Author Archives: Sony Joseph

As I write my third and final blog post for Freshman seminar, memories are rushing back to me. I have been a Baruch student since August 28th and in a nearly three month span, I learned the four essentials of being a Baruch student. The first essential and the first thing I need use in the morning to get to my classes are my Baruch ID and Metrocard. My Baruch ID is needed to get inside my school and I can never enter with only one swipe. My Metrocard has a monthly unlimited fare and it is the key to my freedom. I use my Metrocard everyday and it can take me anywhere at anytime in New York. The second essential is the reason I’m writing this blog post, I first assumed Freshman seminar would be similar to my Senior seminar in high school which was just an empty time period in my schedule. However, it was the exact opposite and was very useful. I was taught many aspects of Baruch and college in general through this class. My favorite memory of Freshman seminar was when everyone had to write a personal monologue. I wrote a lot for mine and it was a great release of built up emotion. I was blown away by my other classmates’ monologues because I did not know they were such interesting and intellectual individuals. Freshman seminar was truly an enriching experience. The third part of my starter pack for a Baruch freshman is the sign that many of us walk by on a daily basis. It’s outside the store that nobody knows the name of and is famous for their pizza slices that cost only a dollar. For the first week of school, I was a constant visitor and purchaser. These slices were incredibly thin and more often than not, they were flavorless even with the addition of pepper flakes. Nevertheless, these dollar slices satisfied my hunger during my two hour break on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At one point, I thought to myself that college really forces one to chose between starving and being broke. I decided from an extraordinarily horrible slice of pizza that I need to budget my money and also balance my diet. That does not stop me from indulging in a dollar slice from time to time though. The last and most important part of my starter pack is sleep. Everyone is so stressed out about assignments, grades, GPAs, subway delays, transitioning from college, Ebola, and the future that they sometimes sacrifice their well-being for these things. I learned that my body knows what it wants and if it is sleep deprived, I am irritable and slow the next day so if I ever have a free moment, I try to catch up on sleep. I hope that students next year can use their own starter pack to be a part of the Baruch family and that they make the most out of their Freshman seminar as well.

This is the story of the world’s most anticipated greatest disappointment also known as the Next Gen 7th Annual High School classic. I’ve been playing and excelling in basketball for about five years now and I occasionally participate in basketball tournaments with my church team. I use the term participate loosely since the way my church team plays, we do not get far in the competition often. My team is led by men in their late 20s who believe playing time should be divided by seniority. This means, the high school players are often regulated to the bench despite our talent or potential. However, the Next Gen tournament in May 2014 was different because it was only opened to high school children and this year was my year to burst on the scene since I was captain. I felt ready since our last year’s high school tournament where we lost in the first round to the eventual champions.
My team on paper, I believe to this day, was a championship contending team. We had four giants, one deadeye shooter, one bruiser, two role players, my best friend Joel who is a great all-around player, and myself who can carry the team on my back undoubtedly. However, this team had potential but needed work and I as captain began practices in late January despite the snow and cold weather. This year was different from last year because for the time-being we did not have a coach. Our coach from last year, when the tournament was held in the late summer, was in the middle of his schoolwork and could not attend to the team’s needs as much. So I had to be both the captain and coach for our young team. Practices began great. There was mistakes that were expected but nothing that seemed alarmingly for a tournament five months away. I had the audacity of hope for a first place trophy after our first practice.
As the weather got warmer, I naturally expected better from my teammates. i was disappointed when I noticed that it was only Joel and myself who actually seemed interested in winning. I tried many approaches to coaching and teaching my team but to no avail. It was May 23rd, 2014, the day before the tournament and the schedules were released. We had to face three teams prior to first round and they were not easy competition. One team stood out in particular because in our first game we faced another team from Staten Island that was led by my best friend Jeff. The bragging rights was on the line. I was ready to win the tournament and I drove on the 24th hoping my teammates were as well.
They were not. We did not win a game that day. I consider myself as a person of controlled emotions. I had to leave during the tournament that day to not lose it completely in front of everyone. I never felt like such a disappointment and I never felt so embarrassed and angered and empty. I know it’s just basketball and I had to tell myself that repeatedly every time I picked up a ball after the tournament. I questioned myself, is ball really life? I wrote this monologue because for one, I had to, and also, because I’ve been wanting to express my feelings toward this day for months. In my first time as a captain and a coach, I drove my team to failure despite my scoring performance and individual five month long effort. I’ve been told many times that it wasn’t my fault, and maybe it was, but I personally feel that failure is how people can grow as successful human beings, so after this massive disappointment, the road to success can surely be around the corner, right?

