Author Archives: t.kwong

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I knew high school and college were vastly different worlds but I finally was able to experience it.  My senior year of high school really spoiled me.  I barely had any homework in high school but college classes are more challenging.  The classes move faster and more is covered in a shorter amount of time.  During the first few weeks of college, I had to adjust back onto the pace of doing schoolwork.  I think this GIF demonstrates the adjustment to a heavier workload.  Time management really is crucial.  The commute to and from school has been exhausting and very time consuming but I utilize the time to read for class.  Commuting also does not give us many opportunities to make friends. Baruch put us in a schedule block to bond over sharing a new experience and to form friendships but I haven’t particularly made that many new friends.  Although it is partially my fault for not putting myself “out there” all the time.

Every summer since I began high school, I worked as teacher assistant for a first grade class.  Every morning, parents drop off their children in the schoolyard where all the counselors gather to watch their class.  That particular morning, I had just turned around to chat with another counselor but when I refocused on my class, I realized that I lost one of the students within a span of thirty seconds.

I felt that heart gripping panic that parents must feel when they lose their children.  Within that short time frame, I came up with ridiculous theories of his disappearance.  I probably watched too much Law & Order: SVU.  I immediately recomposed myself and squashed those ridiculous notions down.  Panicking would not help me find him. I had to remain levelheaded.  I scoured the schoolyard but I quickly discovered that distinguishing him from other students was difficult because they were all about three feet tall and were bouncing around everywhere.  To my greatest relief, he was not abducted by human traffickers or organ harvesters.  Instead, I found him playing with a group of older kids who were huddled around him.  I heaved a sigh of relief and chastised myself for failing to keep a good watch over all the students.

After finding him and running through that scenario in my mind again, I realized that I would have been solely responsible for his disappearance.  I would have had to explain to his parents that I had lost their beloved son because I was momentarily distracted by speaking to someone.  At that moment, I became keenly aware that I am an adult. Therefore, I would be held accountable for my actions.  I learned that I must be vigilant and pay attention to my surroundings when I have responsibilities to fulfill.  If I had been more attentive in that moment, I would have seen he had just wandered off.  Given this incident, I have kept a closer eye on him and the other students and I am pleased to say that since then, I have not lost any other student.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/114184735177705505868/albums/6056778401904629313

The first picture is of me, Tiffany.  I would describe myself as an introverted person by nature.  I’m trying to put myself out there a bit more.  The second picture is the New York City skyline because I’m a native New Yorker.  I’ve lived in Queens all my life but I grew up in the Lower East Side.  The third picture is of me and my best friend Sammi.  I’ve known her since the first day of school when we were three.  We pretty much do everything together as shown on the fourth picture.  Earlier this summer our families had a little weekend getaway in the Poconos and we, Sammi, my brother, and I, had to share a lumpy and springy pull out couch.  The next photo is my mentor Joanna (she’s in the turquoise shorts).  I’ve met her through a mentorship program about three years ago.  She’s sort of become my big sister.   When she’s in town, we usually find something to do together.  The next photo is of Hogsmeade from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I’m a Potterhead.  I love to watch the Harry Potter marathons on ABCFamily.  I’m also interested in art in any media, not just limited to photography.  The last photo represents my Chinese background.  Like Mohsin Hamid, my first language, Chinese, has become my second language.  I am somewhat ashamed that my ability to read and write the language is nearly nonexistent.  I definitely should have paid more attention in Chinese school.