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This pretty much sums up the attitude that I’ve felt at Baruch. COMPETITION! INTERNSHIPS! SUCCESS! that’s all I’ve noticed while attending Baruch and I’m pretty sure that’s the same for other colleges. It’s not bad to want to succeed but come on, there are incoming freshman transitioning from a haven for some to a dog eat dog environment. Constantly being reminded that there are people probably better than you will receive the job that you want isn’t making this change any less stressful. I have met great, kind people that remind me that PEOPLE do exist, not just robots that are trying to become rich. I understand it’s predominantly business oriented but that doesn’t mean once you’ve enter the doors you just forget what it means to be human. To be honest if I didn’t have friends coming in to Baruch I would probably have hated my experience so far. No one cares about you, NO ONE. Even in our blocks, yeah it’ great to have a chance to get to know other freshman but when spring semester comes around there is no guarantee that you’re going to have classes with them.  I have enjoyed myself so far, exploring the city around the school and exploring new things in Baruch because I do believe that Baruch has a lot to offer. It’s in a great location, obviously a strong work ethic. I just think the students need to take a chill pill and possibly some professors because they’re probably stressing out the students. I’ve gotten used to Baruch and I don’t hate it. I just wish that it felt more welcoming and warm in a sense. I don’t get the urge to want to join a club because it sounds more of a requirement than your own interest. Who knows, maybe I just felt intimidated by all the students who have better study habits and more knowledge than me. Maybe once I’ve actually TRY to be a part of Baruch I’ll see things differently. Maybe I’ll meet more humans than robots. I guess i just have to put myself out there, that’s what college is all about anyway.

It never occurred to me that I am a full circle.

Not a half circle, not a quarter of a circle, not an oval, but a full 360 degree circle.

And it’s crazy to think that strangers walking beside me don’t know that they’re a full circle.

AP U.S. History was quite a course with a teacher that could scare the crap out of you, harass you but pick you up when you were down.

He didn’t just teach me that Abraham Lincoln never freed the slaves,

Or that the U.S. purposely took land away from Mexico,

Or that Nixon was the worst president of all time.

He taught me that I AM a full circle no matter what happens,

No matter what obstacle gets thrown my way,

Whether the person I love just left me,

Or I got rejected from the school of my dreams,

That NOTHING should take anything away from me.

And nothing ever has since this lesson.

Thank you MBAPUSHT,

My

Beloved

AP

U.S.

History

Teacher

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I decided to use pictures from key moments in my life. In the majority of these photos I’m with at least a friend or a family member or even an animal! Even if I’m by myself in the photo with a real smile, it’s not because I’m content with being on my own or because I admire myself, instead the setting of the photo is the cause of my happiness. For example, there’s a photo where I’m standing in front of a large body of water in the middle of a bridge. I was in Florence, Italy for the first time when it was taken. The fact that I was fortunate enough to go to Europe before any of my other family members and be blessed to see such a beautiful site is what made me smile. Not because I was posing for a picture, genuinely because I was content on where I was. Going back to my first photo sitting in the church with a huge dress looking like a princess, that was an important moment to me not only because it was my quinceanera and I was finally turning 15, but it brought me closer to my culture, understanding what it is to be Latina and being accepted into my Hispanic community as a “grown” woman. The photos where I have company of a human form, are there to show that I enjoy sharing special moments with the people that mean so much to me. There’s one of my guy friends and I at prom who I’ve known since elementary school and another prom picture with the girls on the soccer team that became an extra family during high school and I’m so grateful to have encountered. Another moment during graduation where I’m with two of my guy friends showing how we made it through four years of hard work and obstacles and off to begin a new chapter in our lives. One of the most important things to me is family. I have a couple of pictures with my brothers and my mother and random photos of hanging out in the backyard with a campfire to celebrate my 18th birthday. Family and friends are the key to living the good life. Of course we cannot forget the goats and dog in my life. I love animals and i’m obsessed with goats and lions. Obviously I can’t take a picture with a lion but goats are amazing already. All these pictures that are from different time periods of my life demonstrate how much of a grateful, appreciative and an attempt to be outgoing kind of person I am. The cause of my happiness isn’t just because of me, it’s due to the support and love I get from family, friends, my culture and of course my animals especially my lovable pit bull Rex.