https://plus.google.com/photos/113469241181960114695/albums/6054179622195045329

At the end of the day, I believe that life is simple. However, there are many people and experiences that helped me become the young man I am today.

My first picture is a picture of my family in Canada by the Niagara Falls. On the left is my older sister, Swapna. If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be in school right now. She’s always there when I need a helping hand and she is teaching me how to be an independent adult like she is. Next to her is my mother, Suma. My mother is the sweetest lady in the world. She treats me like a baby and I can proudly say that I am a mommy’s boy. Leaving her is definitely one of the hardest parts of living away from home. Then there is my father, George, on my left.  He is by far the hardest working mailman in Brooklyn and I am amazed on how he keeps the house running daily.

Did you guys know that ball is life? The second picture is myself in the black jersey with the number two on my back and a red Superman Underarmour. I have an unhealthy obsession with all things Superman by the way. This picture was taken at my last high school basketball tournament and I am guarding my best friend, Jeff, who is also wearing number two. This was also my first year as captain of my church team and although this tournament didn’t end in our favors, our next tournament in January looks to be promising.

The third picture is one of my favorite memories in all of my high school life. This was taken at my school’s International Festival prior to my last Indian dance performance. International Festival has been a staple of my high school for over a decade now and this year’s Indian dance may of been in the top five performances of all time/ However, I may be biased.

I believe today is transformation Thursday so in honor of that, my fourth picture is of my best friends, Joel and Jeff, both at our eighth grade graduation and our high school graduation. I literally knew these two since I was a baby since our parents both live close together and work together. For the first time in eighteen years, we went to different schools. However, it only took us a day of separation to start visiting each other. Joel and Jeff are the closest things I have to for brothers.

If you look closely, you can spot me in the middle with a green shirt. My fifth picture is a GoPro selfie taken in California. I went to California this summer for a church leadership camp. At this camp, I was forced to actually celebrate my religion and without sounding too cliche, my life has been changed. It was truly powerful to see so many people come together for the glory of God.

My sixth picture was taken about three weeks ago. My car was fully packed and ready to go for my move in date at the Residence Housing in Upper East Side. Moving in that Sunday meant not always being in Staten Island and with my family, my church, my friends, and have some independence as long as some responsibility. So far, my new chapter is life has been going swell and I’m looking forward to more city adventures.

The second to last picture for my blog post is a picture of me squishing my beautiful girlfriend’s cheeks. She doesn’t like it as you can tell. Jackie and I have been in the same church since we were both born, despite the fact she lives in New Jersey. However it took us until a church dance performance where she was my dance partner in 2012 to actually talk to each other and we haven’t stopped talking since. She is now a senior in high school and she’s most lovely girl I ever met and not being with her at least once a week is going to be tough but not impossible. We’ve been through worse. This picture was taken the Monday after I moved in a diner in Times Square so that makes her officially my first visitor.

Before I go on and on about my relationship, which by the way has to be hidden from the adults of my church, her parents, and my mother, I’d like to flashback to my kindergarten graduation. I can remember this moment clearly. That hat was on too tight with string around my neck. My tie was a clip-on. The picture was taken by Joel’s dad in the most vintage camera known to man. However, I love this picture and not just because I was so cute. This picture humbles me and reminds me no matter what life throws at you, life is simple and you are never given too much you can’t handle.