The transition from high school to college has given me new motivation. Whereas high school had teachers that would monitor your every move, college allows for much more freedom. With this comes more responsibility and no one to blame. I also applaud the fact that classes are not as frequent as in high school, but rather are condensed into more comprehensive sessions, which I think complements my learning style. I believe I will prosper intellectually under these conditions but realize that only through dedication and gradual improvement can I truly get the most out of them. If college continues to be as it is now, I am confident I will succeed.

Maturity is best seen during the transition between college and high school. The fact that the choice is now in the hands of the individual student, each application is a willingness and a choice that branches out into endless possibilities. At this point, the pressure rests on the shoulders of the student to advance forward in their lives,  relinquished from the back of their caretakers,  this is an absolutely new responsibility for many students. This rests far after the applications have bent sent and the SAT scores have been settled, beginning college students begin to see numerous changes. Changes in motivation, changes in goals, changes in work ethics, and changes in attitude. No longer was the student forced to sit in a class, but desired to be there, shown through their willingness to shell out hundreds and even thousands of dollars. This isn’t a time to squander their opportunity, this was different than those times in high school. Teachers were radically different, and even more so their classmates. Professors are bound by the will of the student, and not their own. Each student has a voice in their class, whether passive or active, their grades rest within their own hands. Their efforts exemplify just that, and no fear of being reprimanded by a teacher comes at this stage in education, motivation rests with the willingness of the student.

Primary school up until as far as senior year of high school, I had problems with the system of education regarded as “traditional”. Sitting by in a classroom where many students didn’t understand the significance of their attendance, a forward goal of getting into a well esteemed college that seemed so far out of grasp, life during these years was complicated. Social obligations were forged, relationships ensued, decisions were made, all without realizing what impact they would have on my future. During high school I wasn’t as studious as I try to be now, high school seemed like a waiting room, or a ride on a plane. I was waiting to go onto the next part, get to the stages that all my life were leading up to. College was spoken about so much during my youth that even at the first mention of college during my junior year of high school made me cower in my seat. It was unreal having something this significant come so soon. Now that it has, I’ve accommodated rather well I suppose. Attend class, leave, attend class, leave. Day in and day out there was no obligation had to other students, there is no strive to be the most popular kid in school. All of that is far past irrelevant, this was the pinnacle of our educational careers. All that mattered was earning a grade for which you put forth the effort, it was fueled by the student. This new found responsibility is where students became mature.

The future.

Whether or not I’m ready it’s coming, and coming fast.

I don’t want to talk about my past or my present any more; I want to jet start my life.

Maybe it’s not Baruch, or maybe it is, but I’m ready to just start living the life I’ve always wanted instead of just doing what I need to do to get there.

Don’t get me wrong, hard work and dedication are my mantra, but sometimes, I just wanna fly before I walk. I wanna fly before I jump.

Accounting and Economics are my end goal.

I want to be able to afford all the books I want, when I want them.

I want to be able to rule my life the way I want to.

I want to be fully independent of everyone who has a say right now.

Maybe I don’t wanna pay taxes but I’m ready to live the big life.

I am ready to be more responsible than I am now.

I would be lying if i said college would be easy, because its not. The sheer amount of work that is given every day is just a tremendous amount. Everyday you have to sit through hours of lectures just listening to professors. However it is not all bad you can listen or not but that is just detrimental. The good thing is that you are able to do what you want and you have more freedom than in high school. The only problems are keeping up with the homework and keeping track of due dates. You have to manage your time and not procrastinate so you miss your work. You have no one making you do work and no one will hunt you down for the work you missed.

College, Its been a huge change for me. Coming from a small high school of about six hundred now sharing a campus with thousands. I was used to sharing a close relationship with my teachers, most of the students in my class. But now, that has all changed,  I feel like I see new people every day, I’ve been going to class for about two months and I’m willing to bet most of professor don’t even know my name. My responsibilities have grown as well, no more teachers telling me what to do, its up to me whether I do it or not. I remember when all teachers would post assignments on one convenient site but that’s also gone; professor’s have their own way of assigning homework whether it be through blackboard, email, or blogs, it just makes getting to that homework I don’t want to do that much harder. College has defiantly been a big change for the better or for the worst, I only hope it will all be worth it in the end.

Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall all pass by and I’m still walking. I walk from the Upper East Side down to SoHo or maybe from the Lower East Side up to the Upper West. Nearly every week I am exploring my city. There is never enough time in the day to truly take in everything New York offers. A tourist might find New York to be clustered or chaotic but I find peace within the busy streets. There is always something to do, something to be seen, something to be discovered. I walk in search of hidden gems that are often ignored due to the city’s rush.  However, it is not always busy; there are quiet nooks tucked away for the common eye to not see. A simple turn of a corner could lead you into a park when you were in the middle of traffic a minute ago. I’ve learned the streets and the subway lines; creating a miniature map inside of my head. It is simply said that I am fixated on the idea of travel and discovery within places that are constantly evolving.

Your mind is empty. Your stress and worries gone as the wind blows. Your heart beats as fast as you go. Can’t think of nothing else but the motivation that got you going. But what is it that got you going? Is it the passion for it or just the feeling of overcoming your biggest fear? Maybe it was the miles or the sense of competition? But all that matters was that it felt good for a while. I guess everyone have their reasons but mine was not so clear. It was an activity that got me going physically and mentally. It was a decision that allowed me to learn skills not thought in the classroom. I got to understand my peers and what it meant to be a teenage. It wasn’t all about the sport, it was also about learning from your mistakes and most importantly for others. Deciding what was wrong and right wasn’t much of an option. But I’m glad I did it because I know better now from this experience.

COLOMBIA

No, I’m not talking about the University, or the district, or the city, or the production company. I’m talking about the country, the one that doesn’t have a “U” in the name. Colombia is my first home, and it is where I am from. Now I know that a lot of people when they think of Colombia they think of either coffee or cocaine. That has always irritated me because Colombia is much more than that. We have great artists, not many are known here but some are like Juanes or Shakira, and celebrities like Sofia Vergara. Recently,one of the most important modern writes passed away Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and he was Colombian. We have a great soccer team that has gained massive popularity during the World Cup due to their celebratory dance and their star player, James Rodriguez. Colombia also has beautiful sceneries from beaches to mountains to rainforests to cities. Colombia will always be a part of my life and I’m very thankful for it. It has given me so many different traditions and customs that I hope I can continue on to my children like the novenas. Which is when 9 days before Christmas, we have a party every day.  This tradition used to be very religious and it would involved a praying group. But my family has transformed it into a fun event that everyone enjoys. We do still do a small prayer but only about 2 minutes long and the rest of the time we get to eat and hang out and share with all of our friends and family. It is my favorite thing that I look forward to in the winter, especially since winter can be so boring. That is just one of many different traditions that we have to make our lives funner and happier. So when people talk about only the negative things about Colombia I do get mad, every country has bad people but that doesn’t make it a bad country. Colombia, just like every other place in the world has many positive qualities about it. Everyone should be proud of where they come from because that place is what has made you into who your are right now, and what you will be in the future.

Practice, practice, practice. This is a motto most of us have heard since we were kids. Growing up I idolized baseball players and always wanted to be just like them. This was the first time i heard the expression practice makes perfect from my father. We would practice hitting, fielding, and pitching in the local park. I remember thinking during one of our practice sessions once I start playing I am going to be the best kid on the field. However, reality hits hard. During my first year playing for an actual league in fifth grade I was not the best, I was not even average. I was the worst kid on the team. I got severely discouraged and did not want to play anymore. My dad would not let me quit. He kept making practice and convinced to play again next year. Due to all the work I put into training I drastically improved. It was during my third year playing for the team that all the hard work payed off. I was the star of this team. Whenever I came to bat the other team was scared to pitch to me. The crowning moment was the championship game. Up by two runs in the last inning the team called for me to pitch. I was so nervous i walked the base loaded. My coach came out and told to calm down, all I had to do was do what I did all year. I then proceeded to strike out the next two batters. Two outs, up by two, the bases loaded, and the other teams best hitter stepping up to the plate. I threw the pitch and the ball was hit right to me, which i caught to end the game. While I might not be the bet player around, I hope i can make the Baruch baseball team and be an asset to the team.