of mine, but I had to become friendlier with them, because college consists of a lot of reading, especially for someone who has no experience with the U.S culture.  I was a bit surprised when I got my program, because I wasn’t actually aware of the pre-required courses, I never really thought that I would have to learn about American History or do Sociology and Music History.  Mathematics and English, made sense to me but the other ones no.  Although, in the beginning I did not like the idea, I find it really useful to do liberal arts courses, because I can learn about things, that interested me before but I did not actually, have the time or chance to study them!  Being a freshman, it is really nice, it’s a new beginning for you, somehow you start all over again, it feels like you discover who you really are, it makes you more mature.  So far I like it, the only thing that I don’t is that freshman are the last who register for their classes and definitely, this is not good, but apart from that it’s nice!

This past Wednesday, October 30th, I volunteer for first time after a long time, and it was also my first time that I was volunteering in New York City.  Honestly, volunteering is not something that I like to do but surprisingly for me, I had a very good time and I can say that I totally enjoyed it!!

My project was at Wall street, I was a bit late but thankfully there was no problem with it.  What I did there was helping by doing mock interviews with people that they were previously in jail.  I took the interview from only one guy because I had to spend time filling the evaluation form.  Also I gave advices to this guy about his future and how he can improve himself in order to get a job and achieve his goals.

Personally, I found the project really interesting, more than I expected it to be.  What I enjoyed more was the fact that I took job interviews, it felt like I was the boss and it felt much different than being the one who is getting interviewed.  The experience was really nice, I am not exactly sure about how the guy who I interviewed felt, but It seemed to me that he was pretty calm and cool.

I am satisfied with what I did and I hope that I helped the guy to be more prepared for a real future job interview.  I feel like I also gain from this project because I know now, how it feels to be the one who is interviewing.

Polys Charalampous http://www.newyorkcares.org/user/365683/previous-projects

This past Thursday, I went with my fellow classmates from my Freshman Seminar Class, at the gallery of Baruch College on 22nd street.  To be honest, I did not enjoy it at all, because I am not the kind of guy who likes to watch and spend his time  by watching different pictures.  Some of them had a great meaning, because they were about some serious issues.  Some of them had to do with slavery, torturing, some of them, were about wars, some others were about the crisis, poverty and other serious issues and events that took place in the USA particularly in New York City like the 9/11.  I still remember the one that was a black woman and her chest was scratched due to the torturing.  There was also a picture with a lot of New Yorkers at the streets when it was the “depression.”  At the gallery there was a picture that symbolized the 9/11, I thought that it was something totally different I could never imagined that it was related with 9/11 attack.  Some of those pictures were interesting and some others were weird, like the half naked woman, which I do not remember exactly what that picture symbolized but I still remember it.  Also, the other picture with a couple of girls that were laid, the picture was showing their butts, the woman there explained to us the meaning, but I forgot it.  Honestly, the pictures took my attention, even though I am not the type of guy who will spend his time on a gallery.  It was interesting but I did not enjoy it much.  I would suggest to people that are interested into this artistic stuff to go and check it because I believe that it worths, especially if you like the world of arts.

10 songs playlist that describes me

no.1 The first song is “It’s my life” by Bon Jovi.  This song brings me a lot of memories, the first time that I sang in front of people, it was this song that I did sing, it was a really great day, it feels like it was yesterday although, it was about 4-5 years ago.  This song for me is a motivational song, I used to listen to it while I was working out and it pushed me to keep going.

no.2 “just want you to know” by Backstreet Boys.  This is one of my favorite songs by them, I am really having fun singing to it when I am home alone, it feels really nice, is like rocking out but in a not loud way.

no.3 “Dream On” by Aerosmith, This song reminds me as the title say to dream on, until my dream comes true.  I always look forward for the good ones, though nightmares also come true.  I am a big fan of Aerosmith and I like plenty of their songs, I also used to listen to them while I was working back in my country.

no.4 “You rock my world” by Michael Jackson.  Michael Jackson, is undoubtedly one of my all time favorite performers.  This is one of the songs that I am listening, singing and dancing a lot, I love its’ beat, it’s like a part of my daily life.

no.5 “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z and Alicia Keys.  I always wanted to come to New York since I was like 9 years old.  I used to listen to this song when I was back in my country and thinking of me being in New York City.  Now, that I am in NY, it feels a bit weird to listen to it.

no.6 “Fly Away” by Lenny Kravitz.  Sometimes, I just want to fly and get away from everything, any problems or things that I must deal with.  When I am at a situation like this, I’m listening to this song.

no.7 “Let It Roll” by Flo Rida. This song reminds me that I have to enjoy life to the max, enjoy every single moment and let the good times roll.

no.8 “my love” by Justin Timberlake.  I’m a huge fan of Justin Timberlake, you might hear me sometimes whispering the words of this song, one of my all time favorite songs, I wanna watch J.Timberlake live.

no.9 “you shook me all night long” by AC/DC I love their music, the reason why I chose this song and why it represents me I am not sure.

no.10 “An englishman in New York” by Sting.  I am not English, I am Greek/Cypriot.  Since, I came to New York, sometimes I feel like I am a legal alien in New York.  I