Author Archives: e.torres

Elijah Torres

The image I have chosen perfectly exemplifies my first semester at Baruch. It is from Christopher Nolan’s movie The Dark Knight Rises. It is the scene where Bruce Wayne climbs out the Lazarus pit in order to return to Gotham and defeat Bane. My first semester in college has been fun despite all the work. I had the chance to meet great professors. With this and my accomplishments so far, I know that one day I will be able reach my goal. There were many times this semester where I faced challenges that I was unaccustomed to. One of the hardest was time management. It is extremely difficult to make time for everything. This includes my social life, homework, and regular work. In this captured scene, it is vital for Bruce to quickly escape to save Gotham. Often times I found myself drowning. As if I were trying to escape an endless pit with no one else but myself to help. I attribute the light in the image to the goals I set out to achieve. Fall 2014 at Baruch was completely different from anything I was used to in a school setting. There were many things I believed, at first, to be unnecessary factors. For example, the professors always trying to get us to talk. Now, I know that this is important, and will be important later on in college and in life. This is similar to my image. Bane had sent Bruce to this pit to learn a valuable lesson. Like Bruce and the pit, I have learned to appreciate the challenges I overcome. Before coming to Baruch I never studied for anything. Now, I find myself studying for even the easiest quizzes. Becoming academically successful takes practice. It is hard to try and do something unprepared. It would be as if trying to climb a wall such as the one in the image.

Image is from-The Dark Knight Rises. Distributed by Warner Home Video, 2012. Film.

High School was a machine. Entering, Middle School boyhood-immaturity and stupidity-were apparent. I left a man, or at least it seemed to have changed everything. Each year, I imagined myself at a different evolutionary stage. Every now and then, I would stumble back before continuing on based upon my ability to overcome difficulties and make the right decisions. In the end however, I succeeded by graduating.

I was very shy when I entered secondary school. Being alone was never a problem to me. I was never very social anyway. Making friends was hard because almost all of my classes were above the freshman level. I grew up distrusting people. So by the end of the year, most of my friends were upperclassman. I became more open to people but, some of the things I would say were out of context. I learned to socialize like they did. Everything went well that year. My grades were excellent and I remained out of drama.

The following year wasn’t like the first. My classes became difficult and my friends were new since my old ones graduated. I struggled to find myself that year. I began my first relationship in school. This quickly ended because I was unable to balance my life. I was able to make it through the year with my grades still enact. I learned many lessons pertaining to time management and responsibility.

Junior year was a bit of a setback. I became lazy and paid less attention to my work. My report card reflected this. I was often tired because my parents needed my help at home. My father had lost his job and the financial ruin began taking its toll on the family. Having to work wasn’t a problem for me though. I began to contribute more towards the family. I became a prominent household figure because I was becoming older and had many younger siblings. It was during this year that my personality changed. Today, I still make jokes and I am great company but, I am far more serious about my work.

As I sat during the graduation ceremony I realized one thing. I will continue to experience a cycle of growth as I pursue any goal. I think that the change that occurred to me was important. I am now an adult. But there will be more change. After college, at my first job, and throughout my life as a man.

So far, most of the freshman students I have met live in boroughs such as Brooklyn (Kingsborough), Queens, or Staten Island. I have even met several from Manhattan. I am from the Bronx. I was born there, and it’s features have influenced my character greatly. Some of its most important attributes to me is my love of urban art and Hip-Hop. I mostly enjoy listening to Hip-Hop classics rather than more contemporary songs because of their creativity and how they remind me of the neighborhoods from which I am from. This is why I have included two songs of this genre. One is by BDP, a group from the Southern part of the Bronx. This song is titled “Jack of Spades.” The other, is by Run DMC, titled “It’s Tricky.”

I am a percussionist, and through the music I play, a hard worker. Throughout High School I was faced with musical challenges that have molded my personality by influencing me to overcome all forms of challenges. I am always participative in class and work savvy. Two songs I included are contemporary classical pieces titled “American Overture,” by Joseph Willcox Jenkins and “The Hounds Of Spring,” by Alfred Reed. I feel these songs also demonstrate my complex nature; sometimes filled with enthusiasm, and sometimes calm. Also, I love history and classical music.
I am a very proud person who’s unafraid to express my achievements. On my list you can find Aloe Blacc’s song titled “The Man.” This song illustrates my pride. Bob Marley’s “One Love” is also on my list because I am very peaceful and relaxed, except when I’m nervous. I am usually very polite, except on rare occasions. In those very rare occasions I can get pretty crazy. For this reason I have placed an Eminem song titled “Rock Bottom.”

Sometimes I’m filled with unexplained energy. When I am, I’m weird and my behavior changes a part of who people may see me as. So on my playlist I have included Skrillex’ “First of the Year.” Which explains this feelings itself.

Since I am Puerto Rican and have developed many traits of a Hispanic, such as my love for music and food, I have noted two of my favorite, older, salsa songs by Celia Cruz and Oscar De Leon.

My last song is “Mercy,” because I have always enjoyed listening to songs by Kanye West.

http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Elijah+Torres/100769212

Elijah Torres